Living in Sin - 004
A lot of thoughts on sponcon + TikTok.
Hi y’all!
I have been living in my phone lately and this week’s newsletter reflects that. Lots of thoughts on the TikTok-world as of late.
Pride
Proud to share that 7Deadly Consulting is now the agency of record for Grand Central in DC. The haven for sports fans (especially Bills fans) is under new ownership and management. I started freelancing so I had the final say on what brands I got to work with; I’m so excited to have some fun with this team.
Sloth
This week’s long-read to luxuriate into comes from Geogg Edgers, for Washington Post’s Style Section: “A Black rising star lost his elite orchestra job. He won’t go quietly.” If you’re in PR, regardless of industry, there is a lot here to chew on. (The reporting is from earlier this summer as an FYI.) If you’re invested in the current conversations around DEI, workplace culture, or the pretty secretive and often scandalous world of fine arts… this is a read with lots of value.
Greed
As a sports fan, I love The Broadcast Boys. The duo, Nelson Vergara and Lucas Brody, might be known to some only for their reality TV breakdowns on TikTok. I can’t get enough of this content; which leaves me with one question. Why are brands sponsoring these? This would have been a great PR play for the Utah Tourism CVB or Visit Charleston when they broke down Southern Charm.
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Gluttony
I’m a F&B-hospitality-CPG girle to my core, so I was all over the Whole Foods Trend Report this week. The round-up makes sense to me: the optimization of water/hydration is still on the rise* + more fusion snacks with international appeal. (I’ve had my eye on how Fly by Jing has been doing this for years.)
Crunchy textures and tea also intrigued me. I’m calling 2025 the year of cinnamon: I think we’re going to see it in more sweet treats, a greater representation of the ingredient in savory dishes across cuisines, and I feel like the BBQ world could play it up too.** I’ve been working with the team at La Monarca Bakery on this for a while now.
Lust
Inject it into my veins immediately. The PR potential Addison Rae has is historic.
Envy
Very envious of the brain behind the Tim Walz branding campaign. Getting him on the Rich Eisen Show talking up Brian Flores’ defense was brilliant on many fronts. I know the messaging team was clapping behind the scenes when Walz started talking about how when you’re a defensive coordinator, you’re a defensive coordinator for life.“ Also, I was genuinely shocked to hear Key Glock in one of his recent TikToks.
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Wrath
As always, I’m turning 30 this year and am refusing to bring unearned wrath, etc. into the new decade, so instead you get a recent camera roll gem: me showing a fellow Bravo fan my new mousepad.
okay bye, babes!
-M
*I feel there is a direct tie to this and the looksmaxxing, Winter Arc, etc. trends on TikTok. I could write sooo much more on the intersection of this and capitalism, but basically Jia Tolentino already said it best in Trick Mirror.
** A core personality trait is that I worked at a Famous Dave’s in high school and college. (An order of rib tips hates to see me coming.)