January Week 1 2024

MUSIC RESET
A Look Back At Music In 2023

In the sonic landscape of 2023, music took us on a rollercoaster ride through highs, lows, and unexpected turns, redefining genres and challenging the norms.

Taylor Swift's Triumphs:

Taylor Swift emerged as an unstoppable force, dominating headlines and breaking records. The "Eras Tour" became a historic event, propelling Swift to "Person of the Year" status, while her philanthropy and empowering narratives elevated her beyond just a musical icon.

Mega-Tours Resurgence:

The return of mega-tours marked a shift toward a post-pandemic normalcy. Beyoncé's "Renaissance" tour, along with stellar performances by Swift, Harry Styles, and others, demonstrated that live music was back, captivating audiences on an unprecedented scale.

Hip-hop Celebrates 50 Years:

Hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary with grand performances at the Grammy Awards. Icons like LL Cool J, Run DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, and Queen Latifah took the stage, paying homage to the cultural and musical impact of this transformative genre.

AI and the Beatles:

AI took center stage with the release of "Now and Then," the purported "last" Beatles song. Crafted with preserved vocals of John Lennon and contributions from McCartney and Starr, it showcased the fusion of technology and musical legacy.

Rihanna's Halftime Extravaganza:

Rihanna's return to the stage during the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show became a historic spectacle, breaking viewership records and unveiling her second pregnancy, adding a personal touch to the musical extravaganza.

Britney Spears' Empowerment:

In a highly anticipated move, Britney Spears reclaimed her narrative with "The Woman in Me." Detailing her conservatorship ordeal, the memoir provided insights into her life, resonating with millions and turning Spears into an even more influential figure.

Country Music's Identity Crisis:

Country music faced a crossroads as artists like Luke Combs covered non-traditional songs, sparking debates on the genre's essence. The viral nature of diverse voices within the community mirrored the evolving landscape of country music.

In Memoriam:

Amidst the crescendo of life, we bid farewell to musical legends like Tina Turner, Jimmy Buffett, David Crosby, Sinéad O’Connor, Steve Harwell, Gansta Boo (Founding member of Three Six Mafia) and Trugoy The Dove (Founding member of De La Soul). While they left our world, their melodies endure as timeless echoes of their enduring legacy.

AI RESET
2023 The Year AI Stormed Into The Mainstream

Generative AI, led by innovations like ChatGPT, profoundly influenced various facets of society in 2023. In education, schools faced an AI dilemma as students turned to tools like ChatGPT for essay assistance, mirroring the nationwide conversation around the impact of AI on traditional learning.

Businesses, particularly in the entertainment industry, grappled with AI's role. The screenwriters' strike of 2023 highlighted concerns as Hollywood faced the potential threat of AI-generated content, revealing tensions between technology and creative professionals.

AI’s influence in music reached iconic heights. "Hear on My Sleeve," a collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd generated by an AI voice generator, became a symbol of AI's transformative power in the music industry. Even legendary acts like the Beatles embraced AI, releasing songs created with the help of artificial intelligence by helping to extract former bandmate John Lennon’s vocals from a low-quality cassette recording in order to create the foundation for the song.

In the realm of art, photographers experimented with AI to push creative boundaries, while simultaneously facing the unsettling notion of AI-generated deepfakes encroaching upon the authenticity of artistic expression.

As society adapts to AI, 2023 will go down in history as a turning point. From rewriting educational practices in schools to fueling concerns during a screenwriters' strike, and creating music that can emulate the voices of iconic singers and performers, the impact was distinctly felt, altering the course of how we learn, entertain, and express ourselves.

CRYPTO RESET
Has Bitcoin Finally Severed Its Correlation With Tech Stocks?

Is Bitcoin finally breaking free from its tech stock correlation? Well, the talk in the Bitcoin community suggests 2024 might just be the year for that. Recent data from Barchart shows that Bitcoin has decided to go its own, stepping out of sync with tech stocks for the first time since early 2020.

Traditionally, Bitcoin and tech stocks moved in a seemingly synchronized manner. When the market was roaring up, both high-growth tech stocks and cryptocurrencies ran side by side. In fact when economic indicators and the Federal Reserve made moves; Both Bitcoin and tech stocks move in lockstep. Investors, who chase growth stocks are the same investors who have bought into bitcoin over the last decade, and this is the reason for relationship between the two.

But something's changed. Bitcoin is beginning to move on it’s own, and the correlation seems to be going negative. This is big news, especially with the Nasdaq 100 having a blockbuster year, reminiscent of the tech boom in 1999. The index is riding high on AI enthusiasm and speculation about what the Federal Reserves may do in 2024 and Investors are beginning to see Bitcoin not just as a tech correlated asset class but as a sound investment in its own right.

So are investors finally seeing Bitcoin as a hedge to the dollar?
As a digital gold?

Well with the multiple Spot ETFs potentially getting a green light from the SEC, 2024 is shaping up to be an Epic year for Bitcoin. The approvals will bring in a tsunami of cash with investors targeting Bitcoin as the new store of value.

Stay tuned because 2024 may be the year Bitcoin arrived! 😎🚀

DISCLAIMER:
This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions or investments. Please be careful and do your own research.