When I was a kid, I had my mind blown watching Isaac Hayes perform the theme from “Shaft” on TV during the Academy Awards telecast. I am reminded of that moment when I consider why the Oscars matter. The Oscars are a cultural touchstone. The Academy Awards represent the beliefs…

The X factor — human instinct, undefinable and unknowable — still matters in a world where people increasingly rely on machines to do their thinking for them. A January 29 episode of the HBO Max show “The Last of Us” has sparked a resurgent interest in a song sung by…

2022 reminded us of the power of record albums to create events. Harry Style’s Harry’s House united Gen Z listeners around a shared passion like the Beatles did for Baby Boomers back in the day. Beyoncé’s Renaissance dominated social media. …

What make a brand authentic? For an answer, take a close look at the story of Dolly Parton, who is the latest recipient of the Bezos Courage and Civility Award. Once upon a time, Dolly Parton was one of the biggest country singers in the world. But her appeal was…

Where were you during the Great Ticketmaster Taylor Swift Meltdown of 2022? This question looms large ten days after the infamous crashing of Ticketmaster’s site during the fan pre-sale for Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras tour. It is not the first time Ticketmaster angered fans with a terrible customer experience (CX)…

Amazon is placing a big bet on the allure of two powerful brands, Taylor Swift and the NFL, to generate a commercial payoff through the almighty triad of Amazon Prime, Amazon Music, and Prime Video. During Thursday Night Football (TNF) October 20, Taylor Swift, one of the most popular artists…

Beyoncé understands the power of the moment. The digital economy is built one moment at a time. We crave seconds of fleeting engagement on our TikTok and Instagram feeds. Most of us skip songs on Spotify unless they capture our attention within 10 seconds. …

Apple wants to be be the data backbone of healthcare. The 2022 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) underscores this reality. On June 6, Apple announced at WWDC that its Fitness app will be available on the iPhone. You’ll no longer need to own an Apple Watch to use the app. …

It’s official: Old Hollywood is back. Top Gun: Maverick, a product of Old Hollywood studios, has broken a Memorial Day weekend box office record with an estimated four-day opening of $156 million. According to Variety, approximately 55 percentof the movie’s audiences are 35 years or older. …