I’m very distraught over the passing of one of my personal heroes, Virgil Abloh. Virgil was a fellow Badger. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin around the time I did. We worked together a couple of times. As a peer, I looked up to him tremendously. I’m a big believer in mentorship. It’s clear from the outpouring of screenshots and back stories that he was as well. He somehow managed to uplift everyone he came in contact with.I studied Virgil with awe and respect. He was always creating. His presence was felt in so many different creative and business spaces; in so many disciplines. I can’t imagine what was going through his head the last couple years. It’s too painful to fathom. I’m collecting memories and enjoying his work anew. This really was a collective loss. I’m losing sleep over it. I can’t really look at social media right now. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m having a tough time.Virgil’s star will shine bright over Art Basel this week. This is the culture industry’s new main event. It’s the place where the digital and physical art worlds are becoming one. Last night’s LV tribute show revealed Virgil’s latest line. I’m sure there’s more in the vault. But not unlike Steve Jobs, I think Virgil’s impact in design and art will last many lifetimes. He may be gone, but his philosophies -- the way he moved -- will live forever.
BEATS
Is The Music Industry’s Future On The Blockchain?One big knock on cryptocurrencies is that they’re a technology in search of a problem. Venture capitalists want to put everything on the blockchain and generate big returns, but why not just use a database instead? (The Verge)
Spotify CFO Sees Beyond Music A 'Limitless' OpportunitySpotify CFO Paul Vogel said the streaming service aims to reach well beyond its origin in music to become the world’s top audio app, enriching its offerings in such features as podcasts, audiobooks and live music. (CFO Dive)
Who Profits From the Posthumous Album Release?The unfortunate reality is that fans will always prefer the music’s originator be around to deliver it. The difference between an original album from the source and one released by an affiliate is a lot like the distinction between eating food in a restaurant versus ordering that same meal through a third-party delivery service: Some ingredients are bound to be lost in translation. (Consequesnce of Sound)
Gebrauchsmusik: On the Utility of MusicAfter the NFT money hype this past spring, we moved into a space that focused more on the utility an NFT can carry. Taking a cue from the world of gaming - with their skins and items - musicians began to experiment with digital collectibles. (MusicX)
Reddit Will Shutdown Dubsmash in 2022 After Acquiring Short-Form Video PlatformReddit paid an undisclosed sum for the video platform that functions similarly to TikTok. After February 22, 2022, the app will no longer be available on iOS or Android for new downloads. After that date, the app will stop working. (Digital Music News)
How Music Created Silicon ValleySongs created Silicon Valley. Without music, it wouldn’t exist. In each key area of technology—semiconductors, storage, handheld devices, video displays, test equipment, etc.—funds to launch and grow the tech titans came from the entertainment industry, and especially the music business. (The Honest Broker)
Adele Announces 2022 Las Vegas Concert ResidencyAdele, whose fourth studio album 30 debuted at the top of the charts last week, announced today that she’ll launch a concert residency in Las Vegas in January. “See you at Caesars in Vegasss,” the singer tweeted today. The “Weekends With Adele” residency begins Jan. 21 at the Colosseum of Caesars Palace Hotel, running through April 16. Adele will perform two shows per weekend throughout the engagement. (Deadline)
Will Omicron Cripple Touring? Live Nation Stock Rebounds After Variant-Driven FalloffAt the time of this piece’s writing, Live Nation stock was trading for $106.24 per share – a 1.5 percent decline from yesterday’s close and a nearly six percent falloff over the latter five days, but an improvement from the aforementioned stock price that arrived with reports of the Omicron variant. (Digital Music News)
BYTES
This week on Talking Trends, host Louise Porter asks MBW founder, Tim Ingham, about a raft of new changes coming to TIDAL – the music streaming platform founded by Jay-Z, and acquired by Jack Dorsey's Square earlier this year for over $300 million. (Music Business Worldwide)
Tapping into a dreamy R&B soundscape filled with experimentation and raw emotion, the artist puts his vocals on full display in his new track, holding nothing back. Diving in a new terrority for the single, the artist bares all as he navigates feelings of heartbreak and remorse.
Reddit is shutting down Dubsmash, its short-form TikTok-like video platform, on February 22, 2022. The company says after February, Dubsmash will no longer be available for download in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Currently downloaded apps will stop functioning on the same date.
People everyone are posting videos set to singer/songwriter Emily Meli’s newest single "I AM WOMAN" as part of the latest body positivity trend taking over the 'Tok and 'gram. Listen to the full version here.
This week's newsletter was carefully curated by the Nue Agency staff and our editor Rachel Meisner. If you think we missed something this week or have any suggestions/comments for next week's newsletter, let us know!