in terms of your first link - magazines need to let writers be a little mean again! I loved reading celebrity profiles from people like taffy brodesser-akner and caity weaver because we got beautiful editorial pics WITH the author's genuine (and funny!) opinion about the subject. these days profiles seem to be one more toothless brand extension of a celebrity, instead of an interesting analysis of their persona + celebrity culture at large
I will never not think about Caity Weaver’s profile of Justin Bieber and her lines about Hailey (then rumored girlfriend of Justin) doing nothing: “Hailey is in his room. She is the only one in his room (except for Esther the dog, who smells incredible). When we enter, Hailey is wearing a black crop top and tight black pants, sitting on a pristinely made bed. She is doing nothing—no TV, no book, no phone, no computer, no music, no oil paints, nothing.” https://www.gq.com/story/justin-bieber-gq-interview
Yes!!! I think because the magazines hold so little power rn they don’t feel they can get away with that, which really is a shame. What’s frustrating is that we don’t get a different perspective on these people than we’d get on socials and stuff. So what’s the added value ?!
True, the times of insightful celebrity profiles were one could receive genuine insights are over, these days it feels like brand extensions who sell something or whatever, maybe it's a story or product or lifestyle, equally many in the 21st century have woken up to the fact they might don't play such a huge role in their personal lives either, I don't know but I have...🤓📚🔖💯
What the fuck is that Harper Collins AI deal??!!?!!?! This newsletter keeps giving such depressing publishing news (in a good way. good work keep it up it’s not your fault the publishing industry is going down the toilet. xoxox)
I sent the section on 'news-influencers' to my PR professors, I'm sure they'll find it as insightful as I did. Love love love how detailed and relevant your posts are! Also, I need more film companies to catch on to A-24's merch strategy bc their coffee table books are GORG!
Margaret Atwood also got nothing for the TV adaptation of Handmaids Tale. She spoke about it in an interview with Wealth Simple's magazine several years ago.
Okay but honestly, the Lindsay's work is IMMACULATE. It's stunning. I think it's the biggest source of the fascination, that if you didn't know what her face has looked like it seems so so inconspicuous.
Paris is GLOBAL. I was a Paris Hilton super fan during the Simple Life era (and I grew up in Nigeria, albeit with lots of western media influences). Her current marketing + branding is definitely not US-focused and you’re spot on when you say she's not trying to be cool — I imagine her approach is "been there done that, I'm just trying to make money and be happy now". I wonder how the Simple Life reboot will perform and if it'll do anything for her popularity/status with a younger audience.
Yeah I’ll for sure tune into the reboot just to see. I also grew up in Nigeria and she WAS a thing, it’s just weird to place here in this current influencer/celeb landscape you know?
Mhmm, she's a bit of an outlier in this current landscape. Her ongoing success also reminds me that there's a market for everyone (depending on what they're trying to maximize for with their brand). But the end goal is always money. So, go Paris!
Functional fragrance as a term has been around a long time mostly used in regards to laundry and soap and the conventional materials of deodorizing - it's interesting to see it rebranded or... modified? in this way? and anyway all fragrance is functional it just functions differently.
Didn’t know this thanks for sharing and yeah it’s weird to see the turn it’s taken recently. Would love to know more about what you think though. Sometimes I feel crazy for being this bothered. But I’m so pressed about it all !
I'll write a lil explainer about it in my substack for ya! being bothered is totally ok, I think this is tied to how wellness marketed is being shaped and its a lil sinister
in terms of your first link - magazines need to let writers be a little mean again! I loved reading celebrity profiles from people like taffy brodesser-akner and caity weaver because we got beautiful editorial pics WITH the author's genuine (and funny!) opinion about the subject. these days profiles seem to be one more toothless brand extension of a celebrity, instead of an interesting analysis of their persona + celebrity culture at large
I will never not think about Caity Weaver’s profile of Justin Bieber and her lines about Hailey (then rumored girlfriend of Justin) doing nothing: “Hailey is in his room. She is the only one in his room (except for Esther the dog, who smells incredible). When we enter, Hailey is wearing a black crop top and tight black pants, sitting on a pristinely made bed. She is doing nothing—no TV, no book, no phone, no computer, no music, no oil paints, nothing.” https://www.gq.com/story/justin-bieber-gq-interview
oh absolutely, if anything lives rent-free in my brain it is this description!
Crying 😂😂😂. This is it!
Sounds like nothing much, some would argue that she's being there might be enough for some...she might smelled incredible too lol 😁💯
Yes!!! I think because the magazines hold so little power rn they don’t feel they can get away with that, which really is a shame. What’s frustrating is that we don’t get a different perspective on these people than we’d get on socials and stuff. So what’s the added value ?!
True, the times of insightful celebrity profiles were one could receive genuine insights are over, these days it feels like brand extensions who sell something or whatever, maybe it's a story or product or lifestyle, equally many in the 21st century have woken up to the fact they might don't play such a huge role in their personal lives either, I don't know but I have...🤓📚🔖💯
Yupp! We already know all we need to know about them thanks to social media. Where there’s no mystery there’s no value !
What the fuck is that Harper Collins AI deal??!!?!!?! This newsletter keeps giving such depressing publishing news (in a good way. good work keep it up it’s not your fault the publishing industry is going down the toilet. xoxox)
I think we forget that these are massive corporations that are barely making money lol. Not surprised
It’s always a heartbreaking reminder that they are massive corporations and not people who love books
my hottest take: I'm not anti the Seed toilet stool
I agree it’s kinda chic
Haha not you too
Wow 🤔💯
Of course you’re not Katie!
I sent the section on 'news-influencers' to my PR professors, I'm sure they'll find it as insightful as I did. Love love love how detailed and relevant your posts are! Also, I need more film companies to catch on to A-24's merch strategy bc their coffee table books are GORG!
Thanks for all the feedback and I hope it resonates with them. A24 is endlessly fascinating to me. All that merch!!
"When I think of GLP-1s, I picture them in serif, and if you can’t see what I’m saying, I fear you never will." I chuckled 😂
Love that you get it girl ;)
Margaret Atwood also got nothing for the TV adaptation of Handmaids Tale. She spoke about it in an interview with Wealth Simple's magazine several years ago.
Wild how that happens. Makes you scared to sign anything
Exactly, there was no way she could've known about Netflix, or the media in the future and how her art could be used to make other people money.
Okay but honestly, the Lindsay's work is IMMACULATE. It's stunning. I think it's the biggest source of the fascination, that if you didn't know what her face has looked like it seems so so inconspicuous.
It’s actually SUCH good work. I’m in awe
ok i see seed's toilet stool buuuuut real ones have been using the Squatty Potty for a decade!!
Came here to say this 🫡
Love the resonance 😂
Not the squatty potty! 😂😂😂
squatty potty supremacy, tbh
Paris is GLOBAL. I was a Paris Hilton super fan during the Simple Life era (and I grew up in Nigeria, albeit with lots of western media influences). Her current marketing + branding is definitely not US-focused and you’re spot on when you say she's not trying to be cool — I imagine her approach is "been there done that, I'm just trying to make money and be happy now". I wonder how the Simple Life reboot will perform and if it'll do anything for her popularity/status with a younger audience.
Yeah I’ll for sure tune into the reboot just to see. I also grew up in Nigeria and she WAS a thing, it’s just weird to place here in this current influencer/celeb landscape you know?
Mhmm, she's a bit of an outlier in this current landscape. Her ongoing success also reminds me that there's a market for everyone (depending on what they're trying to maximize for with their brand). But the end goal is always money. So, go Paris!
One of my favorite letters you’ve done recently! So well written and you know I love the dataaaa 💌
Thank you Kate! This one took me a while to put together 🥹
Functional fragrance as a term has been around a long time mostly used in regards to laundry and soap and the conventional materials of deodorizing - it's interesting to see it rebranded or... modified? in this way? and anyway all fragrance is functional it just functions differently.
Didn’t know this thanks for sharing and yeah it’s weird to see the turn it’s taken recently. Would love to know more about what you think though. Sometimes I feel crazy for being this bothered. But I’m so pressed about it all !
I'll write a lil explainer about it in my substack for ya! being bothered is totally ok, I think this is tied to how wellness marketed is being shaped and its a lil sinister
Such good picks!!! Can’t wait for the next newsletter 🫶🏾
Working on it!
god i love this title so much
Love when they just come from my heart!
God you are so right, everything is lifestyle.
My mantra atm
microsoft training ai on harper-collins novels… we’re all gonna die
Non-fiction ie. real world data 🤓📚🔖💯
Creativity surely will
Amazing newsletter as always!
Danke!