New Year, New Heros

We are in need of new heroes.

Not just public defenders of the people, but also those with a vision we can all get behind. I feel like this is a big opportunity. We need to help find and develop the next generation of heroes via content, movies, TV, social media, politics, business, and music.

Identifying a generation of visionaries is a big challenge, and how we find them is important. Over the holidays, I did a lot of reflecting and read three enlightening books:

The Creative Act: A Way Of Being by Rick Rubin

This book had so many nuggets about creativity and how contagious it can be. It was a reminder that working with an artist is a tremendous privilege. Artists are the sherpas of culture and our beacons of creativity. We all have artistic tendencies that can be harnessed, but those that choose to live as artists are dedicated to unlocking ideas and self-expression that has ripple effects not only for entire communities, but for entire generations.

Same As Ever: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness by Morgan Housel

Housel previously wrote Psychology of Money, which was a very important read to understand the world on a macro level. Same As Ever reassures us that — as uncertain and paranormal as things are right now with trends and change moving at breakneck speed — human behavior at its core remains consistent to its incentives. As a species, we are healing from the pandemic, but this type of unrest is not new. Every 10 years or so, the world seems to break. This book explains how bad news hits suddenly while good things come slowly and consistently all around us.

Tariq Trotter’s The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are

Not only is Black Thought (Trotter’s PKA) one of the most iconic MC’s in history, his alliance with long-time collaborator, QuestLove, and his group, The Roots, has been one of the most successful cultural touchstones in the Hip-Hop pantheon. Tariq has done a lot of work to evolve himself and this book shows that. It’s fascinating to hear his story: coming out of South Philly, he was able to double down on his creativity and commit to his passion while staying true to a core trait of “being fly.” There are anecdotes with him and QuestLove that reminded me how collaborating with different thinkers leads to big growth and learning. Good, clear communication is especially important in these partnerships and the book contains crucial lessons to learn from their mistakes.

2024 is here! I’m excited to get back in the saddle. New technology and AI growth is going to revolutionize all facets of our industry. We’ve seen this play out before and a lot of opportunity is in front of us. We’re ready to continue helping brands, platforms, and campaigns leverage music to manage this explosive period and make meaningful connections with their consumers. Music is the way and a music strategy done right is an under-valued component to any marketing campaign.

We can show you how. Let’s forge Nue ways forward!

Jesse Kirshbaum

Co-Founder of Nue