I’m obsessed with formats and I love exploring how to present art and culture in ways that can be repurposed. Alternate formats offer a unique perspective and breathe fresh life into content.In London this weekend, I had the chance to see The ABBA hologram show. This is totally unlike anything I’ve seen before. The holograms looked so real you almost couldn’t tell the members weren’t standing on stage. Even though the band is alive, we were able to see a younger version of them and the crowd was LOVING it. Everyone was waving their hands and stomping their feet. This show is proof of concept for reincarnation in a digital world.The show never made mention of the technology used or the absence of the group members. In fact, the running joke was that the band would go backstage to change and then bam! — an outfit change would be beamed in.I truly see the potential for this format. It felt like I was staring the future in it's face. In a world where digital is more relatable than real life for many people, this is a live performance trend around like no other. It makes the wear and tear of the road seem wholly unnecessary.Today, I’m in Venice art hunting at the Arte Biennale. I understand why they call it the Olympics of the art world. The city is a treasure chest of inspiring exhibits showcasing different countries with the common theme of “Foreigners Everywhere.” I’m fascinated by how this magical, mystical city can be transformed with global art installations yet stay true to its deep rooted Italian charm.Next up is a weekend in Milan where I’m going to catch the show of the year in one of the fashion capitals of the world. Yes, that’s right. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Which has two sold out nights there and I’m excited to not only see Tay-tay in the flesh, but to witness her global impact in a far off land.Please mind the out of office sign. I’m doing my best to take a Euro style holiday :)Cheers!
BEATS
Binaural Beats Are Known For Their Positive Effects On The Brain. Universal Music Has Invented Tech That Can Generate And Add Them To Existing Audio TracksThe filing, titled, ‘Generating tonally compatible, synchronized neural beats for digital audio files‘ describes what UMG calls “new and innovative systems and methods for generating and adding neural beats to existing audio tracks” (Music Business Worldwide).
Bebe Rexha Debuts ‘Soundz’ Experience In Three Roblox GamesOne of the things the music industry has learned about Roblox in the last couple of years is that artists can be part of it without launching their own standalone game or experience. Bebe Rexha is the latest musician with a presence stretching across some of the most popular existing games on the platform (Musically).
Olivia Rodrigo & Stanley Cup Just Announced 2024’s Hardest-To-Obtain CollabThe collaboration, judging by a video posted by the brand, takes the form of a 40-ounce quencher in the singer’s signature lavender hue, with the addition of metallic star appliqués along the top, inspired by the GUTS Tour confetti (Nylon).
Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Merch Is Also Virtual In SnapchatThe launch of the line came with an accompanying campaign on Snapchat. There’s an interactive lens that turns fans into Cowboy Carter with music playing in the background, and the album is available in Snapchat’s sound library for use in snaps and videos (Musically).
After Being Acquired By Hybe In A $32m Deal Last Year, Voice Cloning Startup Supertone Launches AI-Powered Virtual Pop Group, SYNDI8The company has just unveiled a virtual pop group called SYNDI8, whose voices were developed using AI technology. The technology used for the group’s voices was developed by AI audio company Supertone, which is majority-owned by HYBE, after it struck a $32 million deal for the tech in 2023 (Music Business Worldwide).
How Fortnite and Roblox Are Becoming Marketing Tools For The Music IndustryAs platforms such as Fortnite and Roblox become full-service platforms for digital life, the music industry is moving beyond virtual concerts. These days, musicians are integrating more deeply into virtual worlds to promote their album releases and bring in new fans (Digiday).
We’ve Got To Rethink Music FestivalsIt’s no secret that the Great British summer festivals are finding things tricky this year. For all the talk of boom-town Swiftonomics at stadiums in Edinburgh, Liverpool and London, for UK festivals it’s carnage with 50 (fifty!) cancellations, and counting. You’ll find the casualties listed at the foot of this article, but let’s first dissect how we got here (Music Business Worldwide).
Culture Where Advertisers Become TrendsettersWhen it comes to understanding your greater audience, understanding the waves in culture is step number one. As sophisticated and complex as targeting and measurement capabilities have become for advertisers, it's still difficult for brands and agencies to speak clearly to their audiences and find them where they express individuality and preferences (Sirius XM).
Sam Ash Assets Acquired for $15.2MMexican-based retailer Gonher will acquire “substantially all” of Sam Ash Music’s assets out of bankruptcy for $15.2 million, according to court documents. Gonher was declared the successful bidder following a June 20 auction. New Jersey-based U.S. bankruptcy court judge Stacey Meisel approved the deal on Friday (Retail Dive).
Pusha T Unveiled as Louis Vuitton’s Newest AmbassadorThe Pharrell Williams era continues to boom at Louis Vuitton. The luxury fashion house announced his longtime musical collaborator Pusha T is its newest ambassador, Women’s Wear Daily announced on Monday. Since Williams’ takeover as the creative director of Louis Vuitton, King Push has been riding strong in his support, taking the runway for his first two collections and unveiling a new song, “Birds Can’t Sing,” at the brand’s SS25 show in Paris last month (Boardroom).
Cypress Hill Make 28-Year-Old Simpsons Joke Come TrueIt was back in 1996 when an episode of The Simpsons featured a joke where Cypress Hill believed they had mistakenly booked the London Symphony Orchestra, whilst under the influence.On Wednesday night, that joke becomes a reality at the Royal Albert Hall.After years of fan pressure, the American hip-hop group reached out to the LSO over social media and a deal was struck (BBC).
Shakira to Perform at Halftime of Copa América FinalIt's official: Shakira will be the halftime performer for this Sunday's Copa América final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Colombian-born singer is set to perform "a combination of her well-known anthems and her latest hits." Shakira has plenty of experience performing during big sporting events, having shared the Super Bowl halftime show duties with Jennifer Lopez in 2020 and appearing on stage at three World Cups (Boardroom).
Pharrell & Louis Vuitton's Timberland Collab, Workwear Capsule Coming Soon Louis Vuitton is making its workwear looks, including an exclusive footwear collaboration with Timberland, available for presale on July 18. The latest Pharrell project since he took over as Men’s Creative Director in 2023, the new ready-to-wear styles include chore coats, multi-pocketed trousers, practical separates, and accessories, such as a limited-edition Keepall 50 Toolbox bag (Boardroom).
STATS OF THE WEEK
How The “Hawk Tuah” Viral Phenomenon Is Driving Consumption Of Tim McGraw’s 1996 Song, "Indian Outlaw"Have you heard about the "Hawk Tuah" phenomenon? If not, let us fill you in. It all began with a viral video featuring Hailey Welch, also known as the "Hawk Tuah Girl." During a street interview by Tim & Dee TV, she responded to a question about ‘a bed move that drives men crazy’ with a humorous and animated answer: "You gotta give 'em that 'hawk tuah' and spit on that thang!"This quirky and candid response quickly captured the internet, spreading like wildfire across various social media platforms with media outlets like Howard Stern, Forbes and Mashable attempting to explain what a ‘hawk tuah’ even is. Since the interview began to pick up virality on June 18th, Google Trends data shows that searches on Google for the phrase "Hawk Tuah" have increased by more than 300% with media mentions of “Hawk Tuah” and “#HawkTuah” reaching 1.17M total mentions, according to Meltwater.
BYTES
In a moment of success for newcomers like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, is there still a path to becoming a true cross-platform pop superstar?
Kendrick Lamar and co-director Dave Free layered the “Not Like Us” video with Easter eggs ripe for fan interpretation. Here’s what they all might mean (Complex).
Designed to appeal to a younger crowd — or anyone who wants to connect with friends or around shared interests — noplace is like a modern-day Myspace with its colorful, customizable profiles that allow people to share everything from relationship status, to what they’re listening to or watching, what they’re reading or doing, and more (Tech Crunch).
Casper Caan’s new track “H.A.O.U.” is out! His debut album “Last Chance” drops July 12.
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!