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Ice Spice’s independent journey is one worth paying attention to. She’s a rapper who has encountered rapid success through her authenticity. It’s important to pay attention to independent artist cases like this, as it shows that her journey is replicable if you have the talent and determination. Let’s break down how she achieved this success: 1. Found Her Community There’s an underlying theme throughout her journey and that is authenticity. She found her fans and they supported her throughout. 2. Created a Viral Song Munch went viral and even had its own hashtag. This attention snowballed through the use of TikTok and Drake playing the song on his Sirius XM radio station, Sound 42. 3. Endorsements & Brand Deals Very quickly she was partnering with brands as she represented the idea of being unapologetically herself. Partnering with brands like Vogue, Marc Jacobs, and Ivy Park x Adidas gave her credibility. 4. Collaborations It’s possible to be a one-hit wonder and Ice Spice prevented that by continuously staying relevant. Collaborating with huge artists in different genres continued to increase her reach. 5. Superfans Many huge artists have a name for their followers, Swifties (Taylor Swift), Little Monsters (Gaga), The Horde (Deadmau5) and she has the Spice Cabinet or Munchkins. They identify with her and promote her message of inclusivity. It’s a lot of work as an independent artist, but with hard work comes a career that you’re in control of that authentically represents you. Authenticity is so important, it builds trust and loyalty. Create a strong bond with your superfans. #superfans #authenticity #independentartist

Learn how to become a Top Brand from Taylor Swift!! I analyze everything from the glass of marketing. And Taylor Swift's growth curve is a perfect example of how you rule the world by being people's favorite. Taylor Swift has made history recently at the Grammy's 2024. But here is what she has done that has kept her relevant and consistently winning. 1. Understanding what people want to hear: She has evolved time and again, and worked on everything just to create music that is liked by people. 2. Heart-to-heart connection with the people & building authenticity: Whether you like her songs/or not, you cannot decline the fact that she is so authentic and lovable. 3. Strong community activities turns followers into brand loyalists. 4. She brings a personal touch and passion to her speech, songs, life incidents and work. 5. Consistency and quality trumps quantity - she takes her time perfecting each project This is what has made Taylor Swift the brand she is. What say?

The Lesson for CMOs from the Kendrick/Drake Beef? Stop Trying To Be Cool... I am a product of Hip Hop. I was born in 1978 when it was still a burgeoning street art tucked away in the impoverished recesses of New York City. I watched it go from being marginalized, belittled, and criminalized in my teens and early adulthood. And now, I get to see it as a billion dollar global industry as a middle aged man. Forty five years with this rap game and I'm still here for quality diss records. The Bridge Is Over. Hit 'Em Up. Ether. These are classics that defined eras. And we're living in a time now where the art and the culture are being reinvigorated by Drake and Kendrick Lamar's current feud. As a Hip Hop fan, I'm all in. I want more of this. Put it in my veins. New music dropping daily, if not hourly? The anticipation? The skills? Let's have it. But, as a marketer, I cringe. Why? Because there's some CMO out there right now looking at all of this, while being completely divorced from the scene and the culture, and they're wondering why their brand can't get up in the mix. They're pestering their Social team for how they can get into the conversation. They're asking their Strategy people how their brand can create spontaneous action like the BBL Drizzy beat. They want to ride the zeitgeist. But they can't. Because most brands aren't cool. They do what they're supposed to, and that's cool. They have some interesting features, and that's cool too. But there aren't a lot of consumers out there choosing products strictly because they're momentarily cool or able to ride a wave. My toothpaste and laundry detergent don't have to be cool because having fresh breath and clean clothes is cooler. And that's why the contrast between Kendrick Lamar and Drake is so appropriate here. You have a high quality product vs. a popular brand, respectively. Kendrick has spent the better part of the past decade and a half trying to be the best rapper ever. Drake has spent that same time trying to be the most famous/popular rapper ever. While Kendrick perfected his product, Drake perfected his image. So, when craftsmanship met cool, cool got blown out of the water. And now, Drake ain't as cool as he used to be and he might never be as cool as he was. Cool is a fungible metric that changes constantly. It's not a trackable quality. There's no universal measure for it. It's subjective and fickle. Affixing your brand's reputation to its cool might work for a while like it did for Drake. But when it's go-time and the people want quality, what do you have to offer? I know it's fun to chase the shiny thing, but foil glistens in the distance as much as gold. So when you're thinking about the groundbreaking or disruptive thing you want to do with your brand, remember how one of the heretofore coolest brands on Earth, Drake, got taken out by a guy with more Pulitzer Prizes than club bangers, Kendrick Lamar. Now, it's time for another listen to Not Like Us...

>>> Lessons From Creative Leaders <<< --- Understanding Your Brand Identity > build up your skillset through experiences --- Channel Your Identity Into Your Designs > to make the most simple things incredibly desirable > all her interests are channeled into her collection > when you look at her show, you are always so excited --- Know and Love Your Customer > brilliant sense of vision > brilliant sense of identity > brilliant sense of humor Be true to who you are. One of greatest strength is to absolutely understand who is customer and love them. - how they spend their time - what are their interests - what's their lifestyle etc... and respond to that. ANNA'S TIPS 1. Have a broad range of experiences 2. Know and love your audience 3. Stay engaged with the wider world beyond your own industry 4. Times will be tough. Stay true to your vision. === Leading With Impact --- Find New Ways to Connect With Your Audience > everybody follows their own map How can we use Vogue as a a platform? Platform for change, a platform for activism, a platform very importantly for the fashion industry. Explain to the world what the Met Gala is? > how the event has changed and grown > what it become in a meaningful way to represent the 1) fashion industry + 2) museum > the incredible work that goes into creating the Met Gala How can we talk to our audiences in a more personal and meaningful way? - We try very hard to be open: > to new ideas > to introduce our readers, our audiences into everything we do - Thinks about the platform that are available > how can you use most effectively? --- Find the Bigger Meaning in Your Work It's important to lead it, to take a stand, and to be engaged = part of being leader. Sometime we have to stand up and say this is what we believe in and this is who we are. An innate sense of responsibility of giving back to the world - understand what you care about - what can you do Be activist in a positive way. The lesson is to engage with whatever is happening in the world in a thoughtful way and stand up for what you believe is right. --- Take Credit, but Also Give It Recognize your own success, but be sure to recognize those who have been with you every step of the way. I WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST OF LUCK

Taylor Swift is more than an artist. She’s a brand. She’s a phenomenon She’s a household name - even my 60 year old mother knows about her. She’s a marketing powerhouse. And she’s worth more than 1.1billion USD. So, how has she become who she is - without tainting her brand image - over the last two decades? ⭐️Authenticity: She’s real and authentic, with her personal stories and emotions forming the backbone of her music. This resonates and creates a genuine connection with fans. ✍️ Consistent Reinvention: She continually evolves her image and sound while staying true to her core values. Whether she's transitioning from country to pop or experimenting with different styles, she keeps fans intrigued and engaged. ✨Engagement with Fans: Swift goes above and beyond to engage with her fans, from surprise meet-and-greets to personalized interactions on social media. This deep connection cultivates a dedicated fan base that feels valued and heard. 🚀 Strategic Timing: Swift's album releases, tour announcements, and public appearances are strategically timed to create maximum impact. She knows how to generate buzz and keep her audience eagerly anticipating her next move. 📖 Storytelling and Narrative: Each album tells a unique story or explores a central theme, inviting fans to immerse themselves in Swift's world. This narrative-driven approach adds depth to her brand and keeps fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter. In a world where marketing is about more than just selling products—it's about forging connections and making an impact—Taylor Swift shines as a beacon of inspiration. What do you think? 👇🏻 #MarketingStrategy #Branding #Lessons #TaylorSwift ——————————————————————- PS: Looking for someone to write content or manage your social media for your business? Reach out to me! Found this post interesting? Follow Vandana Hettiaratchi for more content 🔔 #SocialMedia #ContentCreation #LinkedInForCreators

Build your brand like the music icon Taylor Swift As a personal branding strategist who regularly inspects and analyzes influential brands, I was thrilled to see Taylor Swift make history at the 2024 Grammys. Her sweeping wins, including the night's top prize of Album of the Year, exemplified the power of strategic personal branding. From leveraging vulnerability to nurturing super fans, Swift's approach provides ample lessons for professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs seeking to elevate their brands. Personal Branding Lessons from the Queen of Pop Country 🙌 1/ Relentless self-evolution ensures relevance - reinventing her sound with each era 2/ Deep authenticity connects through unfiltered songwriting and social sharing 3/ Consistency and quality trumps quantity - she takes her time perfecting each project 4/ Ardent community engagement turns followers into loyal brand advocates 5/ Challenging industry norms disrupts the status quo and sparks headlines 6/ Vertical integration of her brand expands revenue and control over the narrative Which of these personal branding lessons resonate with you? #linkedinInsiderIndia #linkedinnewsindia #personalbranding #LiPostingChallengeIndia

As this article states, Taylor Swift’s ultimate power is her loyal fan base. Period. Of course you need talent. That’s table stakes. Taylor commands the power of Emotionally Intelligent SuperFan Relationships. Many artists have large fan bases, but Swift has built such deep human connections and relationships with such a large loyal segment of her total fan base that she can make her own rules on TikTok, and cut her own deals. When you build a community of deeply loyal fans, you control your own destiny. There are few consumer-focused entities that can do this: True Luxury Brands and True SuperStars. The power of High Performance/High Trust relationship building is alive and well in Taylor Swift. Most luxury brands, and even celebrities, define themselves by their products and services. Many Celebrities have large armies of fans, but fail to cultivate deep, mutually beneficial relationships. It’s mostly transactional. That’s a mistake. They are chasing competition instead of building deep, trusted, loyal relationships with customers and fans. The power of Relationships shows up in ways that others cannot replicate. It shows up in SuperClients and SuperFans. Look at Taylor Swift’s results. Look at Brunello’s results. At The Luxury Institute, LLC we teach the 7 Rules of Emotionally Intelligent Luxury. The same 7 rules apply to Emotionally Intelligent Superstars too. Reach out. We got this. #taylorswift #customerrelationships

What can Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and Barbenheimer tech us about strategic transformation? Four things! 1. People will go all in if you let them. So much has been optimized for casual engagement and allowing customers to commit the easy way. You likely have some fans who want to go ALL IN. Un-ironic, full in commitment. Why does Taylor still encourage her fans to buy her albums vs stream them? She is giving them a chance to more fully commit to her! 2. IRL experiences can be gateways to digital participation. No self respecting fan is waiting to see Barbie or Oppenheimer on streaming. If they do, they miss out on the best part, the online discourse and discussion that makes them part of the in group. For Eras, you have to be there to generate the content that is the currency you are looking for (clout) across your digital platforms and identities. 3. We have new competitors for the sports fan. Sports fans, because of their loyalty verging on religion, were always the most valuable of audiences. There is a good reason arenas are more billboards than venues. They have their jersey's and Barbie fans have their Barbie fits or Swifties have their bracelets. Your fandom for pop culture can be as vociferous as that traditionally reserved for sport. 4. All this is possible for you and your brand. People want to be parts of movements. They want what they do and cosume to reflect their identities. All you need is to understand what your customer's unmet needs are and how they conceive of themselves. You could just ask them. Or you could have the experts (us) do it for you. If curious, inquire within.

Break Free From Standard Marketing Rules The Sidewalk Symphony Consider going along a busy city street when a group of musicians suddenly begins playing a vibrant melody right in the center of the sidewalk. People pause in their steps, their curiosity awakened, and soon a throng forms. As the music progresses, a captivating street performer appears, urging the audience to participate in a spontaneous dance-off. What began as a simple musical performance evolved into an incredible event that people spoke about for days. But guess where this idea sprang from? A local clothes business organized the event. By infusing a burst of excitement and surprise into the everyday lives of pedestrians, the boutique not only generated attention, but also drew a slew of new customers who couldn't resist exploring the store after watching such an enchanting show. What is the moral of the story? Creative Acceleration is all about turning heads, attracting attention, and generating unforgettable experiences for your audience. It's about infusing creativity into the fabric of everyday life and generating unexpected connections. 創造的であれ！ Rivers www.coachwithRivers.com

"Take the temperature of your vertical and audience regularly and consider whether you are still relevant. If the answer is no, then identify what you need to change, be it a complete rebrand, new messaging pillars, a shift in strategy, or tweaking your brand voice – because it’s time to enter a new era." Reinvention, relatability and relevance tips for brands that we can all learn from Taylor Swift. Excellent words Bethany Larson Bloch!