The WARC Podcast Labubu what? How pop culture drives soft power
12 snips
Sep 16, 2025 Michael Patent, founder of The Culture Group, and Shilpa Sinha, regional CSO at McCann Worldwide, delve into the fascinating interplay of pop culture and soft power. They discuss the success of China’s Labubu Dolls and the K-Pop phenomenon as escapism in today’s world. The conversation highlights how brands can authentically connect with consumers by embracing cultural trends. They also touch on AI's impact on creativity and provide insights for marketers on leveraging diverse cultural phenomena to enhance brand identity and strategy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How LeBubu Went Global
- LeBubu is a Chinese-designed plush that became global after a Thai K-pop star popularized it.
- Michael Patent highlights how a Thai member of Blackpink made a Chinese product borderless by using K-pop influence.
Ping-Pong As Soft Power Origin
- Soft power often begins with cultural exchanges rather than politics or military action.
- Michael Patent uses the 1971 ping-pong diplomacy as the origin story for modern cultural influence.
Pop Culture Is A Remix Mosaic
- Pop culture today is a mosaic of remixed movements made possible by social media and fandoms.
- Shilpa Sinha points to scarcity bias, social identity, trophy value and co-creation as drivers of modern cultural trends.