The world is changing before our eyes. Things are not going back to how they were. The line between “next” and “now” is completely blurred. So now more than ever, it’s important to have insight and catch trends early.Naturally, the youth are leading the way. Generation Z, the mobile-first generation, is mobilizing with a powerful sense of purpose. Their voices are keeping the world honest. They’re being forced to think clearly and with conviction as they inherit a truly volatile world.We know how quickly a product can break into the mainstream. Technology, influencers (musicians being our favorite), and an economy as global as it’s ever been create a need for speed.The same can be said of a product’s (or person’s) demise. What if TikTok gets banned? What does this mean for the content ecosystem? Do you know what your first move would be in that situation?Being knowledgeable about new tech trends is a great way to gain traction and create stability for your business. But you have to understand the technology, the cultural landscape in which it exists, and how it applies to your brand. One goal of this newsletter is to aggregate the things you need to know about the intersection of music, technology, and brands to make achieving this easier.So this week on Beats & Bytes Live I’m hosting my friend, Tiffany Zhong, of Zebra IQ, the leading Gen Z intelligence company. Tiffany is one of the smartest, most plugged-in people I know in youth culture and the Zebra IQ trend report, "2020 State of Gen Z,” is going to make waves. On the show, she’ll walk us through it and answer all of our questions.Nothing is certain right now and that’s a good thing. Opportunities will arise from these tough times and it’s important that brand marketers, entrepreneurs, and artists are at the forefront of what’s working and what’s not.Get your strategy right this Thursday at 5pm ET on LinkedIn.
BEATS
Peloton’s New Music Chief On Why Artists Should Take The Company For A SpinPeloton is looking to get up to speed with musicians, songwriters and producers. That means everything from artist catalog-driven workouts to topical deep dives with staff to themed activations. Newly elevated head of music Gwen Bethel Riley took a moment to discuss the evolving partnerships and active engagement among the connected fitness company’s 2.6 million members. (Forbes)
Jaden Smith's New Vision for New BalanceThe sneakers, officially called the NB for Jaden Smith Vision Racer, incorporate recycled materials from top to bottom. This was a prerequisite for the 22-year-old artist, who signed a deal with New Balance in 2017. The partnership includes commerce and community—they want to sell sneakers, but Smith is just as focused on the brand supporting his philanthropic efforts. (Complex)
Marshmello’s Manager Is Building Him a Kid-Friendly Business EmpireThe DJ owes much of his wild popularity with children to the strategic vision of his business team, led by manager Moe Shalizi and The Shalizi Group COO Krista Carnegie. The group is now expanding the demographic to an even younger set: toddlers. On Friday, July 10th, at midnight, it debuted Mellodees, a new YouTube animated series about a singing robot, aimed at kids between two and six years old. Marshmello himself may only make a cameo or two, but he created the setting and all the music. (Rolling Stone)
Music Maven Steve Stoute’s Pitch for Artists: Keep All the MoneySteve Stoute has an offer he thinks any musician would be crazy to turn down: You get to keep all your money, and own your work.Under a new program called UnitedMasters Select, Stoute is offering artists 100% of all royalties from their music, as well as ownership, in exchange for a $5 monthly fee. And under a new deal with Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN, any artist that’s part of UnitedMasters Select could also have their music featured on the cable sports network. (Bloomberg)
The Music Industry Is Trapped in a Void YearThe music industry, like all forms of entertainment, exists in motion. Its entire ecosystem is constructed upon consistent album rollouts, tour announcements, release parties, studio sessions, constant travel, and various forms of gathering and community. Only during that end of the year period—starting with Thanksgiving in November, running through Christmas in December, and ending with the beginning of a new year in January—does the industry slow down to give all participants who keep the machine moving a collective break. (DJ Booth)
L.A.-Based Triller Waits in the Wings as More Companies Ban TikTokTikTok has helped China's ByteDance become the world's most valuable "unicorn" company, but its shiny horn is beginning to get some serious scuff marks. Wells Fargo yesterday told employees to delete TikTok from company devices. This is similar to what Amazon did last Friday, except Wells Fargo didn't then backtrack and claim to have made "a mistake." (Axios)
Music Streaming and Sales Rebound — Will Concerts Follow Suit? Five Key Insights From New Nielsen Music/MRC Data COVID-19 ReportAs some stay-at-home orders have eased across the United States, consumers are now spending more time outdoors and less time with activities like social media, TV and video games, according to the fifth installment of Nielsen Music/MRC Data’s survey series COVID-19: Tracking the Impact on the Entertainment Landscape. They’re also increasingly interested in returning to live events in the near future -- and music sales have picked up significantly as stores reopen. (Billboard)
Now You Can Have Harry Styles Lull You To Sleep On The Calm App2020 is such a stressful nightmare, the good people at Calm sent Harry Styles to soothe our frazzled nerves. “His mellifluous voice is the perfect tonic to calm a racing mind,” said Calm co-founder and co-CEO Michael Acton Smith. I couldn’t have put it better myself. (Mic)
UnitedMasters Announces New Subscription Service 'Select,' Allows Artists to Retain 100% RoyaltiesGeared to iPhone and Android users, the "Select" subscription app will provide emerging artists on the independent circuit a bevy of tools to keep 100% of their royalties. UnitedMasters is allowing artists to either choose a 90/10 royalty split or a $5 a month subscription with no hidden fees. (Billboard)
The Next 20: The Brands And Cultural Pioneers Shaping Youth CultureInfluence is changing, both its meaning and who’s driving it. The old gatekeepers of authority — traditional media, big retailers and celebrities — no longer hold the same power they had before the world stood still, following the global COVID19 outbreak and the rise of BLM movements in all corners of the world. (High Snobiety)
Kanye West’s Deal with Gap is Unprecedented. Here’s Why.The co-branded apparel line for men, women, and children is set to arrive at Gap stores in 2021. Gap made $4.6 billion in annual sales last year and anticipates that the Yeezy Gap line will bring in an additional $1 billion in annual sales. For comparison, Adidas’ footwear deal with West reportedly pooled in $1.3 billion in sales for the brand last year. (Complex)
It’s Facebook Vs. Youtube: Official Music Videos Coming To Mark Zuckerberg’s Platform In AugustAccording to a new report from TechCrunch, Facebook Page owners linked to artists in the States have been informed by FB that, if they wish to add music videos to their page, they need to switch a toggle permitting this setting to ‘on’ ahead of August 1. The news comes after Bloomberg reported in December that Facebook was in fresh licensing discussions with Universal, Sony and Warner specifically over the rights to their music videos. (Music Business Worldwide)
BYTES
In the wake of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others, “activists have co-opted dance and music TikToks in the name of racial justice. But can an app like TikTok really be a force for social change?” In the latest, The Pitchfork Podcast review, host Puja Patel discusses this question with Pitchfork staffer Cat Zhang.
he track features on the Chicago rapper’s posthumous album ‘Legends Never Die’, which was released on Friday (July 10). The KDC Visions-directed clip begins with a cartoon Juice WRLD tipping his feelings out of a cardboard box into a wishing well. As the track goes on, the rapper details his battle with drug addiction. (NME)
Make money on Zebra Earn by completing missions in your spare time . It’s easy — your responses will have a real impact on the brands and products you love, and you’ll be rewarded for high-quality opinions.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and MICK release their summertime mixtape on @summerwater’s homepage, filled with summertime retro, soulful, rosé drinking, music that everyone can vibe to. This playlist runs tangent with Summer Water’s new line of flavored drinks.
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!