Last week, I published an article in AdAge on why brands need a chief entertainment officer. I’m glad to see it resonating with many of my peers.The truth is, even though this role doesn’t exist within many companies yet, it’s crucial that companies and their executives start thinking more along these lines. The entertainment landscape has gotten harder than ever to navigate. It’s ever-changing and very dynamic. Whether it’s content creation, events, licensing, influencer marketing, or capitalizing on key cultural moments, having someone in-house to build out your business in new, exciting ways is a gamechanger.This is especially the case if culture and entertainment are not spaces you natively understand. Brands, entertainment, and the tech world are now intimately linked. Real ROI will come from measured bets and a diversified approach. That’s how you build a differentiated brand and create a deeper, more meaningful relationship with your consumer.The urgency of this need may vary from sector to sector, but we have reached the point where every business can benefit from a chief entertainment officer.The chief entertainment officer oversees everything from content creation to talent procurement; from music activations to trends and insights. These efforts are no longer a luxury, they’re a necessity. Savvy brand managers will make an impact on culture and capitalize in both the indie and major worlds.I go into further detail in the piece. Check it out. If you’re not ready to bring someone in-house, you can hire a firm like ours to help you navigate culture and find the right opportunities to align more deeply with music, both as an overarching strategy and on a case-by-case level.Give me a shout.
BEATS
Rolling Stone Launches Video Channel on Amazon’s TwitchRolling Stone magazine will start producing original videos for Twitch, in an arrangement that makes the famed music and pop-culture magazine the first mainstream publication to sign a long-term content deal with Amazon Inc.’s live-video streaming service. (Wall Street Journal)
Rihanna Is Building A Lingerie Empire To Rival Victoria’s SecretSavage X Fenty, Rihanna’s two-year-old online lingerie brand, makes Victoria’s Secret look tame. At Savage’s annual fashion show, women strut out in crotchless teddies, sheer bras, and heart-shaped nipple pasties to the pulsating music of Travis Scott and Lizzo. (Fast Company)
Post Malone Will Hold A Virtual Concert To Celebrate Pokémon’s 25th AnniversaryPost Malone is joining Pokémon’s 25th anniversary celebration with a virtual concert. The rapper will perform on February 27th in a digital event kicking off at 7PM ET. On YouTube, the company released a teaser video alongside the news, which includes a look at a very Pixar-ish, animated version of the artist ahead of the performance. (The Verge)
How Patreon Is Helping Electronic Music Survive During The PandemicThe COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the live events industry, and electronic music is far from unscathed. According to the latest IMS Business Report, electronic-focused festivals and clubs were under threat of losing as much as 75% of their income, or around $3.3 billion (£2.5 billion), by the end of 2020. (DJ Mag)
Mike Shinoda Releases His first NFT – and it’s ValuableNFTs – nonfungible tokens – are rapidly pinging the radar of the music industry, as it wakes up to the decent sums of money being paid for digital collectible assets of various kinds. We expect to see a growing number of music-related NFTs this year, and Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda – often early into new tech trends – is one of the most high-profile yet. (Musically)
SPAC Attack: The Music Business' New Favorite IPO StrategyAs the music business becomes more attractive to investors, it's also becoming a magnet for alternative investment vehicles. And one of the most popular in the last two years is the special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which provides a way for private companies to go public — and for individual investors to profit from that. (Billboard)
Will Taylor Swift's Re-Recordings of Her Old Albums Be Eligible for Grammys?Taylor Swift announced Thursday (Feb. 11) that she has re-recorded her blockbuster album Fearless and will release it as Fearless (Taylor’s Version). The original Fearless, you'll recall, did very well at the Grammy Awards, winning a total of four awards, including album of the year and best country album. (Billboard)
Rappers to Watch in 2021Each year, there are new variables that shape the success of up-and-coming artists. And as we enter 2021, there are more questions than answers about what will unfold in the next 12 months. Will a new app like TikTok pop up and change the way people share and consume new music? How will virtual events evolve as the pandemic continues? (Complex)
Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey Start Bitcoin Fund for India and Countries in AfricaJay-Z and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey have started a fund for the adoption of Bitcoin in India and nations in Africa. The moguls invested 500 Bitcoin (about $24 million) in the project, according to a tweet from Dorsey. Dorsey went on to say he and Hov will not be involved in the running of the trust, which aims to encourage the use and acceptance of the cryptocurrency in India and (thus far unspecified) African countries. (Complex)
BYTES
NPR Music's Tiny Desk series will celebrate Black History Month by featuring four weeks of Tiny Desk (home) concerts and playlists by Black artists spanning different genres and generations each week. This feature highlights Rick Ross’ performance (5-time Grammy nominee) in the gallery space of Miami artist Rich B Caliente, The Boss’ longtime collaborator and friend.
This week on People’s Party with Talib Kweli, Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down with one of the greatest hustlers in the history of the rap game -- Master P. The No Limit general talks about his upbringing in the notorious Calliope Projects, making the jump from hoops to music, launching No Limit in the Bay area, his myriad influences, and unpacks his biggest hits.
With 4 million logged matches, the 1 million users on Musicpals continue to boost the platform’s user base. The anonymous messaging app that matches users based on Spotify listener data is growing rapidly, and doesn’t seem to be slowing. Founder Scott Hiet says users can find “like-minded people because it’s based on your passions of listening to music.”
Behind many great films is an equally great soundtrack, and that is the case for Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album, which finds itself a worthy complement to the historical film. Judas and the Black Messiah follows William O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) as he infiltrates the Black Panthers to give the FBI information in order to avoid a prison sentence.
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!