Partnership Director, HYPEBEAST On Culture Marketing Today

Описание: Kayode Bola , Partnerships Director at Hypebeast, leverages his diverse background in sports, music, and brand management to connect brands with popular culture. Working at a media juggernaut like Hypebeast, his role involves giving brands "creative control" to tell stories that resonate with a "culture-curious" audience. Kayode's philosophy is that successful brand messaging today isn't about product features; it's about making people feel a certain way and providing "social currency". He draws a clear parallel to Apple's iconic iPod ads, which sold a feeling rather than technical specs, and believes the most impactful brands are those that lean into cultural trends and disrupt the status quo.

Kayode highlights several brands doing this well, including Nothing, which he praises for its "startup energy" and design-first approach in a saturated tech market. He also points to luxury brands like Emporio Armani partnering with working-class football clubs as a sign that brands are beginning to understand and leverage the power of local culture. At the heart of Hypebeast's own success is its role as a trusted curator. By consistently aggregating and curating cultural news for over 20 years, Hypebeast has built an audience that trusts its taste and returns daily for new discoveries.

In the rapidly evolving "attention economy", where everyone is competing for a small piece of screen real estate, Henry stresses the importance of staying true to the heart of culture, which is often rooted in pure passion rather than monetary gain. He sees creators as a powerful force in this ecosystem, acting as "personal distribution channels" that offer a level of proximity and trust that traditional publishers can amplify. Kayode believes the future will be shaped by a powerful synergy between creators and publishers, with the former providing the authentic message and the latter serving as the megaphone. He predicts that the accelerating pace of AI-driven creativity will make it even more crucial for brands to build a distinctive and emotionally resonant identity that can cut through the noise and stand the test of time.

Made possible by:
ACI.DEV - https://www.aci.dev/
NUSMARK - https://nusmark.com/qr
DOJO AI - https://dojoai.com?fpr=ventures
———————
VENTURES
ESPN for Business
Nothing ventured, Nothing gained


Where to find me
🌍 VENTURES Home - https://virajacharya.substack.com/
📸 Instagram -   / virajacharya  
🐦 Twitter -   / viraj__acharya  
🖇️ LinkedIn -   / virajacharya  
📱 My TikTok -   / viraj_acharya  

GET IN TOUCH:
If you’d like to talk, I’d love to hear from you, ping me on LinkedIn