Welcome to the second Monday of the year.
Knowledge
TikTok + MTV: TikTok is modern-day MTV. The social video platform is becoming a preeminent pipeline for talent in the music industry. So says Dan Runcie, author of the Trapital Memo, an insightful weekly briefing on the business of hip-hop.
MTV helped the music industry more than it hurt it, and the same will be true about TikTok. Disruption always attracts both critics and enthusiasts. It’s part of the game.
TikTok has a couple impressive stats when it comes to its influence on music:
Over 70 artists who broke out on the platform that year had signed major record label deals
Helped push 90 of the songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100
Still, questions about the platform’s longevity and whether the legacy music industry will to adapt to a more grassroots, venture-style model remain to be seen. It’s early days for TikTok, but as Dan makes clear: it has the potential to be MTV of the ‘80s and ‘90s and much, much more.
Wisdom
Big Lies: Yesterday, Julian Shapiro wrote a thread about big lies you’re told in the startup world. It went viral, and rightfully so — it’s overflowing with wisdom. Here are three big ones I’d like to highlight:
People aren’t goldfish. There’s a common belief that attention spans are rapidly declining. The implication is usually that we’re getting dumber and more ADHD. Perhaps this has some truth — but it’s really a matter of filtering for value:
People don't have short attention spans:
They finish 3 hour Joe Rogan episodes.
They binge 14 hour shows.
They have short *consideration spans:* they must be hooked quickly.
Point: Don't fear making great, in-depth content. But, ensure your first minute is incredible.Money changes your means, not your modes. You can’t buy happiness, but you can purchase the preconditions for it — a nice house, proper nutrition, and the space to be yourself with the people you care about. Beyond that, you’re still you.
In observing friends who’ve sold startups and made millions:
After a year, they’re back to toying with their old side projects.
They used their money to buy a nice home and eat well.
That’s it. They’re otherwise back to who they were.
Point: Aim to be fulfilled, not rich.Create first, consume second. We’re all fans. Cheering others on is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But it’s not an end in itself. Fulfillment comes from realizing your own goals; being your own fan.
If you construct your identity on what you’re a fan of (sports, media, brands), you’re a vessel.
You’re lending out ownership over your identity.
Instead, if you construct your identity on the things you create, you’re a craftsperson—someone who keeps refining who they are.
Inspiration
Plain Sight: There’s always a better solution hidden in plain sight. The latest example I’ve seen is this project to build solar panels that span over and across canals, using less land, keeping the panels cool, and reducing evaporation of precious water. With energy and water at premiums in the developing world, it’s a clever solution that was right there all along.
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