Vice Media Is Back, But How?

Web3, AI and the creator economy in under 3 minutes per week!

Author

Shira Lazar
May 13, 2024

Happy belated Mother’s Day! I’m back from my travels and excited to be home focused on work and some exciting new projects I’ll announce soon!

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Vice Media, a name once synonymous with cutting-edge digital content, is making an interesting comeback. In partnership with Savage Ventures, Vice Media is set to relaunch its popular digital brands including Vice.com, Munchies, Motherboard, and Noisey. This revival comes after a challenging period marked by Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year.

The partnership signifies a major strategic pivot. 

Savage Ventures is injecting tens of millions of dollars into the venture, taking on day-to-day digital operations. The focus will shift from traditional advertising to licensing content through Vice's studios and ad agency. This model reflects a significant shift in the digital media landscape, moving towards business-to-business (B2B) engagements which could potentially offer more stable revenue streams compared to the unpredictable ad-supported model on their own site and social platforms.

What does this mean for the future of media? 

This move highlights the need for adaptability in media and could pave the way for other legacy publishers looking to innovate and sustain their operations in this new multi-media and AI era. 

🔥 My Hot Take: I run a small media business called 'What’s Trending,' and I always emphasize the necessity of staying lean to thrive. Don’t be afraid to fail fast and pivot quickly, but also ensure there's enough time for experimentation.

Shira Lazar

In this business, you can’t be attached to any one business model, as changes can occur each quarter—and much of it is beyond your control. What's crucial is having a strong brand and IP, a supportive community, and a leadership team that is passionate and curious about innovation.

The days of the 'more money we put toward content, the more money we make' mentality are over. It's about quality over quantity, ensuring the money you're spending aligns with what actually generates revenue. The era of reliance on VC funding is also ending, compelling many media companies to adopt more sustainable business models that focus less on content volume and more on revenue efficiency.

Other headlines to check out:

Web3

Creator Economy 

AI

Keeping my eye on…

I’ve written before about how much I love my Oura ring, but that doesn’t mean I don’t encourage some competition. I recently met the team behind Cudis, the first AI smart ring that rewards your wellness journey. It recently launched 1500 and sold out. 

I’m also excited to see a new company blending blockchain technology with wearable technology. According to a press release, “CUDIS boasts a rewards mechanism that will allow users to both monetize their health data and offer them the ability to access premium membership features via their upcoming app, unlocking more value without accruing additional costs.”


I’m Bullish On…

The Meta Ray-Bans are like having a high-tech sidekick built right into your sunglasses! Snap photos, shoot videos, jam out to your favorite tunes, or chat on a call—all without ever touching your phone. They even let you go live on social media to share your moments as they happen. Stylish and smart, these glasses are perfect for tech lovers who also want to look cool.

Here’s my own demo of them during Art Basel in December of 2023:

I’ve tried them out myself, and I’m getting closer to wanting to buy a pair as I’m super impressed by the video and audio quality. The pricing ranges from $299-$499, which is also pretty reasonable. As I’m needing to create more content, I like the idea of capturing my life and moments, and this is an easy way to do this vs just hiring a camera person to follow me constantly. 

Futurist Don Allen also recently wore them during a panel I was on with him:

Gentle reminder:

I’m finally learning, as I go into my 41st year, that if someone tells me they don’t want to work with me, I don’t need to force it and sell them on why. For instance, I recently said to someone who was giving me pushback, 'Ok, let’s not do this or work together.' Releasing my attachment to the outcome and not taking it personally was helpful. Then, they decided to reverse their decision. 😂

Remember, I'm Bullish on you!

With gratitude,