Coming to you live, Air Force 1’s on the ground from NFT NYC. There’s a lot to report :) First, a good deal has changed since the last NFT NYC in November. It’s at least doubled in size. The sentiment is definitely different, too. The hype cycle is over and it’s time to build something real. Surprisingly, the big players want prices to come down and to rid the space of the folks who jumped in solely because it was hot. We need focus now.The WAGMI vibe is quietly leaving. We aren’t all gonna make it anymore. We need leaders with experience and intelligent application of big ideas. Beyond the collectible craze of NFTs, there haven’t been sufficient use cases for crypto. And NFTs still need to be easier to transact in order for mainstream adoption. There isn’t a solution yet. The next evolution will come, it’s a question of when. Web3’s protocol is going to be about ownership, whether data or access points. The wallet will remain the building block of our digital identities. Think about a Myspace Web 3.0 network based off your wallet instead of your IP address. Music will remain at the forefront of all digital revolutions. It was the first to be decimated by Napster and piracy when the internet took mainstream course. It buoyed the fame and success of many a social media star in Web 2.0. And now it’s steering the Web 3 ship. But some of the brightest minds in music and tech have conflicting views. Is it about digital merch? Enhanced fan clubs? Live innovations? Fan investment and music co-ownership? Labels going indie versus crowdfunding? Opinions are like smartphones: everybody has one. That’s part of what’s so exciting. We’re all early but the right people are coming to the party.Beyond music, there are fantastic concepts developing across different verticals. I’m hearing impressive and thoughtful ideas in wine & spirits, fashion, TV, gaming, movies, and real estate. The people putting forth these ideas are all looking to solve problems, from climate change to racial injustice and poverty. The aim is a different form of capitalism where the fiduciary duty moves in equal or greater measure to the financial stake of the shareholders. I still believe the true Web3 builders and contributors are coming from a place of wanting to make the world better for everyone. It’s inspiring to see and be a part of this. Today’s the last day in the mix. Catch me outside.
BEATS
Major Companies Are Investing In Roles Exclusively Focused On MusicOrangetheory and Headspace both turned to celebrities to serve as their chief music officers. Musicians like Legend and DJs like Aoki, as well as A&R professionals, are in fact “well positioned to be successful CMOs,” said Garrett Crosby, a sonic branding expert and owner of We Time Audio House. (the Marketing Brew)
Facebook's Metaverse Concerts Are Flopping Real Bad, But Why?Meta opened up access to Horizon Worlds last month, enabling regular users and VR enthusiasts to hop on the bandwagon that many believe will be the next big platform in tech after social media. However, the launch has been marred with a number of controversies, including reports of toxic behavior and sexual harassment. (Screen Rant)
What Does Music Taste Like? This Group Will Show You.After working decades designing and overseeing large-scale events based around food, wine and music, Boe is currently part of What Does Music Taste Like, a collaboration between musicians, sound experts and wine experts who, together, demonstrate how sound influences taste through various live and digital presentations. (Inside Hook)
Deadmau5 Is Launching His Own Online BankThe electronic producer announced a partnership today with banking, NFT and digital currency company Zytara for a branded, digital banking endeavor. Through this initiative, users will be able to employ deadmau5-branded physical and virtual debit cards at over 45 million merchants around the world. (Billboard)
VitaminWater Taps Lil Nas X For Its Biggest Campaign In YearsLil Nas X has added Vitaminwater to his growing list of brand endorsements, with the Coca-Cola Co.-owned brand using him to back its largest campaign in several years. (AdAge)
TikTok Killed the Video StarOne might guess that pop stars would be relieved by TikTok’s ostensibly humble demands. Rather than being asked to flaunt their bodies on a battleship for a big-budget video, they can just act silly in their bathrobe or backyard. (The Atlantic)
NBA and Translation: The Marketing of a Cultural Juggernautith help from longtime agency partner Translation, the league has been celebrating its 75th anniversary since the season tipped off Oct. 19. Translation created a season-long campaign called "NBA Lane," imagining a fictional street where NBA legends, old and new, live and play together—and have been working with NBA Entertainment to capture more content released across platforms. (Muse by Clio)
Charli XCX On The Endless Possibilities of the MetaverseEvery few months, it seems a new artist announces a virtual concert or fan meeting — and the latest to jump headfirst into the new world is Charli XCX, set to perform her first-ever Metaverse concert inside Samsung Superstar Galaxy on Roblox on June 17. (Nylon)
Metaverse Could Be Worth $5 Trillion by 2030: McKinsey ReportMcKinsey used this data to predict that the future of consumer behavior in the metaverse will most likely be divided into five primary activities: gaming, socializing, fitness, commerce and remote learning. (Coin Telegraph)
Spotify is Acquiring Sonantic, the AI Voice Platform Used to Simulate Val Kilmer’s Voice in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’Streaming giant Spotify, most famous for its music and podcast streaming services targeting consumers, is making an acquisition of a voice AI company to expand its reach in audio technology — opening the door not just to building more functionality on Spotify itself, but other potential business opportunities elsewhere, too. (Tech Crunch)
Audius Wants To Make Music Artists MoneyMusic platform Audius is among the more mainstream projects to come from the crypto world, securing early funding from players in the very industry the shop aims to disrupt. Think: Katy Perry, Nas, Jason Derulo and Pusha T. (Axios)
The Future Of Entertainment Innovation Lies In Exclusive Experiences, Not ContentStreaming shifted the consumption dynamic from ‘ownership’ to ‘access’ – but, the truth was, consumers always valued access more. Ownership was largely just a necessary hurdle to access entertainment. (Midia Research)
Why The Popeyes Jingle Is So CatchyWhen it comes to commercials, a good jingle might just be enough to make thoughts of crispy french fries or savory sandwiches stick around in your mind well after your favorite show is back on. (Mashed)
Red Alert: Harry Styles Designed a New Collection for GucciToday in Milan, Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele held a press conference in a vintage clothing shop. The surprise announcement? A new collection, dubbed HA HA HA, that he designed with pop star and fashion muse Harry Styles. (GQ)
Looks like TikTok Was Sending U.S. User Data to China After AllThis past Friday, TikTok announced that it had started routing American users’ data to U.S. servers owned by Oracle. Hours later, a report from BuzzFeed News claims that TikTok employees in China had “repeatedly” accessed U.S. users’ data, based on over 80 hours of leaked calls it dubbed the “TikTok Tapes.” (Input Mag)
Pharrell Named Chief Brand Officer of Doodles NFT ProjectThe web3 NFT, media, and entertainment brand made the announcement at an NFT-focused event in New York on Tuesday, per a report from Decrypt. In a video statement shared at the event in question, Pharrell said he’s a “big fan” of Doodles, adding that his new role (which is also said to see him joining the board) will enable him and the larger Doodles team to “build from the core community outward.” (Complex)
Kanye West Is Right to Be Frustrated With AdidasKanye West wants to change the sneaker industry. Of course he already has, rewriting the rules around how big brands collaborate with artists and enlarging the scale of hype footwear into sustained commercial success. (Complex)
Mastercard Partners With Timbaland's Beatclub For First-Ever Music AlbumMastercard has made its way into the music industry. The global pioneer in payment innovation and technology has launched its first-ever music album, Priceless®, with the help of Timbaland’s Beatclub music platform. (AfroTech)
BYTES
Without a doubt, Cooper Turley has been one of Web3’s biggest champions, and is a firm believer in how NFTs can revolutionize the music industry.
John Legend has dropped “Dope” featuring J.I.D, the first single from his upcoming album. The title of his eighth studio album and the release date has not yet been revealed.
After announcing Telegram Premium earlier this month, the messaging app has finally rolled out the paid tier, which gives users access to extra features for $4.99 / month (via TechCrunch).
It’s tradition: New Drake music means new cause for every corner of the internet — skeptics, fans, casual listeners — to hash out their feelings about all things Aubrey.
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!