Spotify hosted a pre-inaugural brunch featuring prominent podcasters Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, and Riley Green, highlighting the growing influence of digital content creators in political discourse. The streaming giant also contributed $150,000 to Trump's inauguration ceremony and celebrations.

Several major tech companies made larger contributions to the inaugural committee, including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Uber, each donating $1 million. Spotify defended its donation as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain a presence in Washington D.C. and advocate for platform-related policy issues.

The night before the inauguration, TikTok sponsored an event called "Power 30" at the Sax club near the White House, celebrating right-wing influencers' role in Trump's victory. CJ Pearson, Co-Chair of the RNC's Youth Advisory Council and event host, declared it a victory in the "culture wars."

Trump's podcast appearances, particularly on The Joe Rogan Experience and Theo Von's show, reached millions of listeners and played a crucial role in his re-election. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan acknowledged the significant impact of content creators, stating that they "set the culture" and are "experimenting with new ideas in the media landscape."

The events underscore the growing intersection of digital media, content creators, and political influence in modern presidential campaigns, with streaming platforms and social media playing increasingly pivotal roles in shaping public opinion and electoral outcomes.

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