CGC (Creator-Generated Content)
Content a brand commissions from a social media creator, blending the creator's voice with brand messaging while the brand owns and controls it.
Explanation
CGC is content a brand pays a creator to make, mixing the creator's own voice with brand messaging, but the brand owns it and controls where it runs, unlike organic user-generated content. Brands increasingly separate CGC from UGC in briefs and contracts because it grants usage rights and placement control while keeping an authentic creator voice. It became a standardized budget line in creator marketing through 2025 and 2026 as the creator economy matured. Digiday's 2025 coverage tracked brands' growing investment in CGC specifically, distinct from organic UGC spend.
Usage context / examples
Digiday's 2025 coverage documented brands' growing investment specifically in creator-generated content as distinct from organic UGC.
Related terms
Turkish definition
CGC, bir markanın bir içerik üreticisinden ücret karşılığında ürettirdiği ama sahipliğini ve kontrolünü elinde tuttuğu içeriktir.