AAM Launches Creator Marketplace Certification to Bring Greater Transparency to $44 Billion Market

The certification is highlighted in a new Association of National Advertisers report on reducing waste and optimizing influencer investment

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (September 30, 2026) – The Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) today announced the launch of its Creator Marketplace Certification, a new program designed to increase transparency, accountability and reliability of creator marketing data.

According to a recent report from the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), U.S. creator ad spend is expected to reach $43.9 billion in 2026, up 18% from 2025. The report recommends AAM's certification, which provides independent validation of the marketplace operators, intermediaries and social platforms that support creators.

“The creator economy has become a significant part of the media mix. Advertisers want confidence that the marketplaces they rely on have sound processes for qualifying creators, evaluating engagement and reporting performance,” said Rich Murphy, CEO, president and managing director of AAM. “The certification provides independent assurance that the policies, processes and controls behind these marketplaces support transparency and reliable measurement.”

Rather than verifying the performance of individual creators, influencers or posts, AAM independently assesses the practices and controls employed by the marketplaces and platforms across four key areas:

• Creator onboarding, vetting and audience authenticity
• Engagement quality evaluation
• Analytics and performance verification
• Transparency, disclosures and regulatory compliance

Organizations that successfully complete the program receive the AAM Creator Marketplace Certification seal for use on their websites, marketing materials and RFPs, and are included on AAM's Assurance List of independently certified organizations.

To learn more about AAM's Creator Marketplace Certification, visit auditedmedia.com.

About the Alliance for Audited Media

As the leading global not-for-profit media assurance organization, the Alliance for Audited Media advances transparency, accountability and trust across media and advertising. From cross-media audits and data verification to industry certifications in areas such as brand safety, measurement, retail media and ethical AI, AAM validates the data and processes that power today’s media. Through impartial assurance and forward-thinking frameworks, AAM helps organizations demonstrate credibility and authenticity in a rapidly evolving media ecosystem. Learn more at auditedmedia.com.