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If this is your first newsletter — welcome, by the way! — this podcast is part of the 2021 Brands to Watch feature. For full context, you can read the whole thing by clicking this cute lil’ button.
ROON LABS
Cultural Industry: Music
Founded: 2015
Employees: 45+
Why are they a Brand to Watch? How do you make being an audiophile cool? Make a product that’s not only high-quality, but easy-to-use, even for the tech-illiterate. Combine that with a savvy partnership strategy, and it won’t be long until they’re the system of choice for the discerning music listener.
I got on the horn with Marat Berenstein, the Global Music Partnerships & Artist Relations Lead for Roon Labs and we talked about: Roon’s growth despite the staff never meeting each other IRL, how Roon’s tech makes being an audiophile easier than ever, how “audiophile” gets a bad rep,artist ownership of companies, platforms, apps, what “partnerships” roles should look like in cultural industries and much more!
ICYMI:
One week left until the start of the MLB season = perfect time to read/listen to the Brands to Watch interview with the Chicago White Sox!
CATCH UP ON SEASON 2 OF THE PODCAST:
So far, season 2 has featured interviews with some big thinkers across cultural industries. Click here to pick your preferred podcast platform and subscribe so you never miss a new episode. As a bonus, that link contains every episode of The Office Hours w/me podcast, including all of Season 1.
Amanda Mull, The Atlantic
Ana Andjelic, who was just named the NEW Chief Brand Officer for Banana Republic!
Josh Spector, For The Interested/Newsletter Creators
Jarrod Dicker, Washington Post
Folu Akinkuotu, of the Unsnackable newsletter and the creator of the #HumblebragDiet.
Maria Cristina Sherman, author of “Larger than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS”
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#170: Brands to Watch 2021: Roon Labs