There’s something very interesting happening in media these days.
They say a paradigm shifts slowly, and then all at once. I don’t think we are there yet, but I’ve noticed that mainstream media is no longer the de facto place for reliable information.
As much as I enjoy my morning coffee with a plethora of magazines and the New York Times, the truth is, if it’s in today’s paper, it’s yesterday’s news.
Being on the pulse of culture is so important when it comes to being a marketer. To me, it’s clear that the traditional media is less and less influential in sharing the stories that feel the pulse.
We are seeing it with the election. The podcast circuit is proving itself to be the battleground for candidates to tell their stories and provide valuable context and personalization regarding who they are and what they stand for. As crazy as it might have sounded two years ago, the most coveted stage in this election could very well be Joe Rogan’s podcast. How the candidates perform on his show in these next 10 days might actually decide the next era of American democracy.
Beyond politics, the shift in dynamics around media is palpable. Talking heads don’t matter and outlets like Rolling Stone are clearly biased. I don’t want to give all of the credit to Substack – although they’re branding this era of media stars as Substackers – because it’s not about the platform, it’s about the medium. The folks that are “Storydoing” instead of Storytelling are giving the full picture of the cultural landscape.
The way big ideas, brands, and stars are spread is different now. Curation, critical thinking, and POV are at a premium. The key voices shaping culture exhibit these major keys to marketing success.
Speaking of the influencers and innovation around music and media, check out Mediaweek, produced by Adweek in NYC on Oct 29th and 30th. I’m having a discussion with producer, artist, and CEO, Ryan Leslie, as well as Antony Demekin, founder of ethical AI music company, Tuney. We’ll dive into how the latest innovations—from AI-driven music production to interactive media platforms– are transforming how artists create and how audiences engage.
I’m excited to explore the future of this dynamic fusion and share how tech is unlocking new possibilities for collaboration, creativity, and cultural impact. This will provide an invaluable perspective on how music and media are evolving to create the next frontier of entertainment.