Jay Z, 3D, Concerts, AI, Holograms. Click Now For Your Weekly Cultural Intel Brief!

Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a good start. As always, here is a quick look at a few things I'm tracking at the intersection of power, deals, trends in emerging tech, and media/entertainment through a pop culture/hip hop lens. This is fuel for your insights and strategy to better reach GenZ and Millennials.

Here we go!

1) A couple of days ago Kevin Durant's The Boardroom Tech Talk newsletter had a lengthy piece, for some reason, about the intersection of tech and hip hop concerts/touring. I definitely wanted to say the highlights of the piece with you because the writer argues that the:

Watch the Throne?Tour?shaped how future tours integrate technology, visuals, and storytelling into live music experiences. The stage design featured a main stage and two large moving cubes that elevated into the air with visuals projected on them, creating a visually immersive experience. The show often began with Jay-Z and Kanye emerging on the cubes.

While I'm not sure if this particular tour made the biggest leap in performance and technology, I would agree that it definitely is up there. As we all know, hip hop culture has always been at the forefront of emerging tech usage and adoption, and that, combined with its unique perspective on the art of living, is the reason it continues to be a powerful source of all things innovation. First to give closeups to cell phones and pagers in music videos and reference the tech in lyrics (i.e. "Motorola 2-way page me")? Hip hop. First to out-index on Twitter? First to discover Clubhouse. First to bring the narrative of AI voice-cloning to the forefront. You already know.

The writer continues:

The early use of?3D video projection?and?LED screens?on stage raised the bar for live concert production.The tour was also the first interactive concert to integrate tech that allowed select users to watch exclusive live webcasts and behind-the-scenes videos?via an entertainment platform called VOYR . VOYR’s exclusive concert footage was one of the only ways the tour was promoted, with little to no marketing efforts ahead of its premiere. The?Watch the Throne Tour?grossed around?$75 million?due to its tech-forward production value.

This seductive mix of elements was truly revolutionary. And I believe everyone should get ready for the next level in which hip hop will lead not only in levels of on-stage text mixed this time with Web3 communities and more but with advertising from brands. How?

*** Quick Note: if you are someone who wants to learn more about this powerful space of youth culture and how you can use it to better connect with Gen Z and Millennials and/or become part of the cultural narrative, connect with celebrated recording artists/notables in the space, and/or creates brand?strategy,?DM me to discuss further.

My team and I provide strategy and consulting for demystifying relevant emerging tech, defining the cultural opportunity, and defining a roadmap for the new era. We also provide talent access, content development, live event production, concept marketing ideas, proofreading/copywriting!

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Not ready for a full strategy but definitely looking for insights to better plan for 2024 and beyond? Book?me to speak. From Keynotes to corporate leadership workshops, I provide competitive advantage through powerful insights, cultural intelligence, and emerging tech forecasts. Don't forget to check out my weekly podcast. ***Season 6, Episode 1 is now live! Don't miss my interview with the hot producer behind the Kanye West, documentary, numerous ESPN documentaries, and edgy music videos. I get his take on the future of movies on Apple Vision Pro and more! Listen now! *** I mix it up between an interview with an industry figure and analysis of the latest deals and news to help you make sense of the opportunities. Think of it as an extension of your weekly brief here. Click now to get the scoop. Apple or Spotify. Please rate and follow!

2) Because, while The Sphere may be planning its next venue in Abu Dhabi, the one in Vegas is feverishly trying to figure out how to integrate brands both into the deeply immersive upcoming shows as well as the 24/7 exosphere. Done with the right artists, original content, and the right promo; this could be one of the most killer scenarios on the planet in terms of art meeting commerce. Hmmm.. and mix with a little AI-generated promo content (to cut down on time) for a cherry on top of the cake. Watch for some very powerful synergies to take place on these fronts in 2025. In the meantime, read more about the next pin on the Madison Square Garden map right here. But the real question is, how are you going to make sure that you are part of the powerful ecosystem that is tech x hip hop touring x brand integration? Get on board now with partners and plans or you will be on the outside looking in (and there will be no scalper tickets for entry - LOL).

Okay, that's it for me. Super busy week so it's a short but powerful one today with food for thought, as they say. Have a great rest of the week. Be sure to check out the new season of my podcast, and... see ya next Tuesday!