What December lacks in nice weather and sunlight, it makes up for in reflection. Ripping out that twelfth calendar page always brings a boost of optimism and an eye-opening outlook, what I call “New Year’s magic.”When you do the internal work leading up to the ball drop -- the introspection and internalizing, the goal setting and deal plotting -- this is both downtime and go time. Even the holidaze have us #nevernotworking.For some, the 2018 clock is still running. Stadium Goods & Bevel both made power plays, selling just last week, and I have a feeling we’ll see a few more monsters on the move before January rears its hopeful head.This was an exciting year for Nue and for the business of music X brands in general. We want to thank all of our clients, compadres, and constituents for your creative spirits, collaborative souls and undeniable ambition.May the champagne pop and the music never stop.Here's to 2019, family!
BEATS
Jingle Punks at 10: How the Production Music House Turned Passion Into ProfitsHaving made its reputation as the audio agency of record for shows including “Pawn Stars,” “The Voice” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Jingle Punks expanded into custom tunes not only for television, but movies, athletes and just about any brand that craves a beat. Along the way, Gutstadt has collaborated with a diverse range of artists including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steven Tyler, Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Dierks Bentley and Big K.R.I.T. (Paula Parisi – Variety)
Netflix’s Springsteen On Broadway Sets a New Standard for Concert FilmsAs a result, Springsteen On Broadway doesn’t feel like cheap wish fulfillment for fans, but instead acknowledgment of the symbiotic relationship between performer and audience. Like many of the all-time great concert films, Springsteen On Broadway is no substitute for being in the room, but it’s power transcends any perceived limitations. Springsteen On Broadway sets a standard for all musicians entering their twilight years, as the man up on stage offers his most moving work in a catalog full of them. (David Anthony – The A.V Club)
Taylor Swift Tracks Her Stalkers at Concerts Using Facial RecognitionTaylor Swift’s Rose Bowl security in May 2018 included the use of facial recognition technology on millions of unwitting fans. The security system was monitored from more than 2,000 miles away in an attempt to identify known stalkers. A kiosk showcasing highlights of Swift’s rehearsals recorded the faces of those who looked at the kiosk. A command post in Nashville matched images to hundreds of known Taylor Swift stalkers. (Ashley King – Digital Music News)
Why a Massive Luxury Retailer Is Betting Big on SneakersFarfetch is making sneaker reseller Stadium Goods a key piece of its business. (Cam Wolf – GQ)
The Grammy Award-winning musician talks to CNET about being a woman in tech, body augmentation and Harry Potter. (Katie Colins – Cnet)
Fiat Chrysler's Olivier François on Why Music Is 'The Best Investment' and the One Artist Who Said No (After the Ad Was Shot)The king of car commercials on how music makes a successful ad and the one musician who remains out of reach. (Melinda Newman – Billboard)
Tencent Music IPO Shows Music Tech Investment Coming To Its SensesThe Chinese music streaming service Tencent Music raised $1.1 billion last week, in what was one of the largest U.S. public offerings of the year. After a hot start where the stock gained almost 10% in its first day of trading, it fell considerably to $12.81 per share from its opening price of $14.10 on Friday. (Bob Owsinsk – Forbes)
How China Weaned Itself off Music PiracyIn the not-so-distant past, almost everyone in China was a pirate. In 2011, China’s digital music piracy rate was 99%, according to a report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, a trade group. But the rise of streaming has completely changed the way Chinese people consume music. Now, just seven years later, 96% of consumers listen to licensed music – meaning that they enjoy their tunes legally. (Grace Tsoi – Inkstone)
SoundCloud: Supersize Your DJ SetInstantly discover and mix millions of tracks with SoundCloud Go+. For the best value, combine SoundCloud Pro Unlimited and Go+ to get creator tools to grow your career and access to SoundCloud’s massive catalog of music. (SoundCloud)
BYTES
This year, as the album continued its decline — a victim of the internet, the playlist and the diminished attention spans of billions — songs felt like they mattered more than ever. So the pop music staff of The New York Times gathered to listen to some of the tracks on the pop critics’ best-of-2018 lists, and a few of our other favorites from the past 12 months.
Christmas came early. Lil Jon teams up with the Kool-Aid Man (yes, that Kool-Aid Man) for an addictive new Christmas Rap – showing us what happened when “Yeah!” met “Oh Yeah.”
Have an amazing new year! To make all of your dreams and wishes come to life, we've chosen the most loved New Year resolution apps 2019. Explore 'em and let us know which ones look set for you...
'Tis the season! All new holiday releases.
This week's newsletter was carefully curated by the Nue Agency staff and our editor Maria Tejada If you think we missed something this week or have any suggestions/comments for next week's newsletter, let us know!