This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for enabling users to create and manage their own channels to stream digital content or media for viewing, sharing, downloading, etc., by others. Users who create the channels are designated as editors and accorded a status that allows them to invite contributing publishers or authors to supplement their channels with additional digital content or media for viewing, listening, sharing, downloading, etc. The editors and the publishers or authors who contribute to a particular channel receive payments that are computed based on determining the extent of either viewing, listening, sharing, downloading, etc., of the digital content, by users, or determining the total playback time of the digital content for users and computing a viewing score. The systems and methods provide analytics relating to the content to the editors or the platform providers as desired.