Everywhere I turn there’s an AI conversation. It’s omnipresent in the professional industries of music and advertising. I’m constantly being given AI advice from trusted friends, companions, and advisors. My trainer is even telling me the best shoes to get for the gym… not in his voice but clearly copy and pasted from an LLM.I get it and, in many ways, I love it.The exponential potential of AI is undeniable. AI has been fueling growth, changing the way we communicate, and altering how we source information and build our businesses. AI can build you code based on a vibe. AI is, without a doubt, transforming the world.But the reason I love AI most is it’s helped me get closer to God.As a cultural marketer, I’m a consummate consumer and maker of content. I come from representing artists and I’m obsessed with the creative class. I appreciate bright talent and big ideas and always try to shine my light on the ones I gravitate toward.There are a few, rare creatives you can see in their flow state; in their zone; in their pocket. That’s the dream feeling. Have you ever been there? Where you are so connected to the source that time stops and your ideas and actions are moving effortlessly as one?I was with Will.I.Am late last year during Art Basel. He was showing a room of Miami experts the amazing features of his AI invention, FYI. Will is a creative force and I am consistently inspired by his vision and tenacity. He was using his app to analyze his dreams in order to turn them into a book and, eventually, a screenplay.That’s where he lost me.We already live in an era of content abundance where attention is so scarce. Why water it down with additional AI ideas?AI is everywhere, corroding go-to platforms like LinkedIn and Spotify with its limitlessness. It’s writing our song lyrics, our poetry, and our letters of recommendation. I’ve heard friends tell me it gives them a God-level flow. I find this very backwards. After all, AI is synthetic.I read your AI posts and hear your Google notebook AI podcasts. It’s a fun party trick once but, come on. Evolved search is helpful but original thinking is still the big kahuna. Peoples’ ideas are more interesting than ever.I know more and more agencies are leaning on AI for creative. That’s their idea of “curativity.” But AI’s synthetic content does not resonate. Derivative doesn’t work in a world where the key to big hits is being unexpected and original. AI can’t do Doechii.Yes, there are efficiencies ushered in by AI, but when it comes at the expense of emotional impact, I’m out. Good luck with your AI marketing campaigns and taglines. What will cut through in this noisy environment is good, old fashion authenticity and human connection.Authenticity is the cultural, gravitational pendulum swinging against all of this synthetic content. It’s the saving grace in marketing. Tapping into my truest, deepest self while being connected to the collectivity of the universe is the quest I’ve been on all year as I’ve seen the AI trend turn into a full blown paradigm shift.The answer for me is finding spirituality. Define it as you wish, but being aligned with the divine is one of the greatest feelings on Earth. That’s when you are truly in your power.There’s a reason that religion is on the rise. Not only right this moment, when Spring brings a smorgasbord of holy days to so many faiths. No, it’s on the rise because people want the opposite of AI. They want God in the room, to borrow words from the late Quincy Jones. People are looking for true human bliss.So I want to thank AI for reminding me that my quest to be more human relies on a deeper alignment and finding ways to form a constant connection to a higher power. AI as a tool is useful and necessary when it comes to scale and the speed of the feed. But thanks to AI I have realized anew that the two things I need to win the digital transformation are to be connected to God…and super fast wifi :)Speaking of AI…My crew at OnDiscourse is putting together the AI Transformation Summit on March 26th. I’m not only a founding investor & board member, but on the host committee for their first Summit. I’m counting on this being an informative, innovative dialogue for the C-suite, with some of the brightest minds in the space. Request an invite here.
BEATS
What Is a 'restival'? Gen Z Turn To Stay-At-Home Music ExperiencesAs traditional music festivals see a decline in Gen Z attendance, a new trend of 'restivals' is emerging, where young people prefer curated, at-home music experiences over live events (The Standard).
How Cult Brands Like Crocs, Southwest See Influencer Marketing EvolvingExecutives at SXSW described how the channel is affecting everything from campaign casting decisions to experiments with new ad formats (Marketing Dive).
ESPN Launches First 2025 Formula 1 Season Promo Campaign Featuring Brand New Lady Gaga Song “Garden of Eden”ESPN is revving up its Formula 1 (F1) coverage with Academy Award, Golden Globe, and 14-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga. Today, ESPN launched its first 2025 F1 season promo campaign featuring “Garden of Eden,” a brand new song from Gaga’s forthcoming album MAYHEM, out March 7. Throughout the F1 season, ESPN will spotlight additional music from the highly anticipated album (ESPN).
Jelly Roll Stars in Zevia’s Amusing Nod to Cindy Crawford’s Old Pepsi AdZevia has enlisted Jelly Roll in its latest punking of Big Soda, with the Grammy-nominated artist starring in an amusing spot that parodies Cindy Crawford’s classic 1992 Super Bowl commercial for Pepsi (Ad Age).
Glastonbury Is Finally Taking The Risk And Putting Gen Z Artists Front And CentreAfter a few years of peddling to millennial nostalgia or boomer rock, the organisers of the Worthy Farm festival are placing their bets on a new generation of future stars. Hallelujah, says Roisin O’Connor (The Independent).
King Charles Is Playing DJ in an Unexpected Collaboration with Apple Music: 'It Brings Us Joy'The King, 76, is taking listeners on a musical journey to give an insight into music from around the Commonwealth. Recorded in his office at Buckingham Palace, "The King’s Music Room" includes artists from 1930s singers to Kylie Minogue and reggae great Bob Marley and Afrobeats stars. It also features Grace Jones, Davido and RAYE (People).
The World Was Flat. Now It's Flattened by Ted Gioia Gioia argues that despite powerful corporate forces attempting to control digital spaces, a growing resistance movement is emerging that may significantly reshape our cultural landscape in the coming year (The Honest Broker).
Music Branding Power Players 2025 ListMeet today’s most music-focused brand leaders betting on artists, songs, tours and festivals to help them grow their core business — and the top deal-makers guiding their investments (Billboard).
‘Finesse Da Glo’ With GloRilla and Savage x Fenty’s Latest Clothing CollabThe Grammy-nominated rapper recently teamed up with Rihanna's fashion brand to appear in a lingerie campaign that encourages you to release your inner glow (Rolling Stone).
Marshawn Lynch Joins Stephen Curry for Mac Dre DocumentaryRetired NFL star turned actor Marshawn Lynch is teaming with Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry to produce a documentary about legendary Bay Area hip-hop artist Mac Dre (San Fransisco Chronicle).
FIFA World Cup 26 Historic Half-Time Show and Times Square Events AnnouncedFIFA President announced exciting plans for the 2026 World Cup during the FIFA Commercial & Media Partners Convention in Dallas. The announcement confirmed the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final in New York/New Jersey, organized in partnership with Global Citizen (Gianni Infantino).
Jameson Irish Whiskey x Fender x Anderson .Paak is the Unexpectedly-Rocking Collab We Never Knew We NeededThe collection features a new limited-edition bottle designed by popular R&B artist Anderson .Paak, a guitar and amp in collaboration with Fender, as well as a tease of a future release from a streetwear brand which we’re still waiting to hear more about, but is currently unnamed (ShortList).
Glossy Pop Newsletter: Neutrogena Puts Its Tate McRae Partnership In Motion, With Hopes Of Reaching Gen ZAt the start of the month, the brand announced 21-year-old pop star Tate McRae as its latest global brand ambassador. Now, Neutrogena is revealing phase two of its plan, which includes the announcement of its sponsorship of McRae’s “Miss Possessive” global tour — a first for the company (Glossy).
Why Bombay Sapphire is Using DJ Sets and Office Happy Hours to Push GinIn the latest iteration of its “Tastes Like It’s Friday” campaign, the Bacardi brand teamed with “Friday” singer Rebecca Black to serve up a sparkling lemon cocktail (Marketing Dive).
How Gamers’ Music Tastes Break the MoldMusic and gaming are highly intertwined. In fact, gamers over-index in consumption for all top 10 U.S. music genres, compared to general population benchmarks,1 reinforcing their deep connection to both worlds (Luminate Data).
State Farm’s Here Kitty feat. SZAStuff got swiped? State Farm is there (State Farm).
The Creators Of The Las Vegas Sphere Want To Open Smaller Mini-SpheresAlthough original estimates set the cost of the Las Vegas Sphere at $1.2 billion, Sphere Entertainment eventually spent around $2.3 billion to build the interactive venue. As the company looks to expand to other cities, it’s also looking to scale down the venue, making it more affordable to build and operate (The Verge).
BYTES
Over the past few years, a celebrated filmmaker has tried to unlock the mysteries of the pop icon Prince. Sasha Weiss, a deputy editor at The New York Times Magazine, says that the result is a cinematic masterpiece. How is it possible that nobody will ever see it? (New York Times)
I’m loving Lady Gaga right now. She’s flexing her talent & her versatility is unmatched. This one gives David Bowie classic NY vibes with her own new school twist.
Music hardware has evolved from function to fashion. From Walkmans to iPods to Beats by Dre, the devices we wear signal identity & status. Now, Gen Z is reviving wired headphones, cassettes & artist-made tech. Are we entering a music hardware renaissance?
Shout out to my neighbors who just dropped this EP! Their supergroup blends Miami’s current sound with house & Latin fusion—‘hardd music for softt people.’Trevor & Kabliot are the real deal, and with this being their second release… y’all better start paying attention.
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!