It’s mind-bending how fast the calendar moves this time of year, but I find one of the best ways to change your perception of time is to switch up your routine and break the monotony.These next few weeks I’ll be playing the map, moving and grooving with some key targets on my hit list.Advertising Week is this week in NY, a must for my biz. Not the conference necessarily but the NYC takeover gives me the chance to cover a lot of ground and connect with so many folks in the brand world. It conveniently overlaps with Blackweek & Comic Con NY, where I’m expecting a dazzling array of brands, culture, and fandom mixed in one cal invite.Next week, Billboard Latin Music takes over Miami, which is always a great event for the city. I can’t wait to tap in with my communities and chat groups IRL, like On Discourse, Round Table, PTTOW, and the Breakfast Club cohort.ComplexCon is always the place to be for content and culture, and I'm sure this year in Vegas won’t be anything short of amazing..I’m pumped they are bringing back Verzus!My speedrun concludes with Brandweek, aka the Adweek super bowl and a great conference to share ideas. This year it’s in ATL and I'm leading a panel called Entertaining Culture Through Music and Moments. With Victoria Lambert of PepsiCo and Billboard’s recently anointed R&B Producer of the 21st Century, Jermaine Durpi, we’ll deliver a mainstage masterclass on music, community, and branding.I’m excited to get in person with everyone before we gear up for the sprint toward the holidays and, of course, Art Basel. My top-level goal is to remain present in the moment while pushing what’s next. What a crazy year it’s been, with so many ups, downs, and opportunities in the air. I’ll see you in the mix and, as always, hit me here if you want to talk shop.
BEATS
Starbucks Ties In-Store Experiences, Rewards To New Taylor Swift AlbumThe chain is seizing on hype for “The Life of a Showgirl” by outfitting a Nashville store with a vinyl pop-up shop, photo booths and more. (Marketing Dive)
Gen Z's College Radio RevivalReports say Gen Z isn't discovering new artists. But college radio stations are overflowing with new DJs. As young listeners reject algorithms for analog—the industry should pay attention. (Emily White)
AudioShake Raises $14M For AI Tech That Can Turn Any Audio File Into StemsAudioShake has developed an AI-driven technology that can take any audio file and break apart its components into stems, meaning separate tracks for vocals, individual music instruments, sound effects and the like. (Music Business Worldwide)
Universal Music, Warner Music Nearing AI Licensing Deals, FT ReportsTalks involved start-ups such as ElevenLabs, Stability AI, Suno, Udio and Klay Vision, the report said, adding that the music companies are also in talks with large technology groups, including Alphabet's, opens new tab Google and Spotify. (Reuters)
Would You Pay $27,000 for a Used Concert T-Shirt?When Sotheby’s rolled out a selection of Grateful Dead memorabilia in October 2021, a mango yellow T-shirt made in 1967 and featuring the band’s logo was expected to rake in a respectable $6,000 to $8,000 (Hollywood Reporter)
BYTES
Jon Batiste sits down with Bob Lefsetz for a soulful deep dive into creativity, faith, and the state of music today. Fresh off a Red Rocks show, he reflects on the power of live performance, the loss of authenticity in the industry, and why joy is his protest. It’s raw, real, and full of truth — a reminder that music still has the power to heal and connect us.
What really makes a song go viral? And how do labels make them a hit? In this episode, Billboard On The Record sits down with the CEO of Atlantic Records, Elliot Grainge, on the first anniversary of his appointment to the job to talk about the label and the forces that are shaping the modern music industry.
Messaging-based communication platforms give devoted super fans a chance to privately connect with their favorite groups — for a price. (Hollywood Reporter)
On September 28, Jeezy dropped Still Snowin’, a 17-track collab with DJ Drama, produced by DJ Toomp and Don Cannon. Featuring no guests, the project blends Jeezy’s sharp bars with funky, soulful beats.
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!