I live in North Carolina and recently got to spend a 4 hour gig with Jaden playing holiday music and jazz. He's one to watch! I'm gonna be 50 this year, and I felt like I was playing with someone twice his age.
Apple will do well for our lifetime. Stocks go up and down. I suspect S&P 500 & Apple will be down double digits in 2024, creating opportunities for Apple to buy other companies (& tech) as needed.
Also, Apple will enter AI game with a chatbot like ChatGBT. Laptops & phones will evolve with AI.
Look at Spotify - stock doing well, company focused on profitability, on its way from 500 million to 1 billion users with little need to add any employees (which may mean more money for artists!).
I've always know humans curated the Spotify playlists, but not which human has made some of my favourites. Similar to Substack, I'd quite like to follow the humans creating playlists I like, it would be an interesting experiment (before they get replaced by sponsored AI streams)
The article referred to Spotify's curators being substituted by AI, right? Some independent playlist curators might benefit from this, since the algorithm may not have such great taste, especially if based on data.
My problem with AI use at streaming platforms like Spotify is that it’s just boring. I want to be able to say, “find me all the songs with this chord progression” or “sample this 15 second passage and find music thematically similar.” There seems to be so much potential for added value with AI that is instead being used to cut costs or optimize for lowest-common-denominator and least-objectionable-fare.
It is funny, but Apple, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, and other companies do not seem to understand that providing a good product or service is how to be successful. If they do not know what their customers want, they could ask. But we propagandistic drivel mimicking Pravda that we are supposed to pay for. The mainstream media has generally been suborned by the few remaining media conglomerates and infested by employees of the security state, meaning that they can’t be trusted at all at the same time as the general quality has tanked. It also does not help that American corporations have been financialized with the idea of making money as a byproduct of a business being turned around into the business is a byproduct of making money. If the business is selling drugs to children or exploding car to their families, or burning down the world, it is fine as long as money is made.
Hey Ted! It has been almost two years since you released the “why Netflix will falter?” Article. Curious to see what would it be your thoughts on Netflix and other streaming platforms in 2024! 🙌
Netflix has been forced to cut back investments in new shows (see link below) and raise subscription rates. These moves could have been anticipated long before they happened—they really were the only viable solutions to the company's chronic cash flow problems. Netflix also got a few lucky breaks—because its competitors (Disney, Apple) have problems of their own. So they are in a stable situation right now.
That said, I still believe that Netflix is making a mistake (as outlined in my article from 2022) by obsessively creating its own programming and treating the rest of Hollywood as enemies. We already see other companies explore more flexible partnering arrangements. In the last few days we've heard rumors about a merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, and I've written about a possible Apple-Disney merger. I expect more moves of this sort.
Netflix has returned to buying programming elsewhere. One of their biggest hits has been reruns of "Suits". They still won't sell what they create elsewhere but Reed Hastings has proven himself fairly flexible so that could change. But right now they're a studio with too many creative execs who interfere with the filmmakers and that wastes money.
Good news! Less tech, more humans, less macro culture, more micro...and more swing! Bill Evans legacy is moving forward and a New Romanticism is on the rise, mixing all these elements is bringing forth a new Renaissance. Thank you Ted Gioia for this article, full of points worth expanding on.
Regarding Apple, haven’t analysts been saying similar about Apple for many years? Clearly post-Jobs it’s no longer innovative but people will still be buying their phones for years to come.
I love that the framed picture in the background where Jaden Evans is playing reads, "Support Live Music."
yeah, and how many actually do that - support live music?? most support their spotify and apple accounts, but not live music... i hope this changes..
Thanks so much Ted. It's his 16th birthday today and there are many people saying such nice things on his channel.
I live in North Carolina and recently got to spend a 4 hour gig with Jaden playing holiday music and jazz. He's one to watch! I'm gonna be 50 this year, and I felt like I was playing with someone twice his age.
Same feeling I got when playing with Derek Trucks when he was 13. They may be ancient souls coming back straight from the Renaissance or Romanticism.
Apple will do well for our lifetime. Stocks go up and down. I suspect S&P 500 & Apple will be down double digits in 2024, creating opportunities for Apple to buy other companies (& tech) as needed.
Also, Apple will enter AI game with a chatbot like ChatGBT. Laptops & phones will evolve with AI.
Look at Spotify - stock doing well, company focused on profitability, on its way from 500 million to 1 billion users with little need to add any employees (which may mean more money for artists!).
The world continues to evolve.
Happy New Year!
This is the best news I have ever heard. All the best to young Jaden
If you want to hear more of Jaden Evans, and live in the Raleigh area, you can book him for gigs!
I've always know humans curated the Spotify playlists, but not which human has made some of my favourites. Similar to Substack, I'd quite like to follow the humans creating playlists I like, it would be an interesting experiment (before they get replaced by sponsored AI streams)
The article referred to Spotify's curators being substituted by AI, right? Some independent playlist curators might benefit from this, since the algorithm may not have such great taste, especially if based on data.
Jaden Evans is great. Best wishes to him!
My problem with AI use at streaming platforms like Spotify is that it’s just boring. I want to be able to say, “find me all the songs with this chord progression” or “sample this 15 second passage and find music thematically similar.” There seems to be so much potential for added value with AI that is instead being used to cut costs or optimize for lowest-common-denominator and least-objectionable-fare.
Here we go. Evans on Evans, the tribute we have all been waiting for
https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2024/10/24/jaden-evans-releases-album-tribute-to-his-grandfather/
A tremendous performance
Does my heart good to see Bill's grandson playing.
It is funny, but Apple, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, and other companies do not seem to understand that providing a good product or service is how to be successful. If they do not know what their customers want, they could ask. But we propagandistic drivel mimicking Pravda that we are supposed to pay for. The mainstream media has generally been suborned by the few remaining media conglomerates and infested by employees of the security state, meaning that they can’t be trusted at all at the same time as the general quality has tanked. It also does not help that American corporations have been financialized with the idea of making money as a byproduct of a business being turned around into the business is a byproduct of making money. If the business is selling drugs to children or exploding car to their families, or burning down the world, it is fine as long as money is made.
Hey Ted! It has been almost two years since you released the “why Netflix will falter?” Article. Curious to see what would it be your thoughts on Netflix and other streaming platforms in 2024! 🙌
Netflix has been forced to cut back investments in new shows (see link below) and raise subscription rates. These moves could have been anticipated long before they happened—they really were the only viable solutions to the company's chronic cash flow problems. Netflix also got a few lucky breaks—because its competitors (Disney, Apple) have problems of their own. So they are in a stable situation right now.
That said, I still believe that Netflix is making a mistake (as outlined in my article from 2022) by obsessively creating its own programming and treating the rest of Hollywood as enemies. We already see other companies explore more flexible partnering arrangements. In the last few days we've heard rumors about a merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, and I've written about a possible Apple-Disney merger. I expect more moves of this sort.
Cooperation with competitors is a very underrated business strategy. And, over the long run, open systems are more successful in the marketplace than closed systems. Netflix will pay a price for operating in isolation with a bunker mentality. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-01-07/netflix-cuts-over-100-shows-from-programming-slate
Netflix has returned to buying programming elsewhere. One of their biggest hits has been reruns of "Suits". They still won't sell what they create elsewhere but Reed Hastings has proven himself fairly flexible so that could change. But right now they're a studio with too many creative execs who interfere with the filmmakers and that wastes money.
Good news! Less tech, more humans, less macro culture, more micro...and more swing! Bill Evans legacy is moving forward and a New Romanticism is on the rise, mixing all these elements is bringing forth a new Renaissance. Thank you Ted Gioia for this article, full of points worth expanding on.
Hard not to love Bill Evans. And sad he’s not around today.
Regarding Apple, haven’t analysts been saying similar about Apple for many years? Clearly post-Jobs it’s no longer innovative but people will still be buying their phones for years to come.