You can’t show up to work naked, but would you show up at all if a suit was required?
Mike Hernandez
Across the country and across industries, people are officially retiring their suits and ties. Never a problem for us agency heads, but those in finance are surely happy about it.
Some of this is due to the pandemic - recruitment competition has forced employers to better their offerings, which include remote days, better health benefits, and yes, a more casual approach to office wear.
We love to see it - a colorful pocket square or food-inspired earrings may be fine, but people are surely better able to express themselves in clothes they actually choose to wear. A major beneficiary of this are the brands that we’re wearing instead, like Lululemon and UnTuckIt, whose stock prices are surging. Makes a lot of sense - most of us can’t show up to work naked.
With this more casual approach to the office, we think it could actually push some of us to dress up more often for social occasions. The less of something you see, the more special they get, right??
Was Drake’s album too long? Who is the 2 hour album for and is it even a sound business decision?
Jarryn Shin
1 hour 24 minutes. That’s how long it’ll take to get through Drake’s newest album, For All the Dogs. Racking up 23 songs, Drake’s eighth studio album is more or less the average track-count for the albums in his discography, so I beg the question, are albums too long these days?
Justin Norman, Spotify’s Global Head of Music Marketing, might think so. Last year, he spoke to me and other UMICH marketing students about the future of music, particularly about album length. When discussing TikTok’s disruption in the music industry and the rising influence of minimalism, he wondered if more frequent singles coupled with end-of-the-year compilation albums will be the future of music.
Though Billboard alludes longer albums mean more streams, putting more money in artist’s pockets, Mr. Norman’s prediction would be more servicing to the fans. Instinctively, I think about the K-pop industry. K-pop groups release singles and EPs about 3x a year, along with music videos, teasers, dance practices, and vlogs/behind-the-scenes. Their content is never-ending, and though it may be no less costly to produce, they're keeping their fans engaged year-round. Plus, they’re getting real-time feedback with more opportunities to connect with the fans who keep their lights on.
We don’t need a single album with 30+ songs that sound the same. We don’t want to wait 5 years for our favorite artist’s new project. We want instant gratification and to be constantly engaged with. Trying to listen to a 1 hour 24-minute album just isn’t going to give us that.
Is acting your age still a thing in 2023? Or is 30 the new 20?
Tyrone Pooser
Drake’s new album ‘For All The Dogs,' is generating discussion and not for what you may think. The Joe Budden Podcast, hosted by a former rapper turned media personality, did a deep dive on the album's merits and flaws, including a pretty touchy subject–Drake's age. Budden is quoted saying, "He's rapping for the children... You are 36. Your birthday is in 20 days. I Googled that, too. You're going to be 37 years old." Joe Budden's career has certainly evolved and matured (somewhat) over the years, and he desires a similar evolution for Drake’s music. But Drake doesn't subscribe to Budden's terms, and he vehemently defended his artistic choices with a lengthy comment on Instagram.
As I watched this back-and-forth, it raised the question: "Why do people impose certain expectations on individuals based on their age?" Jay-Z is known for music that delves into topics like art, investing, and creating generational wealth. His album from almost a decade ago, '4:44,' actually received acclaim for its maturity. So why the sudden change?
In 2023, we’re redefining the concept of age. With such an emphasis on professional success, many people are all in on their careers, delaying certain markers of maturity (like marriage, home ownership, and child rearing) and engaging in traditionally “youthful” activities (like casual dating) longer and later in life. One Quora user aptly stated, "When you turn 30, you have all the energy you had in your 20s, plus the expertise you've gained over the years." I agree; your 30s seem like the perfect intersection of being in your physical prime and having your life together.
We shouldn’t hold artists to rigid age norms - or ourselves. A 37-year-old Drake to collaborating with artists like Lil Yachty, wearing beads in his hair, and continuing to deliver Instagram-worthy lines could be a huge step forward in this regard, and this behavior is already well on its way to being normalized.
Fast Facts: spooky season
Americans go crazy for Halloween, we spend an average of $108 each on Halloween costumes, candy, and decor. The National Retail Foundation (NRF) expects 2023's Halloween spending to hit a record $12.2 billion this year, surpassing last year's record.