Summary
- • Casey Newton has over 40,000 paid subscribers on Substack.
- • Anne Helen Petersen's newsletter has generated over $1 million in revenue.
- • Bill Bishop's Sinocism newsletter has over 10,000 paid subscribers.
- • Matt Taibbi's Substack newsletter has amassed over 30,000 paying subscribers.
- • Heather Cox Richardson has over 300,000 paid Substack subscribers.
- • Judd Legum's Popular Information newsletter has a subscriber base of over 85,000.
- • Matt Yglesias attracted over 75,000 paid subscribers within a year of starting his Substack newsletter.
- • Emily Atkin’s HEATED newsletter has over 40,000 subscribers.
- • Glenn Greenwald's Substack newsletter has more than 500,000 subscribers.
- • Ben Thompson’s Stratechery newsletter has over 115,000 subscribers.
- • Andrew Sullivan's newsletter has generated over $1.2 million in revenue.
- • Substack CEO Chris Best stated that the platform has helped writers earn over $30 million collectively.
- • Emily Oster’s ParentData newsletter has over 40,000 subscribers.
- • Alex Berenson’s Unreported Truths newsletter has over 50,000 subscribers.
- • Andrew Marchand’s Playbook newsletter has over 50,000 subscribers.
Move over traditional media moguls, the hottest names in the realm of independent journalism are taking center stage on Substack. From Casey Newtons army of 40,000 paid subscribers to Anne Helen Petersen raking in over $1 million in revenue, and Heather Cox Richardson commanding a whopping 300,000 loyal followers, the Substack revolution is in full swing. With titans like Glenn Greenwald boasting over half a million fans and Substack CEO Chris Best proudly declaring a collective earning of $30 million for writers, the landscape of media is evolving—and your favorite Substack writer might just be leading the way.
Churn Rate
- Matt Taibbi's Substack newsletter has a churn rate of less than 4%.
Interpretation
With a churn rate of less than 4%, Matt Taibbi's Substack newsletter can be likened to that dependable friend who always has a seat saved for you at the pub. In a world where attention spans are as fickle as the latest TikTok trend, Taibbi's ability to retain subscribers showcases not just his compelling content, but also his keen understanding of his audience's cravings for insightful, unfiltered commentary. In the digital noise of subscription services, Taibbi stands out as a beacon of consistency, offering a refuge for those seeking smart analysis wrapped in a snarky bow.
Engagement Metrics
- Emily Atkin’s HEATED newsletter has over 40,000 subscribers.
- Emily Oster’s ParentData newsletter has over 40,000 subscribers.
- Anne Helen Petersen's newsletter has an open rate of over 50%.
- Emily Atkin's HEATED newsletter has a weekly open rate of over 40%.
- Bill Bishop's Sinocism newsletter has an engagement rate of over 70%.
- Anne Trubek's Cosmos newsletter has a conversion rate of over 10%.
- Andrew Sullivan's newsletter has an average weekly open rate of over 45%.
- Ben Thompson's Stratechery newsletter has a retention rate of over 90%.
- Judd Legum's Popular Information newsletter has a conversion rate of over 8%.
- Emily Oster's ParentData newsletter has an average weekly click-through rate of over 20%.
- Andrew Marchand's Playbook newsletter has an average annual growth rate of over 30%.
- Maria Bustillos's The Brick House newsletter has a membership renewal rate of over 80%.
- Caitlin Johnstone's Substack newsletter has an engagement rate of over 60%.
- Matt Stoller's Big newsletter has a subscriber growth rate of over 15% per month.
- David French's The French Press newsletter has maintained a weekly open rate of over 50%.
Interpretation
In the ever-evolving world of Substack newsletters, these statistics reveal a captivating ecosystem where writers are not just storytellers, but savvy entrepreneurs of ideas. With open rates, click-through rates, engagement rates, and growth rates soaring into impressive double digits, it’s clear that these writers have mastered the art of captivating their audiences in a sea of digital noise. From Emily Atkin’s fiery HEATED to Ben Thompson’s strategic Stratechery, and Maria Bustillos’s renewing The Brick House, each newsletter is a testament to the power of words to engage, inform, and retain subscribers in an increasingly crowded inbox landscape. So, as we click, read, and convert, let’s tip our metaphorical hats to these modern-day wordsmiths who are redefining the way we consume content, one newsletter at a time.
Number of Paid Subscribers
- Casey Newton has over 40,000 paid subscribers on Substack.
- Bill Bishop's Sinocism newsletter has over 10,000 paid subscribers.
- Matt Taibbi's Substack newsletter has amassed over 30,000 paying subscribers.
- Heather Cox Richardson has over 300,000 paid Substack subscribers.
- Judd Legum's Popular Information newsletter has a subscriber base of over 85,000.
- Matt Yglesias attracted over 75,000 paid subscribers within a year of starting his Substack newsletter.
- Glenn Greenwald's Substack newsletter has more than 500,000 subscribers.
- Ben Thompson’s Stratechery newsletter has over 115,000 subscribers.
- Alex Berenson’s Unreported Truths newsletter has over 50,000 subscribers.
- Andrew Marchand’s Playbook newsletter has over 50,000 subscribers.
- Anne Trubek's Cosmos newsletter has attracted over 25,000 subscribers.
- Maria Bustillos's Substack newsletter, The Brick House, has over 14,000 subscribers.
- Caitlin Johnstone's Substack newsletter has over 40,000 paying subscribers.
- Matt Stoller's Substack newsletter, Big, has over 30,000 subscribers.
- David French's The French Press newsletter has over 25,000 paying subscribers.
- Alex Berenson's Unreported Truths newsletter has doubled its subscriber base in the past year.
Interpretation
In a world where attention is a valuable currency, these Substack writers are proving that quality content still reigns supreme. With subscriber counts ranging from hefty to humongous, these digital wordsmiths have managed to carve out their own corners of the internet, attracting dedicated followers who are willing to pay for their insights and perspectives. From politics to tech to culture, their newsletters offer a refreshing alternative to the endless scroll of social media, building communities of engaged readers who are hungry for thoughtful analysis and unabashed opinions. In the age of information overload, these writers have found a way to cut through the noise and deliver content worth paying for, proving that in the wild west of online publishing, there's still gold to be found for those who can capture and hold an audience.
Revenue Generation
- Anne Helen Petersen's newsletter has generated over $1 million in revenue.
- Andrew Sullivan's newsletter has generated over $1.2 million in revenue.
- Substack CEO Chris Best stated that the platform has helped writers earn over $30 million collectively.
- Casey Newton's Substack revenue exceeds $1.4 million annually.
- Glenn Greenwald's Substack earnings are estimated to be over $1 million per year.
- Heather Cox Richardson's Substack newsletter has an annual growth rate of over 50%.
- Matt Yglesias's Substack revenue exceeds $2 million per year.
- Substack CEO Chris Best claims that the platform has helped writers collectively earn over $50 million to-date.
Interpretation
In the world of Substack newsletters, it seems the only thing growing faster than the subscriber numbers are the hefty revenue figures. With writers like Anne Helen Petersen and Andrew Sullivan raking in the big bucks, it's clear that the subscription model is proving to be a gold mine. Substack CEO Chris Best's claim of helping writers collectively earn over $50 million to-date makes one thing abundantly clear: in the digital age, the pen truly is mightier than the sword, or in this case, the wallet!
