Sony purchases Michael Jackson's music collection for $1.2B. Dunkin' Donuts wins Super Bowl commercial. Waymo's robotaxi set on fire. Discussion on art vs. artist, cancel culture, and protest in San Francisco.
Super Bowl commercials are no longer measured in seconds but in days, with the buzz around them lasting for weeks.
The acquisition of Michael Jackson's music collection by Sony Music for $1.2 billion demonstrates that the world has separated the art from the artist, as consumers still enjoy the music despite personal controversies.
Deep dives
Dunkin' Donuts' Super Bowl Commercial Generates Massive Attention
Dunkin' Donuts' Super Bowl commercial featuring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Tom Brady, and Jennifer Lopez was the talk of the town. Super Bowl commercials are no longer measured in seconds but in days, with the buzz around them lasting for weeks. Despite paying $14 million just for the right to air the ad during the game, Dunkin' Donuts considered it a worthwhile investment due to the immense attention and re-watches it has received on platforms like YouTube.
Sony Music Buys Half of Michael Jackson's Music Catalog for $1.2 Billion
Sony Music has acquired 50% of Michael Jackson's music collection for a staggering $1.2 billion. This deal shows that the world has separated the art from the artist, as many popular musicians' legacies have been marred by personal controversies. Despite allegations made against Jackson, his album sales rose by 37% in the three years after the documentary 'Leaving Neverland' aired. Cancel culture appears to be ineffective in the music industry, with consumers still enjoying the music regardless of personal transgressions.
Waymo Self-Driving Car Set on Fire in San Francisco
A Waymo self-driving car in San Francisco fell victim to violent protesters who vandalized and set it on fire. This incident mirrors one from 200 years ago when the Luddites, who resisted new technology, broke into factories and destroyed machines. The story highlights the resistance major technological innovations can face. As we enter the era of self-driving cars, robots, and artificial intelligence, the term 'Luddite' may become popular once again.
Sony just made the biggest purchase in music history, Michael Jackson’s music collection for $1.2B — Because they separated the art from the artist.
The Super Bowl winner wasn’t Kansas City, it was Dunkin’ Donuts — Because Super Bowl commercials aren’t 30 seconds long, they’re 30 days.
And over the weekend, one of Google’s self-driving Waymo robotaxis was set on fire — And that reminds us of the same incident… in England… 200 years ago (spoiler: It’s the Luddites).