TV Is The Radio Star

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Happy Friday, Future Party. If you’re feeling like us, you may be overdue for a de-stresser but also have a lot of work to get done. Consider hitting the sauna this weekend — it’s apparently where all of Silicon Valley’s deals are done these days. But considering temps can reach 200 degrees, it’s best not to sweat the small stuff while you’re in there.

DAILY TOP TRENDS

Spotify Is For Creators Now

Spotify is making a big push into the creator economy with a focus on video podcasters.

Why It Hits: When Spotify announced its investment in podcasting — just the audio kind — it led to a billion dollars in spending, several outsized deals, and major changes in how audiences consume the format. Expect the same dynamics to be at play with the company’s focus on video.

Behind The Scenes: “Spotify for Creators” marks a new era for the streaming company.

• The platform will feature an updated mobile experience (including vertical video and thumbnails), analytics, new monetization tools, the ability to customize how a show is advertised on Spotify, and ways for creators to connect with fans.

• Creators can soon apply for a two-tiered monetization system — one tied to video podcast views from Premium subscribers (who will no longer see dynamic ads) and another tied to ads for all other subscribers.

• But don’t expect the same flurry of exclusive deals as the audio-only days — Spotify says it won’t go crazy with spending on original content and overall deals, something that hurt the bottom line last time.

The Future: Video podcasts have proven to be a huge format for Spotify that’s still growing. In 2021, 43% of users said they prefer video podcasts. Today, it’s at 64%, with over 250 million users having watched a video podcast on the platform. Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s chief product and chief technology officer, said video podcasting is the best way to succeed on the platform right now. Although Spotify and TikTok are now apparently friends, the Spotify for Creator’s vertical video component could start a new war for engagement.

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Amazon Hits The Bargain Bin

Amazon is rolling out a new platform for mass-produced, ultra-low-priced items called Amazon Haul, stocked with everything from clothes to daily essentials.

Why It Sells: Shein and Temu have won the hearts and wallets of Gen Zers thanks to the wide range of cheap options. To continue its retail dominance, Amazon knew it needed to get in the mix… even if it could lead to some serious headaches in the near future.

Between The Carts: Amazon Haul is ready to get you whatever you need at the lowest prices… but not necessarily at the quickest speeds.

• Haul — which has items like a $4.99 iPhone case and a three-pack of laundry mesh bags for $2.89 — is available on Amazon’s app or mobile web browser.

• Like Shein and Temu, Amazon Haul’s landing page is organized in a grid structure, and some items are labeled with emojis like a rocket ship (meaning that it’s “selling fast!”) and a fire emoji (the price is “crazy low”).

• Just don’t expect the classic two-day or shorter Prime delivery window — packages will likely take one or two weeks to arrive since items are, by and large, made in China.

Final Order: Amazon may have an uphill battle in making Haul a lasting business. Firstly, the negative environmental impact and import-skirting rules of Shein and Temu have put the companies in America’s and Europe’s regulatory crosshairs. Secondly, president-elect Donald Trump has been bullish in imposing strict tariffs on Chinese-made goods, which will raise prices. Until Haul is boarded up, expect Amazon to siphon customers from Shein and Temu, who have been a bit wary about trusting those marketplaces.

DEEP DIVES

• Watch: GQ profiles Dwayne Johnson at his farm in Virginia and gets surprisingly deeper than expected.

• Read: WSJ explores the growing ties between automaking giant Volkswagen and EV startup Rivian.

• Listen: T-Pain and Mark Zuckerberg — yes, Mark Zuckerberg — do an acoustic rendition of “Get Low.”

54% of you voted No in yesterday’s poll: Have you ever paused a streaming subscription?

“Was not aware that you could.”

“But I’ve canceled and resubscribed many times over.”

“I leave the country for months and can’t get certain streaming services abroad, so I pause them.”

“As a family, we can’t afford to have all the streaming services at the same time, so we rotate, especially during school holidays.”

“I thought I’d wrap Netflix; it hasn’t happened yet.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join our Poll Of The Day newsletter, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

QUICK HITS

→ Entertainment / Media

📺 Disney and Reliance have completed their $8.5 billion merger in India, creating the country’s largest media empire.

🏀 Speaking of Disney, Disney+ is getting some ESPN content for free starting next month.

🤡 The Onion has bought conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars at a bankruptcy auction to turn it into a “cosmic joke.”

→ Technology

🖥️ OpenAI is planning to build a $100 billion data center — 5x bigger than any other in development.

🤖 Google launched a dedicated app for its Gemini AI chatbot.

💣 Anthropic and the Department of Energy are testing the Claude chatbot to ensure that it can’t help someone build a nuclear weapon.

→ Creator Economy

🗳️ YouTube reports that 45 million Americans watched election-related content on the platform on November 5th.

📱 YouTube also announced that it's rolling out a TikTok-like gifting feature for vertical livestreams.

💻 Meta will give Europeans the option to receive less personalized ads on Facebook and Instagram after pressure from EU regulators.