https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agj5zZbinhgWhere We’ve Been, Where We’re At The internet fundamentally changed the world and how people interact by bringing forth previously unimaginable reach, connection, collection of information, and content. It has changed the way people create, consume, engage, and discuss content and projects; it has even changed how we interact in society. While the internet has been with some of us our entire lives and is now deeply embedded in nearly everything we do daily, it is still new. Across generations, our understanding of how to best use it, and our relations ..read more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vz2iXWTL4c Action Bronson has built a multi-dimensional brand that crosses many audiences, reaches multiple niches, and opens the door for a variety of brand partnerships. Some people know Action for his music, some for his culinary expertise on Fuck, That’s Delicious, and some for stoner culture insights, all which are powered by a brash and charismatic personality that draws people in. So let’s examine how this all came together and what it has meant for his career. As with any good brand it all starts with understanding yourself. From understanding who you a ..read more

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. This could be a simple explanation for the recreation and infusion of past trends and nostalgic aesthetics, sounds, concepts, and creations we see in art, fashion, entertainment, and business. We see nostalgia being heavy-handedly produced with recreations of childhood entertainment and products. We see nostalgia-infused concepts bringing forth original ideas. We see nostalgia for older eras causing stylistic influence as well. All of it happens in varying degrees of success. With this, there are questions that arise: Is all of this nostalgia good ..read more

Sensory appeal can be a key element in creating an influential brand and having an influential experience. Food and music often tend to be at the core of many experiences, and people of all ages are prioritizing their monetary spending on experience. According to a study conducted by Expedia, 74% of Americans are prioritizing experiences over spending on products and material things. With that being the case, companies are doubling down in creating experiences for consumers. This presents an opportunity that artists should look to capitalize on by partnering with brands in new ways. A Complex ..read more

The way fans are consuming music in the streaming era is constantly changing and because of that, artists are constantly changing how they deliver music. Some are using shorter songs, using meme titles for songs, and some are focusing on extremely long projects. Meanwhile, others are opting for short projects, some are skipping projects and focusing just on singles, and some are doing stealth releases with no marketing. Oftentimes, it’s younger or less established artists opting to focus on singles, for good reason. Releasing singles allows them to test the market to see what audiences are re ..read more

What makes a superstar? That’s a question that runs through the heads of both the public and artists. How does someone make that jump? There are so many talented artists in the world, but there must be a differentiator that propels some talented artists to stardom and leaves others struggling to get their music heard. Obviously, the first answer that comes to mind for many is resources. While that’s certainly part of the equation, there are numerous artists that have had label backing, resources, and a hit or two, and they were still unable to make the jump to lasting stardom. So, there has t ..read more

Curren$y's strong vision and desire to be able to be himself in the music industry has driven his success as an independent artists. I break down how and why his music release strategy is impactful and helps him create a loyal niche following. Watch and see Curren$y's thought process and how other artists can emulate some of his strategies and philosophies for success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNyzq6DBZko&t=1s ..read more

Saint JHN is a rising star in hip-hop. He appears to be an artist that's come onto the scene with the complete package, which is causing legends in the industry to say they're his pick for artist to build a label around. In this video we take a look at Saint JHN and steps he's taken to set himself up to have a massive career. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM1gvjKTHyA&t=2s ..read more

Mike Posner is an artist that I've followed since high school. The up and downs of his career, his metamorphosis as an artist and human is something we can all learn from. Furthermore, there's some fundamental marketing strategies he's used that artists should examine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvXqo_E9ATc ..read more

Let’s examine Nipsey Hussle. Nipsey embodies the philosophy of an artist operating like a business and it has paid dividends for his career. The foundation of what’s made Nipsey successful is his willingness to be patient, experiment, and go through trial and error. You can’t be afraid to try new things that you believe in. With experimentation being the base, he’s built upon that with some great principles. Those five principles are: 1. A focus on your core product 2. Fan segmentation and relationships 3.Diversifying business and expanding brand 4.Building an ecosystem 5. Strategic partnershi ..read more