Hey everyone - we’ve got a special Saturday edition this week with a roundup of a few stories that caught my eye.

Harry Styles just dropped a new album. In support, his live program will be a global residency model as opposed to a broad world tour. This includes 30 straight concerts in NYC.

Now - residencies are not new.

They dominate Vegas, for example.

But this feels different - in a new & refreshing way.

Beyond the emotional drain and physical toll that world tours bring to an artist and crew, the logistics behind massive stage + equipment transportation limits the ability to fully explore what is possible with a live event.

We’ve discussed The Sphere and it’s undeniable success re-invigorating audio/visual cultural immersion from Dead & Co to the Wizard of Oz.

It embodies “build it and they will come.”

It makes the event feel event more like a destination and wholistic experience.

By embracing this model, Harry and his team will be able to put more into the entire experience, knowing they wont have to tear down and hit the road every two nights.

It also creates a sort of pilgrimage-type experience for fans. Planting a flag in a major cultural hub for a month encourages fans from around the world to experience the best of what our world has to offer IRL.

Rather than a one-night out type thing, you can build a whole weekend or extended trip around a concert - similar to what one would do for Disneyland. This creates more intentionality, and - I believe - a deeper connection to moments offline.

I expect to see more of this.

Speaking of Disneyland…

I find it telling that the new CEO of Disney will be the man who was in charge of Disney’s Park, Experiences, and Products…aka IRL.

It’s pretty obvious that Disney’s key brand differentiator is the ability to create destinations as gateways to their IP.

With streaming wars and tech innovations flattening product differentiation on the screens, I think we’ll see more focus on their parks, hotels, cruises as a way to drive revenue while being able to say they’re encouraging families to get offline.

Speaking of streamers…

Ben Affleck just sold his AI filmmaking startup, InterPositive to Netflix.

You might have seen viral clips of him telling Joe Rogan or Andrew Ross Sorkin that a lot of the AI Filmmaking noise is b.s. - but actions speak louder than words.

To be fair, he didn’t say AI would replace exceptional screenwriting, but he did hint at various ways AI tools could cut costs and enhance post-production efficiency.

Turns out, that’s exactly what he’s been quietly building for the past 4 years.

We’ve talked about AI in media, but it’s worth repeating: AI tools will (continue to) be adopted in the creative industries. I’d go as far to predict that in a decade or two, “non-ai” or “human-proof” films will be niche categories in the Oscars, because the majority of films will use the tech in some shape or form.

One more thing: many recent blockbusters like Avengers and Avatar already feel like AI in so many ways. If only just for the over the top, exaggerated special effects. How many stuntmen and other on-set roles have been displaced because CGI?

This isn’t new, but backlash is louder than ever.

The difference this time is that “AI” has a major branding problem that isn’t going away.

It’s already March, and in just a few months, the World Cup will come to North America - with the majority of matches played across the US.

This, along with LA28, represents a huge moment for many cities across our country.

The UN estimates that sporting events now account for 10% of all global travel.

It’s simple: live human competition can’t be automated and isn’t driven by algorithms.

That means it’s popularity will only increase.

Sports provide a nearly unrivaled way to connect with culture.

Whenever I’m abroad, I always check the sports calendar (I have seen two 0-0 premier league matches, so don’t go with me). Regardless of the outcome, it’s an incredible way to experience the electricity of a new place.

With our diverse cultural heritage, extensive infrastructure, and affinity for live spectacle, I expect a big showing from the red, white, and blue.

Track 1 is a contender for song of the summer…

RP WEEKLY!!!!!!