Inside Europe’S Biggest Adult Industry Conference: Glitz, Grit, And Ai Glitches

  • By Riley
  • Sept. 15, 2025, 8 p.m.

Setting the Scene: Amsterdam’s Adult Industry Extravaganza

Picture this: a sleek, modern riverside hotel in the heart of Amsterdam, buzzing with about 1,000 adult content creators from across Europe. Last Tuesday, they flocked to the annual Xbiz conference, the continent’s biggest event for the pornography industry, ready to soak up tips on thriving in a high-stakes gig economy and boosting their bank accounts.

While some rolled in rocking nine-inch diamante heels or pink roller skates with flashing wheels, others kept it casual in jeans and sneakers, blending in - almost - with the elderly American tourists in the lobby, who seemed hilariously baffled by the scene. From Hello Kitty backpacks to gold sequined bras, the vibe was a wild mix of playful and professional, setting the stage for three days of networking, learning, and, well, a bit of naughtiness.

This isn’t just a party, though. Xbiz brings together creators (mostly women), executives (mostly men), model agencies, and tech platforms for panel sessions, workshops, and speed-dating collabs - think filming spicy content together to cross-promote to new fans. It’s all about staying ahead in a booming yet brutal business.

Workshops and Wisdom: Tips from the Top

One of the standout moments came from Brittany Andrews, a bubbly American porn star, who got straight to the point in her workshop on making it big in the industry. Pointing to a young Ukrainian model in a dazzling outfit, she teased, “I’m starting with you, girlfriend! Do you think about the cash before you film, or just chase your creative vibes?”

The model’s response was refreshingly real: it’s all about the money, honey, but consistency is key. “If you stop posting, even for a moment, people forget you fast with so many stunning models out there,” she warned. It’s a cutthroat reminder of the pressure to keep subscribers hooked.

“You’ve gotta stay on top of your game - one missed post, and your fans might just swipe to someone new,” Brittany Andrews quipped, capturing the relentless hustle of the industry.

Day Drinking and Daring Collabs: The Social Side

The conference kicked off with a cheeky invite to down shots in Amsterdam’s infamous red-light district, dubbed a chance to “discover the joys of day drinking.” Talk about breaking the ice! The first full day then dove into speed-dating sessions where creators paired up for “collabs” - filming explicit content together to tap into each other’s fanbases.

Between the serious stuff like panels on industry trends and algorithm hacks, some duos slipped upstairs to hotel rooms to, ahem, get to work on camera. Guest speakers also spiced things up, dishing on why tentacles and aliens are trending in porn, and promising secrets to making millions as an independent creator. Charm and emotional smarts? Apparently, they’re your ticket to loyal fans.

The energy was electric - this industry is raking it in, after all. But beneath the glitz, there’s a quiet hum of worry about AI’s takeover, market saturation, age verification laws, and the very real threat of burnout. It’s not all sequins and selfies, darlings.

AI on the Rise: Savior or Threat?

Over coffee on Wednesday morning, I chatted with James, a tech-savvy programmer from Singapore, who was buzzing about his new AI venture. He’s all about “helping stars avoid burnout” by creating AI avatars of top performers that can, uh, perform on demand 24/7. He even showed me an explicit video - a bit too explicit for my morning latte - of a couple where the realism was uncanny, if unsettling.

“Fans want custom fantasies, like seeing their fave in ripped lingerie in a cave - creators can’t keep up, so AI steps in,” he boasted, sounding like a retro salesman pitching a miracle gadget. But not everyone’s sold. While some like British creator Lily Phillips are considering AI bots to ease their workload (“An AI me could do the splits - I’m not that flexible!”), others, like a seasoned producer, shrugged off the hype: AI can’t replicate raw human emotion.

Then there’s Felix Henderson and Nic Young, two polished British entrepreneurs with a “digital twins” company, using old photos and voices to keep stars earning even as they age. They frame it as “career longevity” and “ethical,” but it raises eyebrows - is this liberation or just another way to profit off women’s images?

OnlyFans Revolution: Empowerment or Exploitation?

Let’s talk OnlyFans, the game-changer launched in 2016 by the Essex-based Stokely family, now owned by Ukrainian-American Leonid Radvinsky (who pocketed $701 million in dividends last year, by the way). With over 4.6 million creators - up from 2 million in 2021 - and a user base of 377.5 million globally, it’s a juggernaut. Creators keep 80% of earnings, but the platform’s 20% cut adds up, especially for top earners pulling in over $100,000 a month.

At Xbiz, many women championed the model as empowering, a far cry from the exploitative studio days. Yet, the reality isn’t so rosy for everyone. While top accounts thrive, the median creator earns just $180 monthly, and critics like Gemma Kelly from Cease argue the unseen 90% face vulnerability and exploitation, far from the Amsterdam party scene.

Lily Phillips, who made headlines with a viral stunt last year, admits she doesn’t even know who Radvinsky is when I mention his massive profits. “There’s always someone higher up doing better,” she shrugs. It’s a candid take on a world where hard work doesn’t always equal fair reward.

The Grind and the Glam: Real Talk on Burnout

Behind the conference’s glossy facade, the grind is real. Kali Kingsley, a 23-year-old from Hertfordshire, swapped motorsports for OnlyFans and works non-stop, snapping lingerie pics from dawn to dusk and chatting with fans for $30 a month. “It’s just a natural progression for our generation,” she says, brushing off taboos with a smile.

But the pressure’s intense. A male creator, staying anonymous, debunked the “easy money” myth: “People think you just snap a pic and make a million - they don’t get the time it takes.” And Aery Tiefling, a Spanish creator battling pneumonia, struggles to keep content flowing without a safety net like corporate sick leave. “If you’re sick, fans might unsubscribe,” she sighs.

Mental health support was a hot topic, with Pineapple Support offering resources and creator Evie Rees hosting talks on longevity. Her candyfloss-pink vibe couldn’t mask the raw truth: “Sometimes, getting naked on camera makes me want to cry.” It’s a stark reminder that this “dream lifestyle” sold by execs comes at a cost.

Controversial Content and Ethical Questions

Let’s not skirt the edgier side. At panels, execs like Pornhub’s Alex Kekesi kept things corporate, hyping “cool discovery features” for their 130 million daily users and sidestepping the darker content on their homepage - think violent themes and “step-incest” fantasies. When pressed on empowerment, she dodged with, “What’s empowering for some isn’t for everyone.”

Teen or “barely legal” content was everywhere at Xbiz, with young-looking creators and agencies specializing in that niche. A male producer in his 50s casually called it his “kink,” insisting it’s legal. Yet, recent documentaries and anti-porn research highlight titles suggesting inexperience or coercion, leaving a sour taste despite the conference’s wellness buzz.

Spanish filmmaker Paulita Pappel, who snagged best director at the event’s awards, pushed back on the stigma. “Shaming women in porn just makes their lives harder - it assumes they have no agency,” she argued. It’s a debate that lingers: is this industry a path to freedom or a prettier cage?

Final Thoughts: A Double-Edged Sword

As the three-day whirlwind wrapped up, the contrast couldn’t be sharper. On one hand, Xbiz painted a picture of opportunity - creators mingling with execs, agencies like AS Talent promising a “richer life,” and Ukrainian stars petitioning for decriminalization to boost war-torn economies. The numbers don’t lie: this is a multi-billion-dollar beast.

On the other, the human toll loomed large. From Lily Phillips cautiously advising young women to “think twice” about the lifelong impact, to Aery Tiefling’s health struggles, the personal cost of constant content creation was palpable. Burnout isn’t just a buzzword here - it’s a crisis.

So, is this world empowering or exhausting? Maybe it’s both. One thing’s for sure: behind the pink convertibles and tropical hotel decor, the adult industry’s future - with AI, regulations, and raw ambition in the mix - is anything but predictable. Stick with us for more on this spicy saga!

Riley
Author: Riley
Riley

Riley

Riley Monroe is a sharp-tongued pop culture journalist with a love for the glitz, the gossip, and everything viral. Known for her playful charm and blonde bombshell energy, Riley brings the juiciest OnlyFans scoops, TikTok dramas, and social media scandals straight to your screen -always with a wink and a headline you can’t resist. Whether it’s backstage tea or influencer breakups, Riley knows how to keep it light, bold, and addictive.

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