Boosting Local Sales, Music Revenue, & Social Media Balance

Welcome to The Beat’s latest drop—a playlist of perspectives from the influencers and innovators moving the needle. Here’s what’s on repeat from the voices moving culture forward:

• Local retail strategies can transform your business by rooting it deeply within the community, fostering loyalty and economic growth.
• Music artists can amplify their revenue through diverse streams, from merch sales to sync licensing, turning their passion from gigs into gains.
• Social media users can safeguard their mental health with effective strategies that balance online presence with real-world interactions.

For the uninitiated: The Beat is a free, biweekly newsletter designed for the influencers, tastemakers, and innovators in the worlds of music, entertainment, media, food & beverage, fashion, sports, gaming, and more. Each article featured below is penned by a member of Rolling Stone Culture Council, a community of influential leaders across an array of industries.

With the lineup set, let’s turn up the volume on this week’s insights.

Retail Is Local: Lean Into Your Community

Peter Su, CTP, CCBP, CCCE, GRCP, GRCA, IDPP, ACBP, CBE - Director of Specialty Banking Hanover Bank

Despite the e-commerce boom, retail's heart still beats loudest at the local pulse points. By engaging with and embedding themselves within their neighborhoods, physical storefronts not only survive but thrive. Embracing local culture and people is a surefire strategy to foster loyalty and set your store apart from impersonal chains.

Here’s all you need to know:

?? Local Love: Dive deep into community pride and loyalty. Stores that nod to local culture can cultivate a stronger customer base.

???Uniqueness Unleashed: Stand apart by celebrating what makes your community unique, differentiating your store from generic chains.

???Cultural Preservation: Organize and participate in activities that preserve and highlight community culture.

Going Local Isn't Just Nice, It's Necessary

• Local Products & Partnerships: Show off local talent, from farmers to artists.
• Community Events: Make your store a hub for local activity through events that echo community values.
• Staff Engagement: Employ locals and educate them about their community to better serve customers.

Case Studies in Community Connectivity

• Alta Dispensary, NY: Enriched Chinatown with culturally resonant grand opening events, including donations to local charities, asserting a profound community connection.
• Emerald Dispensary, Brooklyn: Skillfully negotiated local sentiment by preserving a celebrated Biggie Smalls mural, engaging community empathy and support by respecting cultural landmarks.

Read The Full Article >

Key Income Streams for Artists: Growing Your Art as a Business

Howard Murphy - Music Entrepreneur & Investor Ostereo

Navigating the music biz? It’s about the cash flow, baby! Thriving as an artist isn't just jamming on Spotify.

It's unleashing a full-blown assault on all fronts: diversification and collaboration. It's time to turn those tunes into a legit business.

Explore critical insights below:

???Plan Your Releases: Don’t just stick to Spotify. Hit every platform—Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat. They all pay! Engineer your posts to make ‘em sticky and true to your vibe.

???Collaborate: Amp up your game by teaming up with other artists. It’s about exposure, fresh vibes, and unlocking new doors.

???Collect Your Royalties: Got airplay? Get paid. Sign up with PROs like PRS and PPL to ensure you’re collecting what you deserve.

??? Play Live: Hit the stage to connect with fans and rake in cash through tickets and merch sales. Log every gig with PRS for those sweet performance royalties.

???Sync Licensing: Placement in films and commercials can be mega-lucrative. Prepare your tracks for syncing by networking with music supervisors and preparing instrumental versions.

?? Livestream: Engage with fans and earn through platforms like TikTok and Twitch. Virtual gifts? Yes, please.

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5 Tips To Protect Your Mental Health in Social Media-Dominant Careers

Sam Saideman - Cofounder & CEO Innovo

Stuck in the digital quagmire? With careers welded to social platforms, the "social media trap door" can consume your mental peace. Whether chasing likes or spiraling from comparisons, the scroll is real—and potentially harmful.

Here’s all you need to know:

???Take Social Media Breaks: Just log off. Seriously. Everything and everyone will survive without your likes for a bit. Use this time to remember what actual sunlight feels like.

???Limit Usage with Apps: Use the built-in smartphone tools to control your app indulgence. Set limits and stick to them to free your real life from the clutches of the virtual one.

???Pick Up an Offline Hobby: Rediscover old passions or dive into new ones. Get your hands dirty with something tangible—no Wi-Fi necessary.

???Curate Your Feed: Take control of what you see. If something—or someone—on your feed makes you feel like crap, hit that unfollow. Customize your digital world to be a space of motivation, not despair.

Thought Overload??

Sometimes, a good social media cleanse is just what you need. But don’t let the digital world consume you. Balance is key. Shake some hands, kiss some babies, climb a tree—do something in the glorious, messy real world and remember why you started in this mad rush of social media. Your mental health will thank you for it. From our screens to yours, you got this!

Read The Full Article >

Wrapping Up

If these articles sparked your interest, we have a network that you will love: Rolling Stone Culture Council.

This exclusive, vetted community brings together influential leaders and innovators in art, media, gaming, theater, social impact, fashion, film, hospitality, sports, and more.

Put yourself at the forefront of innovation with access to publishing opportunities on RollingStone.com, a personalized, SEO-friendly Executive Profile, and the chance to network with other respected leaders in the field.

Join Rolling Stone Culture Council today and become part of a group driving innovation in entertainment.