One of the more dynamic and exciting roles played in modern culture is that of the Venture Capitalist.Finance is becoming “cool” and relevant in ways it hasn’t been before. Apps like Robinhood and Public, where anyone can invest in stocks broker-free, are all the rage. Meme stocks are moving the market; traders are becoming more educated and sophisticated as crypto and smart contracts develop more fully; and the power of platforms like Carta, which reduces friction in the paperwork needed to own a piece of a company, is helping propel an investment zeitgeist.The similarities between VCs and A&Rs are glaring to me. VCs get in early with entrepreneurs and provide the resources needed to realize a vision. They incubate the next generation of changemakers, betting their time and money on a few companies they hope will turn into “platinum-selling” unicorns.A&Rs, meanwhile, are the ones finding and developing artists. They’re the scouts and they’re in the studio putting the pieces together. They have the most coveted jobs at a record label and the most connection with the creators.Artist and brand careers are now treated like start-ups. Fans can invest directly in people they believe in, giving them a tiny taste of what it’s like to be an investor. Their contributions matter! While traditional VCs have massive resources, shifting market dynamics and lessons from the past are showing us that fresh faces are needed on the field.That’s why today’s launch of a new venture firm out of New York City, CityRock Capital, is so exciting. Their mission is to empower a diverse, inclusive group of companies and investors. I’m an advisor, an ally, and a big fan of the founding team. I commend them on their launch and encourage all of you to get familiar with this hot, new fund that has a great eye for talent.
BEATS
How to Contact Brands for Sponsorships and CollaborationsReaching out to brands to ask for anything can be intimidating. Especially in an age of social distancing, brand sponsorships and collaborations are some of the most lucrative opportunities you can get. (Flypaper)
COLLAB OR NOTHING: Emerging Fashion Collaborations to WatchAs Gen Z and Millennials continue to push the envelope on self-identity, there is a boom waiting to happen in the fashion industry. Lottie, 14 from Illinois, tells Cassandra that “this year’s fashion is what I’ve wanted to dress like” and, now, “it’s finally in stores.” (Cassandra)
Music-Focused NFT Marketplace Raises $4M From Cuban, Kutcher, Dapper CEOStartup NFT Genius will be using $4 million it raised in a seed round of funding to build a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace on Dapper Labs’ Flow blockchain, the company said Monday. The round was backed by Dapper Labs CEO Roham Gharegozlou, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, actor Ashton Kutcher and bitcoin advocate Anthony Pompliano. (Coindesk)
The Hottest New Concert Venue: Your Local Movie TheaterBrooke Green wasn’t sure who the band was, but she was excited for the show. A self-described live-music fan, the elementary-school teacher “didn’t really care who was playing.” “I’ve been home alone in isolation for a year on Zoom,” said Ms. Green, who added that she has spent thousands of dollars lining up tickets for in-person concerts in the summer and fall. “I’m just so eager to get out.” (WSJ)
Inside Universal, Sony, and Warner’s Arms Race For Your AttentionStreaming, media, and indies have changed the game for the three biggest major record labels. Here’s a full breakdown on where each company is heading.The post-pandemic music industry has long-term uncertainty but short-term excitement. Thanks to the backbone of digital streaming, which actually saw more traffic in lockdowns, the music market is hotter than Fetty Wap in the summer of 2015. (Trapital)
Facebook Launches Indie Music Program for Artists to Distribute Songs Across Social Giant’s AppsFor the Facebook Independent Artist Program, the company teamed with third-party music distribution companies DistroKid and TuneCore to help artists get their music on Facebook and Instagram quickly and at no cost to the artists. The program covers Facebook and Instagram Stories, Instagram Reels and everywhere else Facebook uses music. (Variety)
Jay-Z Is Suing a Photographer for ‘Exploiting’ His Image. Does He Have a Case?In 1996, as Jay-Z was gearing up to release his debut album, he hired a photographer named Jonathan Mannion for a photoshoot. Mannion took hundreds of photos of the rapper, one of which he wound up using for the cover of 1996’s Reasonable Doubt. Now, twenty-five years later, Jay-Z is suing Mannion—alleging that he’s been exploiting those images and illicitly trading on the superstar’s name for his own gain. (Vice)
Can Streaming Pay? Musicians Are Pinning Fresh Hopes on Twitch.Each weekday at 8:30 a.m., after getting his twin 2-year-olds dressed, fed and set up with their nanny, Matthew K. Heafy decamps to an unoccupied bedroom in his home in Orlando, Fla., and flicks on three computers, three cameras and a battery of guitar equipment in preparation for his morning livestream shredfest. (NY Times)
Why Amazon Traded a Big Concert for Prime Day Mini-Musicals With Billie Eilish, H.E.R. and Kid CudiTheir Prime Day special for 2021 brings in three of the most charismatic stars in contemporary music — H.E.R., Kid Cudi and Billie Eilish — for what amount to lavish mini-musicals. The three specials-within-a-special, all about 25 minutes each, start airing today. (Variety)
BYTES
In the latest episode of Rich Kleiman’s Out Of Office, Mark Ronson talks about the early years of their friendship and Mark's trajectory from being a seat filler at the Grammys to the shock of winning his first Grammy for Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black. Mark also goes deep on how producing for Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen changed the trajectory of his career.
The collab was posted in honour of Go Skateboarding Day – an event which seeks to make skateboarding more accessible, celebrated yearly by Tony Hawk and his nonprofit The Skateboard Project which creates safe and inclusive skateparks for youths in disadvantaged communities.
The Music Tectonics app is a social network just for the Music Tech community. It's easy to become a member and start networking with other innovators across the music and tech macrosystem. Share insights from your corner of music and tech in our community forum, stay up to date on the shifting terrain of the industries with a curated news feed, and get access to exclusive content.
Vince Staples shares ‘Law of Averages’, the first track from his new album, In a statement on the 10-track LP, the rapper says: “It really gives much more information about me that wasn’t out there before. That’s why I went with that title. I feel like I’ve been trying to tell the same story. As you go on in life, your point of view changes. This is another take on myself that I might not have had before.”
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!