Richard Thorpe Jr

Brand Owners!! Let's talk about it! Why Retail Support is Crucial for Minority Business Owners As we dive into Black Friday, let's reflect: will retailers step up for minority business owners or will they follow Walmart? Despite the ending of DEl initiatives, I believe support will continue in new ways. With minority buyers making up 25-30% of Walmart's consumer base, that's a market that can't be ignored! For 2025, let's focus on making our brands irresistible, building community, and securing our spots on the shelves. We need to show up for minority brands with the same energy we do for #Gucci and #MickeyMouse build community & more visibility, credibility, and fresh innovation in the marketplace! Comment below with your thoughts! #SupportMinorityBusinesses #RetailSupport #DiversityInBusiness #BlackFriday #BrandBuilding #Innovation #representationmatters #dei #brandbuilding #brandmanagement

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https://lnkd.in/g36DD8M2 "According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony and private equity firm Apollo Global Management have submitted a $26 billion, all-cash offer to buy Paramount. Rather crucially, the deal would take the company private, whereas it currently exists as a publicly traded company. As a result, it would be a major change beyond combining two of the biggest studios in Hollywood under one roof, so there is much to consider here." Read More: https://lnkd.in/g36DD8M2

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On Monday, I discussed the long-term prospects for Tubi. On Tuesday, I praised Issa Rae's influencer marketing venture. "On today", these items converged: Issa partnered with Tubi for their new "Stubios" program—a fully-funded incubator for emerging creators. Stubios mirrors our initiative at BlackOakTV. Our "Choice" feature will empower users to greenlight the Black TV shows and films they want to see, illustrating the potential of fan-driven projects. While Tubi leverages its Black Indie vertical's success, we aim for similar engagement at BlackOakTV. So I respect Stubios model, but I question Issa’s choice to align with Fox Corp., Tubi's parent company. A Brief History Lesson: In the '90s, Fox, then a lesser network, adopted a strategy targeting Black audiences with original programming like Living Single and Martin, which became instant classics. These shows boosted Fox’s ratings, enabling it to secure NFL rights in 1994. Almost immediately after rising to prominence, Fox dropped its Black-centric shows. The revenue and prestige from Black viewership and NFL games helped launch Fox News in 1996, an outlet that has since posed significant challenges for Black communities. Present Day: Tubi has been thriving off indie Black projects. Fueled by popular content and the viral power of platforms like TikTok, Black viewership is propelling Tubi’s growth, again benefiting Fox financially. Don't buy that Tubi is all that important to Fox? Well, during Fox's last earnings call, Tubi was mentioned 24 times, nearly as often as the Fox name itself. So what does this have to do with Issa? Issa is partnering with Fox to bring more diverse (read: Black) voices to Tubi. I commend her for the thought, as I'm sure her intentions are pure. And when you can marry business with your passion for Black people, life is great. I know this because I live it every day with #BlackOakTV. But Issa once said, "I'm rooting for everybody Black." Yet, this move ain't that! This move is helping Fox run an old trick that allows Rupert Murdoch's Fox, which I believe is more responsible for Black plight than any other modern major media company, to further its highly questionable agenda. And they need Tubi to do it! The Fox Network is less relevant than it's been in decades. Fox News is going the way of the dying cable business. Fox Sports is irrelevant. Even TMZ is struggling. Instead of letting this decaying company go by the wayside, Issa is lending her credibility to the asset most linked to Fox's future. And she shouldn't do it. The value generated by Tubi still goes to the Murdochs, and there's no telling what crazy thing they'll use it to invest in next. My guess is it won't be something that empowers Black people. I know the world isn't perfect, and we, including myself, can't always line up our beliefs with our work. However, when it's this obvious, I believe we can and should make better choices. And I hope in the end, Issa does just that.

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Pop culture is the biggest missed opportunity in business. Too many companies are caught up in the latest tech and products, overlooking one of the most powerful forces for growth right in front of them: pop culture. Take the recent buzz around Universal Music Group's Taylor Swift and National Football League (NFL)'s Travis Kelce’s relationship or Activision Blizzard's Overwatch 2’s collaboration with K-pop artists. These aren’t just headlines—they’re case studies in cross-pollinating with culture to reach new audiences. While some brands are still struggling to find their voice in the digital world, others are tapping into cultural currents, creating emotional connections, and capturing the attention of millions. Why aren’t more companies following suit? Gary Vaynerchuk has it right: pop culture is underestimated. Brands don’t have to create entire fan bases from scratch—they can connect with the ones already thriving in music, sports, and gaming. It’s about understanding where your audience already spends their time and blending your message seamlessly with the things they love. Here’s why every company should consider pop culture partnerships: Reach people where they already are: Pop culture is mainstream culture. By connecting with trends, brands can organically become part of conversations that are already happening. Create emotional resonance: Aligning with cultural icons, like Taylor Swift, or subcultures, like K-pop, taps into the loyalty and passion of fans, building connections that last. Stand out in a crowded market: Tech and products come and go, but cultural moments stick. Brands that integrate pop culture build memories that differentiate them from competitors. The takeaway? Get in the mix. Don’t let your brand stand on the sidelines when there’s a whole world of cultural opportunities waiting. What are your thoughts on brands leveraging pop culture? Drop your thoughts and questions below!

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🚀 Open to Full-Time Opportunities 🚀 Creative Marketing & Digital Content Strategy | Curation & Playlisting | Business Development | Account Management I’m currently seeking a full-time role where I can apply my expertise in music, entertainment, fashion, CPG and emerging technologies to drive growth, foster innovation, and build meaningful partnerships. With 15+ years of experience at global leaders like MTV, VH1, Universal Music Group, and VEVO, I’ve developed a robust skill set in strategic marketing, content curation, and audience engagement, delivering data-driven strategies that create tangible results. My passion is in spotting trends, optimizing brand presence, and leveraging industry relationships to unlock new opportunities. Over the last 5 years, I've consulted across AI, AR, Metaverse, and Blockchain technologies, working with platforms like Rally, YellowHeart, and Shiller, bridging traditional entertainment with cutting-edge innovations. Over the past few months I have launched a podcast in music entertainment nostalgia, leadership and collaboration where I leverage my skills in hosting, editing, content strategy and social media. My recent focus has been consulting various companies in curation and playlisting, social media marketing, and business development in emerging tech. My network spans record labels, entertainment marketing agencies, artist management and innovation thought leaders just to name a few. 🔑 Core Expertise: Business Development & Account Management Relationship Building & Lead Generation Strategic Content Marketing Music Programming & Curation Emerging Technology Integration (Blockchain, AR, AI) Building Engagement & Driving Revenue I’m excited to leverage my experience and connections to make a significant impact in a full-time position. If you’re looking for someone who can drive growth and innovation, let’s connect! Feel free to reach out directly or via LinkedIn Messaging. #OpenToWork #BusinessDevelopment #ContentStrategy #MusicIndustry #EmergingTech #BrandGrowth #MarketingLeadership

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I hate making posts like this, but I feel like it's necessary to warn others who work in this industry. Tommy Wilczak and Infludesk Media have outright scammed our talent out of THOUSANDS of dollars. After waiting over 150 days, Tommy and his team at Infludesk have given us the runaround of lies many times over and I am hoping that by sharing our story it will ensure nobody else falls prey to their disgraceful practices. Here's the story: In May of this year one of my talent was contacted and signed a deal with Infludesk promoting a company that won't be named due to their innocence in this matter. The video was uploaded and everything seemed to be moving smoothly until it came time to pay. Now I have it on good authority directly from the brand that was promoted that they did pay Infludesk for the deal, but Infludesk claimed they couldn't pay, and were waiting on funds from OTHER INFLUENCER'S DEALS to pay us. Somehow the money my talent was owed seemed to just vanish into thin air. Then started the months on months of emails, LinkedIn messages, even attempts at negotiating a solution that didn't end in the public release of the entire story in good faith that just maybe this wasn't intentional, but after being told for weeks "We intend to pay at the end of the week", we aren't waiting anymore. This is a clear mishandling of funds, and we aren't the only ones who've been hit by Infludesk and Tommy, I've found many other stories posted across the internet of these criminals taking money from brands and never paying out to the talent. I have 55 mutual connections on LinkedIn with Tommy, which means he appears to be a trustworthy individual when you see his requests come through. Please take my warning seriously, stay far away from these people. If you are connected to them or have ongoing work with them, I urge you to reevaluate your association. People who act like this should not be allowed to continue to pollute an industry that operates so strongly on trust. #influencermarketing

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Below are 3 deal insights on Node App's $13M sale to DULCEDO Management. This is critical info for any creator x media biz owner. 📈 GROWING INFLUENCER M&A There's been many influencer marketing M&A deals in last couple years, ranging from Publicis Groupe buying Influential to Stagwell buying Movers+Shakers. Through these deals, we've observed a premium for platforms that can bring together thousands of brands and thousands of creators, and do campaigns at scale. 🤝 DULCEDO'S 5TH ACQUISITION This is Dulcedo's 5th acquisition over past 6 to 7 years. They've acquired different talent representation, PR, and digital agencies like Sundae Creative Agency and Influence + All Management. There's been no press about Dulcedo having PE-backing, so they're likely doing these deals off their balance sheet and getting creative in deal structuring. 📊 ESTIMATED 31X EBITDA MULTIPLE I estimate run-rate revenue around $1.2M, and EBITDA around $420k. At $13M purchase price, that's a 31X EBITDA multiple. Assuming my math is directionally right, this is significantly higher than other deals like Influential, which I estimated was sold to Publicis for around 11x forward EBITDA. You can read more about the deal on my blog: https://lnkd.in/gsCaH6eM — I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

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Why Film Job Websites Won't Get You Hired! | The Best Alternative Approach Discover why relying solely on film job websites for job opportunities is a waste of time. Learn the best alternative approach to land your first gig on set and increase your chances of success. Direct outreach and personal connections are key in this saturated industry. Beyondfilmschool.com #FilmJobOpportunities #AlternativeApproach #DirectOutreach #Networking #FilmIndustryInsights #JobSearchTips #SuccessStrategies #CreativeNetworking #IndustryConnections #FilmCareerAdvice

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Youtube TV continues to rise for home entertainment. With Summer being over we will see a dip in viewership for content creators across the board with others continuing to rise on the charts. When discussing with your long-form creators- think of ways they can incorporate their evergreen/binge-worthy content. I've been yapping on this for a year! Remember 6 months ago? https://lnkd.in/gNYrxqY9 Remember a year ago? https://lnkd.in/g9fXYtYJ #youtube #influencermarketing #youtubemarketing #digitalmarketing #socialmediainfluencer

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There's a ceiling that hits almost every producer. Here's how the top 1% break through it. Leverage and delegation have transformed my own practice. It's also a game-changer for top producers. Your capacity for growth is directly tied to your willingness to let go. Here's what I mean: - Most producers hit a wall around $1-2M in revenue - They're drowning in service work and admin tasks - Pipeline development takes a back seat - Growth stagnates - Burnout looms But here's the truth: The best rainmakers have mastered the art of leverage. Quick story: I know a producer who maintains double-digit growth on an 8-figure personal book of business. Their secret? A dedicated team of EAs, Operators, and Project Managers handling everything except what only THEY can do. The math is simple: Every hour spent on $50/hr tasks is an hour you're not spending on $500/hr activities. Feeling stuck? Track your activities for one week. Circle everything that could be delegated. That list is your growth roadmap. What's one task you must let go of this week to focus on higher-value activities?

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I’m excited to share that I specialize in producing music videos, ads, and documentary post-production! Whether it’s amplifying a brand through an engaging ad, telling a powerful story in a documentary, or creating dynamic visuals for music videos, I’m passionate about bringing visions to life. Here’s what I bring to the table: 🎬 Creative Direction: From concept to completion, I ensure your message connects with your audience. 🎧 High-Quality Editing: Audio, visuals, transitions—every detail is meticulously polished. 📊 Results-Driven Content: Every project is tailored to engage and leave a lasting impact. Let’s collaborate to create compelling content that stands out in today’s fast-paced digital world. DM me to get started! 🚀 #VideoProduction #MusicVideos #PostProduction #Documentaries #Advertising #CreativeContent #Storytelling

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Social media in moderation can be good. Please review

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