Brigadoon Weekend | March 12, 2022
Brigadoon Weekend curates ten emerging issues shaping commerce + culture so you can make intelligent + innovative decisions.
ONE
A vast majority of Americans say ban Russian oil.
A new Quinnipiac University poll finds that Americans would support a ban on Russian oil even if it meant higher gasoline prices in the US, 71% to 22%.
"Americans are ready to put a chokehold on Russia's key financial lifeblood, oil, no matter what the consequences are at the pump." -- Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
As for the steps that the Biden administration has taken so far to punish Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, 56 percent say they are not tough enough, while 30 percent say they are about right, and 3 percent say they are too tough.
TWO
Bitcoin surges on President Biden's crypto executive order.
The order, titled "Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets," directed agencies across the federal government to produce reports on digital currencies and consider new regulations. It outlined the risks cryptocurrencies pose to the economy, national security, and climate while noting their possible benefits.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the newly signed measure asked the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department, and other central agencies to publish reports on "the future of money" and the role crypto plays in this.
THREE
The future of work is hybrid.
A report by Accenture found that 83% of workers surveyed preferred a hybrid model where they can work remotely at least 25% of the time.
Why is a hybrid model so appealing?
It brings together the best of both worlds. Those who had a hybrid work model during COVID-19 had better mental health, more meaningful work relationships, and were more likely to feel better off due to working for their organizations. They also experienced less burnout than those who worked entirely onsite or remotely.
FOUR
Amazon jumps into the live audio space.
Amazon launched Amp, a live audio app that makes DJs of users' radio shows.
The app comes as the live audio space continues to heat up, with companies like Twitter and Spotify featuring new content.
CNBC reports Amazon has signed up famous artists including Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, and Tinashe, and social media influencers and radio hosts to create content for the app.
FIVE
Instagram adds new tagging options to credit creators.
In announcing the updated tagging options, the company acknowledged that many collaborators' work creates the content users see on the app.
"For many Black and underrepresented creators, crediting is an entryway to building a sustainable career as a creator, while combating cultural appropriation and ensuring the world knows who is driving culture," Instagram says in its announcement.
According to The Verge, Instagram suggests the feature will be used to highlight behind-the-scenes creators who sometimes go unnoticed or unacknowledged, like makeup artists or songwriters.
SIX
EVs powering homes during a blackout.
General Motors is working with Pacific Gas and Electric Company to turn EVs into a virtual power grid in California.
GM is the latest automaker to team up with a utility around the idea of "vehicle-to-grid" technology.
The idea is to use bi-directional charging equipment to push and pull energy from electric vehicles at any given time. In essence, it treats high-capacity batteries as not only tools to power EVs but backup storage cells for the electrical grid, according to The Verge.
SEVEN
China led the world with 500,000 EV exports in 2021.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China, the number of passenger EVs exported in 2021 increased 2.6 times to 499,573 units.
+ China accounted for more than half of the electric vehicles exported globally in 2021 due to its intense concentration on EV manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Germany doubled its exports to about 230,000 units. In comparison, the US fell 30% to around 110,000 units, and Japan increased 24% to 27,400 units -- according to data compiled by the German Association of the Automotive Industry and the Japan External Trade Organization, according to Nikkei.
EIGHT
Bundesliga launches stickers, trading cards, and NFT tender.
Bundesliga International, the international media rights sales and commercial arm of the German Football League (DFL), is inviting proposals for the licensing rights to stickers, trading cards, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga from the 2023-24 season onwards.
The invitation to tender allows interested parties to acquire the global licensing rights to the collectibles categories together as a single bundle or bid for them individually. According to Sports Business, the respective packages potentially include the rights to both physical and digital products.
NINE
An athlete 'stock market' app drops.
Alex Rodriguez and business partner Marc Lore are investing in Mojo, an app serving as a "stock market" for pro athletes through which fans can buy and sell players at values based on performance.
According to Bloomberg, Mojo wants its product to work like more established trading apps like Coinbase or Robinhood. Arrangements with state gaming commissions, regulators, and sports leagues are reportedly still in progress.
The company plans to debut by the end of 2022 and will have football as its first sport. Mojo has also raised $75 million in a funding round led by Thrive Capital and included Tiger Global Management. Bloomberg adds that the capital will be used to hire engineers, data scientists, and market makers, with additional funds used for marketing.
TEN
NFL sets salary cap at $208.2 million per team.
The National Football League (NFL) has set its salary cap for all 32 teams at $208.2 million for the 2022 season - the first time the cap has exceeded $200 million.
It marks a significant increase from the 2021 cap, set at $182.5 million per team because of projected revenue for last season and lost revenue during the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That figure was a drop from the 2020 salary cap, which was set at $198.2 million, per ESPN.
