🔗Weekend Links 12/07/24
Things You Need to Know About That You Probably Don't Know: Context Collapse #318
Lots of links to get into this week. These are all things I found interesting and learned about over the past few days from random work wanderings/friend emails/group chats/readings/etc. So let’s go.
30+ examples of companies that rebranded or slightly pivoted their product to make a bunch more money.
The death of mid-length video - where have all the eight-minute videos gone?
“Influencers Are Going Full MAGA. After Trump’s win, a red hat no longer seems so bad for business.”
TikTok and YouTube announced AI-driven ad products one day apart.
“Market-intelligence firm Sensor Tower reported that the Ringtones for Android app has been downloaded over 50 million times since its 2013 release. That’s more downloads than either the Tidal or SiriusXM apps on Android.”
How brands and media outlets are using Roblox in 2025.
“Microsoft, the owner of the Minecraft video game franchise, has struck a deal with European theme park operator Merlin Entertainments to open Minecraft-themed attractions, including rides, retail outlets, and hotel rooms.”
Comcast Greenlights $7 Billion Spinoff of NBCUniversal Cable Channels like E!, USA and MSNBC.
Google Updates Its Site Reputation Abuse Policy, Upending Publisher Affiliate Businesses. Publishers using third-party vendors to power their product recommendations will see their search visibility plummet.
YouTube expert Roberto Blake shares tips for beginners including a step-by-step plan for your first 30 days on Youtube.
IPG sells Huge to a private equity firm.
IPG also has R/GA reportedly up for sale. (Obligatory disclaimer: I’m a former R/GA employee and former Huge freelancer, yadda yadda agency life in 2024 is weird.)
Vox Media Announces Layoffs, Reorganizes Its Lifestyle Properties. (Obligatory disclaimer: I’m a former New York magazine freelancer, which merged with Vox Media; I also worked in the 2000s for MenuPages, which was acquired by New York Media which later merged with Vox Media except MenuPages was sold off to another company. So let’s revise that to say this whole industry in 2024 is weird.)
Condé Nast Culls Its C-Suite in Fresh Round of Layoffs. (Obligatory disclaimer: I’ve freelanced for multiple Conde Nast publications.)
Edelman Cuts 330 Jobs Worldwide. (Obligatory disclaimer and last one for the day: I’m a former Edelman freelancer.)
The Oral History of See Hear, NYC’s Underground Zine Mecca. This was also the place where I discovered Maximumrocknroll, Alan Moore comics and chocolate covered espresso beans as a teenager. I remain grateful for all three.
5 Powerful Email Strategies to Level Up Your Business in 2025.
…And that’s it for this week. I hope you found a couple of these links helpful and that whatever you’re working on turns out amazing.