You won't believe who wrote these pop hits 🎶
I’ve always felt that songwriters don’t get enough recognition. So today, let’s give credit where it’s due.
Did you know…?
“Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis was written by Jesse McCartney
“Breakway” by Kelly Clarkson was written by Avril Lavigne
“Baby” by Justin Bieber was written by Christina Milian
“Umbrella” by Rihanna was written by The Dream
“Party in the USA” was written by Jessie J
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I wondered why these songwriters would give their art to other artists rather than releasing it on their own. Wouldn’t they want the spotlight on them much as possible?
But the more I thought about this, the more I remembered the power of collaboration. If your content is only about you, you're missing out.
More opportunities arise when you use your platform to connect with and amplify others. This doesn’t reduce your visibility, hurt your credibility, or dim your light. It does the exact opposite.
This is especially true when you feel stuck. If you’ve hit a wall creatively, the best way to re-energize yourself is to collaborate with someone else.
And remember, you also don’t have to be the star of the show to make a name for yourself online. And on occasion, you may just not have energy to make your own content. As Josh Krakauer explained in this LinkedIn post, sometimes “the comment is the content.”
Engaging in someone else's content is one of the best ways to build relationships, and those people will do the same for you.
So carry on and be the social butterfly that you are! 🦋
P.S. In the case of Avril Lavigne and “Breakaway,” she thought it didn’t match her sound when she first wrote it... BUT she recorded her own rendition in 2022.
Throwback Thursday ⏮️
Amid the continued Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket turmoil, I have to think it was much easier to get concert tickets the old-fashioned way: waiting in line at the mall.
Let's throw it back to this season 3 episode of Saved By The Bell when Zac and the gang sleep at the mall in a desperate attempt to get U2 tickets.
I'd much rather have a mall sleepover than battle the Ticketmaster queue!
In the spirit of this, you'll love this episode of Making the Brand where i chat with Josh Gunderson, the marketing social media director behind my favorite Twitter/X account, the @OviedoMall!
| Listen: Confessions of a Mall Social Media Manager |
Headline of the Week 📰
When you're a brand as iconic as McDonald's, you get lots of love in pop culture. We've seen McDonald's featured in movies like Big Daddy, Space Jam, and Coming to America, and episodes of Seinfeld and The Office.
My personal favorite is the unforgettable scene from Sex and the City where Carrie and Big fight about moving to Paris. RIP to the Big Mac and Filet-O-Fish she threw against the wall 🪦
McDonald's is celebrating their pop culture fame with the "As Featured In" meal — a collection of fan-favorite menu items that have made iconic appearances throughout film, television and music.
The meal drops worldwide on August 14th. Super size me!
| Read: McDonald's Pop Culture Meal |
Small Business Love 💜
Hey, you... sit up straight! Have you ever heard of tech neck? It's the strain that results from bending your head downward to look at a phone or computer screen. And it's destroying our posture.
For most of us, it's too late for tech neck prevention 🫠 But there's hope for the younger generation.
Antonia Holder invented DigiRoo — an ergonomically designed, adjustable iPad stand to support positive posture for children.
Consider a DigiRoo stand for the kids in your life and support a small business making a difference!
| Shop DigiRoo |
PopChat Returns 🎉
Get ready… after a long summer break, #PopChat is returning to Twitter/X on Friday, August 11th at 1pm EDT!
To celebrate, UF CJC Online is gifting Rode mics to two lucky winners! If you love marketing and pop culture, join us for the fun.
| Join #PopChat Friday at 1pm EDT |
That’s all for now! Thanks for letting me hang in your inbox 💌
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