Category Archive

How can you not be inspired by Kanye’s album roll out this week?!? Inspired and…confused? Aggravated? Disappointed? As spectators, we’ve been in a tough spot with Ye, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017.  As a culture, we are still not having an honest discussion about mental health or the severity and nuance of the disorders millions of people and artists face. As for the art, Kanye has been in a very creative zone and the Donda 2 promo …

As you know, I’m bullish on music livestreams and a big believer in the growth potential of that sector of the industry. Livestreaming has evolved over the past two years, from an afterthought to a key component of every artist’s live performance strategy. What served as a lifeline when in-person events were canceled is now attracting artists and labels, big and small, to connect with fans and drive new revenue. I love how livestreams break down the fourth wall and …

When I was a talent agent and manager, I was often reminded by my record label counterparts that they were the ones sleeping soundly at night, knowing their artists were locked into long-term deals. The labels were bulletproof, while everyone else lived one mishap away from being fired. Label relevance has waned in recent years, and more and more creator tools are being generated to empower artists. It’s exciting to see the industry change for the better and to see …

New releases have always been the lifeblood of the music business. The pop charts drove the charts, and the anticipation you could build around an artist delivered reliable results. But right now, catalog music is what’s running the industry. Roughly 70% of streams come from songs 18 months or older, and huge multiples are being paid for them. Everyone is looking to acquire songs and “classics” are more valuable than ever. Everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Bob Dylan is getting …

The Internet went from being mythical – here’s Bill Gates describing Web 1.0 to David Letterman in ‘95 – to intrinsic, with Social Media and mobile technology shaping our current Web 2.0 world. Now, the third digital revolution, Web3, is upon us. Online experiences, blockchain technology, and the Hyperverse (that’s all the metaverses, btw) are developing at light speed. As exciting as it is, Web3 is far from figured out. Myths are being conjured and principles are being determined, but not everything …

With CES sparsely attended this year, Sundance going fully virtual, the Grammys postponed to Spring, the Superbowl potentially pushed to Texas, and Frieze being put on freeze (for now), the story of 2022 so far is large scale events getting omicrushed. Still, the desire to connect is high as the culture around Web3 is driving tons of collaboration and concepts. It remains an exciting time. My strategy? Livestream if you’re going big and keep it intimate in person. This weekend …

Hello, Frens. I hope your break was productive and smooth. I took a good amount of time to recharge, relax, reflect, and look forward. Traditionally, this time of year is when I’m dropping predictions for the music business and the upcoming year. But I’m not doing that this year. These lists provide interesting perspectives, but the bottom line is they are superfluous. Pretty much every list I’ve read over the past 10 years missed the two most transformative events of …

What a year! Is this what anybody was thinking when they were calling it the roaring Twenty-Twenties? It’s been a non-stop digital bonanza. From the explosion of NFTs and digital tribes (DAOs); to online concerts, Zoom meetings, and the growing relevance of the metaverse; we’re “plugged in” in a whole new way. It’s amazing how productive we can be in this digital realm. Part of me loves it and part of me feels like we’ve over-accelerated the future. I’m not …

When a year is wrapping up, I’m always partial to looking ahead, not back. But if there’s one thing I learned in 2021, it’s to never predict the future. Nonetheless, when my friends at Hypebot asked me where I thought the industry was going, I couldn’t help but whip out my crystal ball. Here are two music business 2022 predictions: 1. The Hybrid Event Becomes Industry Standard The livestreaming industry exploded due to the pandemic. The genie is out of …

It’s Indie Music Week! Although I enjoy working on a regular basis with major labels, the indie music scene is and always will be the lifeblood of the music business. It’s where transformation happens and high growth opportunities arise. It’s hard to replicate this inside a major. The cultural shifts that happen outside “the machine” are the result of nimble, crafty players with equal parts taste and survival instinct. But what does being indie mean today? Everyone is signed to someone …

I’m very distraught over the passing of one of my personal heroes, Virgil Abloh. Virgil was a fellow Badger. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin around the time I did. We worked together a couple of times. As a peer, I looked up to him tremendously. I’m a big believer in mentorship. It’s clear from the outpouring of screenshots and back stories that he was as well. He somehow managed to uplift everyone he came in contact with. I …

Is it me or did the holidays creep up on us this year? I guess they always do. The sprint from Labor Day to Turkey Day is a time to fire on all cylinders, and that’s exactly what I did. I landed back in New York last night and I’m staring down the barrel of what this weekend has become: a whirlwind of love and excitement. It’s crazy to think that, because of Covid, we haven’t seen many loved ones …

  Web3 is taking the reins from Web2. The technology is adapting and the culture is shifting accordingly. A wonderful, wacky new world is taking shape. It’s wild how early we are. We’re going to look back and find many of the current trends laughable. Over the past month, the producers of Board Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) have signed with a major agency (UTA), taken on one of the top music managers in the business (Guy Oseary), and inked a …

It’s been a minute since I wrote about it, but Nue Agency continues to explore the psychedelics and psilocybin space (not just recreationally 🙃). We’re aligning with various funds, companies, and brands because the power of psychedelics to change the world compels us to get involved. These psychedelic-based therapies are providing a great deal of hope in the field of mental health. The psychedelics industry’s public market value went from zero at the onset of the pandemic to over $9 …

It’s wild: New York has transformed into the NFT capital of the world this week. NFT.NYC feels like a conference built on FOMO. I’m here for it and I still feel like I’m missing out. That’s why this new form of digital art is doing so well. The community is strong and people want to be a part of it. There are culture-shaping drops happening on every corner. I’m learning a ton and connecting with so many great folks. The …