Substack CEO Chris Best called Apple’s court-ordered App Store policy changes a “big win” for independent media, allowing apps like Substack to bypass in-app purchase fees and grow mobile usage. Best also revealed that Substack was “accidentally” cash-flow positive in Q1 2025 and now hosts over 5 million paid subscribers and 50 million-dollar-earning creators. Meanwhile, Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff said AI-generated search summaries are hurting publisher traffic, pushing Vox to expand its podcast operations. Both leaders emphasized building direct audience relationships as a buffer against tech platform algorithm shifts.
