The Pace Report Volume 16

In an epoch-making blend of tradition and technology, The Beatles' new single, "Now And Then" is resonating across generations. The new offering, described as the “last song” ever to be released from the iconic quartet, was brought to life with the aid of artificial intelligence. The song, initially penned by John Lennon and later sculpted by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, is a testament to the enduring resonance of The Beatles, now intertwined with modern-day technology​​.

Artificial intelligence played a pivotal role in refining Lennon's original vocals, ensuring the authenticity of his voice rang true in this posthumous release. This innovative endeavor not only honors the legacy of Lennon but showcases the potential of AI in bridging historical musical prowess with today's digital realm, creating a seamless blend of the iconic band's timeless sound with contemporary technology​.

The effort demonstrates how AI can serve as a harmonic bridge between the past and present, enabling legendary voices to resonate in today's digital age, thus enriching the modern music scene with the timeless legacy of iconic bands like The Beatles.

Audius, a decentralized music platform, has gone live with its new direct payments marketplace, marking a notable shift towards empowering artists in the streaming era. The marketplace allows the platform's existing 6M users to financially support their favorite artists directly, bypassing intermediaries that are otherwise typical of the music industry​​.

At the heart of the initiative is the ability for fans to pay artists using credit cards, with transactions facilitated in USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. Artists can convert these earnings to their preferred fiat currencies, such as USD, EUR, or GBP. Moreover, artists have the ability to set their own prices, and fans even have the option to exceed the artist’s listed price if they so choose. The move opens the door for potentially greater financial upside that artists have not historically had the option to realize previously.

Artists and label entities can indicate their interest in the new feature by registering for Audius’ music marketplace wait list here.

Elon Musk's creative ambitions have taken a romantic turn as he eyes the transformation of the recently rebranded social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), into a “fully fledged” dating app. A few months post the rebranding, Musk celebrated the anniversary of his acquisition by sharing his plans to infuse a dating element into X's digital realm during a video call with his team​​. The announcement, made on October 27, align’s with the Tesla CEO’s longer-term pivot towards creating an “everything app,” expanding X's functionality to include not only social networking but also dating and banking services​​.

The dating app market has been buzzing, with revenues soaring to $4.94 billion in 2022 and over 300 million people worldwide swiping right to potential matches. As social platforms increasingly become the norm for seeking romantic connections, the industry has seen a steady increase in user engagement and revenue. By harnessing the existing user base of X, Musk aims to create a synergistic platform where social interactions can blossom into romantic engagements.

Threads is stitching together an exclusive community for reality TV stars and pop culture icons, aptly named "Pops." In a strategic outreach to influencers, Threads has extended invitations to select creators, promising a tapestry of incentives and interactive challenges​​.

The initiative, according to The Information, represents Threads' commitment to becoming the go-to platform for real-time updates and engagement between creators and audiences, fostering a new realm of public conversation. With the launch of "Pops," Threads is not only increasing its appeal to content creators but also tapping into the massive following of reality TV, a genre that thrives on constant audience engagement and personal connection​.

Instagram’s maneuver with "Pops" demonstrates an acute awareness of the creator economy's pulse. By offering a space where reality TV personalities can weave their narratives and engage fans through text, Threads aims to cut through the social media noise and offer a more curated, intimate interaction​.