WEEKLY TREND
Revolution and Reinvention
Why it matters:
We often describe things as revolutionary. Tech startups, apps, even meal replacement products. Revolutionary, as if the world has never seen anything like it before. But the word “revolution” reveals an interesting fact: There’s nothing new. Everything is a recapitulation of something else, and if you wait long enough, tomorrow’s revolution ends up being yesterday’s status quo. Brands that succeeded by unbundling services eventually start bundling them as “curated.” eCommerce retailers that made a fortune online eventually start thinking about brick and mortar. Revolution is cyclical. (Google “ROTA FORTUNAE” and “social cycle theory,” if you’re feeling nerdy) This week, we’ll look at how brands are disrupting themselves, revolting against features that actually define them.
Twitter stops counting @-Replies towards its 140 characters on web and mobile
Way back when, Twitter redefined social media when it boldly restricted posts (and therefore users) to 140 characters. Ever since then, they’ve been walking back on that defining feature. Now, when you reply to someone or a group, @-handles won’t count toward your tweet’s 140 characters, and will appear above the tweet’s text. It’s part of Twitter’s effort to let users express more in the characters provided, but some say it undermines part of what makes Twitter special.
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The New Twitter @-Replies Are Giving Me an Ulcer
SLOUCHING TOWARDS BRICK AND MORTAR
Amazon’s Ambitions Unboxed: Stores for Furniture, Appliances and More
Fresh off disrupting eComm, Amazon is coming for brick and mortar. The company is conducting a slew of experiments to modernize physical retail, from creating stores to sell furniture and home appliances— the kinds of products that shoppers are reluctant to buy over the internet sight unseen— to more audacious store concepts include cashierless convenience stores and curbside grocery pickup. Even as the online shopping giant faces setbacks, the slow pace of Amazon’s store rollout signals that it’s taking brick and mortar seriously. And while Amazon clearly has a ways to go, its automation efforts should make established retailers and the people they employ nervous.
IT’S DRAKE SEASON
With ‘More Life,’ Drake continues to experiment with the streaming era
Drake happened this week, which means it’s time to argue about what it all means for music. Blending genres and formats, the newly released “More Life” plays like an hour-and-a-half DJ set, possessing the fluidity of a curated playlist. Yet it has the marketing — and price tag — of a traditional album. Taken together, it’s a stunning recognition by a major artist of how streaming services and the curation engines they rely on have altered how we perceive and enjoy music. But it’s also a testament to the fact that modern artists need to balance digital expression with the realities of business— Drake may be crushing streaming records, but he’s also selling “More Life” at digital retailers, on compact disc and on vinyl.
VIRGIN’S FINAL VOYAGE
Death of a Virgin
Virgin America carved out a niche in the airline industry for providing a world-class customer experience at a reasonable price. Which means it was never long for this world. Following a successful merger back in 2016, Alaska Air announced last week that it was killing off the Virgin America brand. In this column from the always excellent 500ISH WORDS, M.G. Siegler argues that Virgin is being sacrificed at the altar of synergies. Or if you’re feeling wistful, check out Richard Branson’s heartfelt goodbye to the brand. His closing thought? Above all else, Virgin’s purpose is to change business for good. Hear, hear.
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