Middle Row w Coco Mocoe

Latest Episodes:

The Substack Effect: The Impending Death of the Short-Form Algorithm Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

Sorry the audio is a little odd on this one! Going to change my mic settings for next time ❤️

In today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe”. we are talking about the inevitable rise of Substack and the potential death of the short-form algorithm. As a creator who began Substack three months ago and has made $10,000, as of today, I am going to be breaking down my thoughts on the rise of Substack and what it says about shifting needs from users and what they want from the next generation of creators who will break big.

At the end of the episode, I will dive into my specific advice for how I got followers over to my Substack.

Find the extended versions of the podcast here: cocomocoe.substack.com/podcast

Some of my favorite Substack profiles:

* After School (a trend report newsletter)

* Culture Work (nuanced cultural takes and deep dives)

* The Social Juice (a marketing newsletter)

“Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe” is a marketing podcast that covers internet and pop culture but from a branding angle. Coco Mocoe is a trend forecaster and marketing expert who loves diving deep into why things go viral on the internet and how you can apply that to your own brand or creator journey.

Thank you for reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Follow Coco Mocoe on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube!

* IG: @cocomocoe

* TT: @cocomocoe

* YT: coco mocoe

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

The Astrology of Chappell Roan's Rise: Who will become famous during Age of Aquarius (2024 to 2043) Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

Today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve” is a combination of astrology and marketing as we dive into the rise of Chappell Roan. Her fame was a slow burn until February of this year when she opened for Olivia Rodrigo on the GUTS tour and momentum picked up. This was a few weeks after Pluto shifted into Aquarius.

Pluto went back into Capricorn in September of this year and will remain there until November 18th, 2024. It will leave Capricorn for the last time in our lifetimes and go back into Aquarius for the next 18 years.

What does Chappell Roan’s rise during the Pluto in Aquarius sneak peak earlier this year signify to us about how fame and celebrity culture might shift as the mysterious planet moves into the sign of community and innovation?

References:

* The Astrology Podcast: Age of Aquarius Episodes

* Chani Nicholas: What you need to know about Pluto in Aquarius

* Chappell Roan’s Natal Chart: Deborah Roe (IG)

Disclaimer: I am not an astrology expert and do not claim to be. It is something I look at for fun but I encourage you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

Let me know what you thought of this episode & if you would like more pop culture astrology deep dives by letting me know in the reviews of the podcast on Spotify and Apple. Thank you for your support!

The extended version of the episode is only available to paying members of the official Substack. You can join by going to cocomocoe.substack.com

Email: coocmocoe@gmail.com

Follow Coco Mocoe!

Instagram: @cocomocoe

TikTok: @cocomocoe

YouTube: Coco Mocoe

"Stop watching creators in your niche if you want to stand out" Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

In today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe”, we are talking about the reason you should NOT be watching creators and brands most close to you in your niche. Even if you don’t mean to copy them, it could happen even subconsciously. Instead, here are some methods you can use to find your own lane when posting on oversaturated apps like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and podcasting.

At the end of the episode, I dive into my thoughts on two pop culture topics, which are below:

* The “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” on Hulu

* The VMA’s: Katy Perry, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan + Addison Rae

Only paying members of the official Substack can listen to this portion of the podcast. Subscribe to the #AOTC Substack to listen to the pop culture portion of this podcast episode: coocmocoe.substack.com/podcast

Additional Source: “The allure of companies like Lularoe for LDS women” by Washington Post

Do you want me to do a deep dive into “Steal Like an Artist” from Austin Kleon for an upcoming episode? Vote here: cocomocoe.substack.com

AMAZON BOOK RECS:

* “Steal like an Artist” Austin Kleon (9.69 for paperback)

* “Big Magic” Elizabeth Gilbert (11.89 for paperback)

* “The Creative Act” Rick Rubin (19.25 for hardcover)

* “Swipe Up For More!” by Stephanie McNeal (23.29 for hardcover)

Thank you for using my Amazon associate links above as I get a percentage of the sale

Thank you for reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts - love you, coconuts.

Follow Coco Mocoe on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube!

* IG: @cocomocoe

* TT: @cocomocoe

* YT: coco mocoe

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

Subscribe to the official Substack if you want to listen to the extended episode every week: cocomocoe.substack.com

Think it's too late to break big on social media? Here's why you're wrong. Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

Did you know Emma Chamberlain didn’t post her first video on YouTube until 10-years after it’s inception? And it took Mr. Beast 5 years to gain his first 100,000 subscribers? The biggest creators on social media are not always the first to break big but the ones who never gave up, no matter what the industry said.

Today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe” is advice to anyone who wants to create online but is afraid they missed their window. Whether you have yet to post your first video or you run an account with 10,000,000 followers but you are afraid that you are “washed up” - this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

* How to find the platform that is right for you (ex: TikTok vs. YouTube vs. Podcast)

* How to find your niche online

* How to find what makes you unique within your niche

In the extended episode for paid subscribers on Substack, we will talk about:

* How to change your niche without losing your audience

Do you want more creator advice like this or do you want pop culture deep dives? (You can vote on the official Substack video: cocomocoe.substack.com)

Thank you for reviewing the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Follow Coco Mocoe on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube!

* IG: @cocomocoe

* TT: @cocomocoe

* YT: coco mocoe

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

What I Watched: "Pop Star Academy" (KATSEYE) Documentary + "Blink Twice" Psychological Thriller Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

SPOILERS AHEAD!

In today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe” podcast, we are diving into the Netflix documentary about the girl group KATSEYE called “Pop Star Academy” + the psychological thriller “Blink Twice” featuring Channing Tatum.

If you loved “America’s Sweethearts” documentary about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders then you will love “Pop Star Academy”. And if you loved “Saltburn” or any Jordan Peele movie, then you will love “Blink Twice” by Zoe Kravitz.

Reference Links:

Pop Star Academy on Netflix

“Blink Twice” Trailer on YouTube

“How to join a K-Pop Girl Group” WikiHow

Karina from AESPA apologizes for relationship (CNN)

35 Rules Old Hollywood Stars Had to Follow (Harpers Bazaar)

Let’s get to 200 reviews on Apple Podcasts and 1,000 reviews on Spotify!

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

2:20 - Pop Star Academy Recap

2:49 - What is a k-pop trainee

5:05 - Pressure for idols to avoid scandals*

7:50 - Comparing strict rules to early Hollywood rules

10:00 - Burial training process

14:00 - When Abby got cut

14:48 - When a girl got cut for social media

17:31 - Ethics of the “dream academy” being a surprise survival show

19:15 - Lexie quitting

23:22 - Filming the girl’s therapy session

24:15 - Why didn’t the show focus on the final members of KATSEYE

26:54 - Why the co-founder of HYBE doesn’t meet the trainees in person

PAID COCONUTS: EXTENDED EPISODE

29:40 - Final thoughts on “Pop Star Academy” Documentary

30:40 - (Prediction) Katseye will open for Olivia Rodrigo*

32:27 - KATSEYE genius promotion roll-out*

34:50 - “Blink Twice” Analysis

36:34 - “Blink Twice” Recap (Spoiler Alert)

37:00 - Channing Tatum deserves an Oscar

39:40 - Why they wear all white on the island

41:30 - The “snake venom” truth serum

42:45 - The desire to be seen

43:34 - White bowtie on dresses

44:37 - What Stacy’s character represented

45:34 - What did Lucas represent?

46:55 - What did the indigenous workers represent?

47:53 - What the bodyguard represents

49:18 - Plot holes in movie

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

Follow Coco Mocoe on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube!

* IG: @cocomocoe

* TT: @cocomocoe

* YT: coco mocoe

Follow the “Middle Row” playlist on Spotify for new music each week: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19x3n1ZRyN4eeikwSy8sL9

Subscribe to the Coco Mocoe Substack for $9 a month to listen to the extended episodes:

cocomocoe.substack.com

#KATSEYE #PopStarAcademy #BlinkTwice #MovieReview

"Why more choice is a bad thing": The Paradox of Choice in Marketing Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

Hi, coconuts! Today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe” is all about what I like to call “The Paradox of Choice”. This is the idea that customers are more likely to make a purchase of a product when they are presented with less variations of said product.

This episode was inspired by the marketing podcast, “Nudge”, and their episode titiled: “Why too much choice is a bad thing”. Listen to that episode here and show them some love:

We will be discussing the power of repetition when it comes to brands like In-N-Out, Head & Shoulders, McDonalds and more. Then for the paid portion of the podcast, we will be applying these findings to the growth trajectory of some of the most viral creators on TikTok & one up-and-coming music artist.

One of my favorite Substacks this month, Toni Bravo (The Delicate Decade): https://tonibravo.substack.com/

Thank you for leaving a review of the podcast on Apple and Spotify!

(My goal for Apple reviews is to get 500 by the end of the year and we are currently at 134)

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

Follow Coco Mocoe on socials for daily marketing & pop culture content:

* TikTok: @cocomocoe

* Instagram: @cocomocoe

* YouTube: Coco Mocoe

* LinkedIn: Coco Mocoe

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:42 - “Why too much choice is a bad thing” episode on Nudge podcast

3:21 - The “Head & Shoulders” Study & The paradox of choice

8:56 - Why algorithms reward repetition

10:36 - When to experiment vs when to repeat as a creator online

12:45 - Crumbl Cookie Marketing Example

14:15 - The McDonalds Study

16:00 - Chasing trends as a creator

17:20 - “Blue Ocean Strategy” in Marketing

20:45 - “Branding is just repetition”

23:57 - PAID SEGMENT

Creators Who Used The Paradox of Choice Theory to Build a Cult-Like Following

24:33 - Toni Bravo: Beauty Influencer

27:15 - Jools “Very Demure” Lebron

29:00 - How to stand out from the rest of your niche as a creator

31:15 - Logan M “Cucumber Salad” TikTok Chef

33:48 - Keith Lee on TikTok

36:09 - The “Hollywood Hair Theory”

37:44. - “The Dare” & the power of branding

39:22 - Concluding Thoughts

Thank you for listening! To become a paid member and get access to every extended episode of the podcast, subscribe to the official substack for $9-a-month (cocomocoe.substack.com)

Do you prefer pop culture episodes or marketing episodes? Let me know in the reviews.

Leave a comment below of a creator, brand or artist who has used the power of repetition to go viral and build a cult-like following:

#Marketing #TikTok #MusicIndustry

"Love Island USA" Reunion: Everything They Got Wrong + the Blake Lively "It Ends With Us" Fiasco Got Worse Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

Welcome to today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe”! We will be diving into the hot mess that was the “Love Island USA” Reunion which aired last night on Peacock. I have never seen a reunion fumble so badly.

For paid subscribers, we will be discussing more thoughts on the Blake Lively “It Ends With Us” marketing fiasco which only got worse since my last podcast about the topic:

https://cocomocoe.substack.com/p/it-ends-with-us-pr-fiasco-or-genius

Plus, I want to briefly touch on the bizarre world that is TikTok Shop. Has anyone else noticed how bad it has gotten?

Thank you for reviewing the podcast on Apple and Spotify to help it grow in the charts! I believe we are in the top 30 of “Entertainment News” as of last week, eek!

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Introduction

1:39 - Love Island USA Reunion

4:00 - How they should’ve formatted the reunion

6:50 - Liv is the leader of the cast

8:25 - The firepit convo where they voted out Andrea

9:50 - JaNa talks about unaired topics from reunion

10:23 - Aaron vs Kaylor Drama at Reunion

14:20 - Miguel & Leah vs Rob

16:24 - Kendall & Nicole Clip

18:20 - Love Island Vs. Love is Blind Vs. Bravo Reunions

24:36 - Blake Lively Situation Got Even Worse

26:30 - Colleen Hoover’s problem

28:00 - Where Justin Baldoni went wrong

30:40 - Why Blake Lively will struggle to repair her reputation

32:51 - Was this Blake Lively’s Oscar run?

36:05 - What does Blake Lively do next?

38:30 - The bizarre world of TikTok Shop

Watch my previous episode on “Love Island USA” here:

https://cocomocoe.substack.com/p/how-love-island-usa-used-the-vanderpump

“Ahead of the Curve” is a weekly podcast about all things marketing and pop culture! We break down the behind-the-scenes of the internet’s most talked about stories. Thank you for listening!

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

"It Ends With Us" P.R. Fiasco or Genius? + The End of the "Mr. Beast" Era on YouTube Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

In today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe”, we will be discussing two great examples of why I always say, “all press is NOT good press”. One of the biggest stories in pop culture right now is about the premiere of “It Ends With Us”. This was a book turned movie from author Colleen Hoover. Director and actor Justin Baldoni bought the rights to make the movie in 2019 and hired Blake Lively to play the lead, Lily Bloom. All seemed to be going well until fans noticed that a large portion of the cast unfollowed Baldoni on socials ahead of the premiere and there seems to be tension during the press tour. Despite this potential drama, the movie brought in $50 million dollars in it’s opening weekend at the box office – doubling it’s budget of $25 million.

Could the Ryan Reynolds “Deadpool” takeover of the “It Ends With Us” press run have been a smart move, despite fans claiming that it took away from the serious undertones of the movie? Let me know your thoughts.

And in the extended episode for paid subscribers, we discuss the developing stories around Mr. Beast from employees having inappropriate relations with minors (allegedly) to his Prime Video show “Beast Games” having issues surrounding the safety of contestants on set. Does this mark the end of the “Mr. Beast” era of YouTube which was all about extreme challenges and putting people in extreme situations for a chance at some money?

The Mr. Beast story is still developing so I might have to do a separate deep dive in a few weeks, if more information comes out.

Time Stamps:

0:00 – Introduction

5:13 – “It Ends With Us” Box Office Results

7:22 – Deadpool x It Ends With Us: Marketing Cross-Over

9:40 – Critic Reviews of “It Ends with Us”

16:51 – The confusing marketing of “It Ends With Us”

22:30 – Ryan Reynolds writing the roof scene

24:36 – “All Press is Not Good Press”

27:40 – The launch of Blake Lively’s hair care “Blake Brown Beauty”

33:15 – Mr Beast Deep Dive (Paid Substack – Extended Episode)

42:44 – “I worked for Mr Beast, He’s a Fraud” Viral Video

44:00 – Former Employee, Jake Weddle, Speaks Out

46:15 – Mr Beast’s Solitary Confinement Video Gone Wrong

51:26 – The similarities of the David Dobrik situation and the Mr Beast situation

– The End of the “Mr. Beast” Era on YouTube

Thank you for rating the podcast on your preferred platform!

Follow Coco Mocoe on Socials to stay connected through out the week:

* Instagram: cocomocoe

* TikTok: cocomocoe

* YouTube: Coco Mocoe

Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

Referenced Articles:

The Hollywood Reporter: “Box Office Boom…’It Ends With Us’ Soars to Huge $50”

The Hollywood Reporter: “Did Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have a rift…?”

Rotten Tomatoes: “It Ends With Us” Reviews

New York Times: “Willing to Die for Mr. Beast (And $5 Million)”

DogPack404: “I Worked For Mr. Beast, He’s a Fraud”

DogPack404 Interviews Jake Weddle

This podcast is based on my own opinion! I always encourage you to do your own research.

The "Love Island" Effect: Authenticity Vs. Contrived Drama Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

Did you know that season 6 of “Love Island USA” had almost the same amount of minutes streamed as MAX’s “House of the Dragons” Season 2? How did a show with .025% of the budget as one of televisions favorite dramas compete in viewership?

We talk about that in today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe”. What was the tipping point that made a dying show peak to the number 1 spot in it’s sixth, and potentially final, season? Was it the addition of host Ariana Madix from “Vanderpump Rules”? Was it the chemistry of the cast? Was it luck?

This episode is inspired by an article I read in Forbes by Jamie Gutfreund titled, “Thinking Like A Creator Can Help Brands Build Trust. Here’s Why”. In this article, the veteran marketing strategist and long-time talent manager breaks down the virality of being authentic vs forcing it. She uses Alix Earle and “Love Island USA” season 6 as two case studies on how to do “authenticity” correctly.

Links and references in this episode:

* Forbes Article: “Think Like a Creator”

* Deadline: “Love Island USA Doubles Viewership”

* Screen Rant: “I Believe Love Island USA Season 6 Saved The Series”

Episode Time Stamps:

* 0:00 – Introduction

* 3:45 – Table of Contents

* 6:56 – The Success of “Love Island USA (Season 6)” vs Previous Seasons

* 13:00 – How this season captured authenticity vs contrived reality TV

* 20:24 – Why Love Island was genius for casting Ariana Madix from VPR as the new host

* 27:22 – The key to viral “authenticity” as a creator or brand

Paid Time Stamps (Extended Episode):

* 31:27 – Two formats to go viral authentically on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram

* 44:50 – Predictions for the “Love Island USA” cast

* 48:42 – The comparisons between “Love Island” and “Vanderpump Rules” early days

Rate the podcast to help it grow ⭐️

Thank you for rating the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts! This helps the podcast grow and reach more people who love marketing and pop culture as much as we do.

For business inquiries, email: cocomocoe@gmail.com

Listen to the extended episode by subscribing for $9/month on Substack:

Download the Substack app to listen to the episode from your phone

Follow Coco Mocoe on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube!

* IG: @cocomocoe

* TT: @cocomocoe

* YT: coco mocoe

The "Call Her Daddy" Effect (Part 2) Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cocomocoe.substack.com

In today’s episode of “Ahead of the Curve w Coco Mocoe”, we will be talking about what comes next for Alex Cooper and “Call Her Daddy” as her 3-year, $60 million deal with Spotify comes to a close. In 2023, she launched the “Unwell Network” and signed Alix Earle, Madeline Argy and Harry Jowsey to her new podcast network. Dave Portnoy, himself, has called her new network a “mini Barstool Sports”. Is Alex Cooper trying to create the sorority house of the internet?

We will also react to some of her best, and worst, interviews on “Call Her Daddy”. 3-years into her record-breaking contract with Spotify, has Alex Cooper gotten better at celebrity interviews or has she gotten worse?

And lastly, we will talk about what comes next for Alex Cooper and why I think she is going to position herself as the Tyra Banks or RuPaul of the podcasting world.

Reference Links:

* The “Call Her Daddy” Effect (Part 1)

* Jojo Siwa “Call Her Daddy” Episode

* Ariana Madix “Call Her Daddy” Episode

* Leah Kateb “Call Her Daddy” Episode (Love Island USA)

* Rob Rausch “Call Her Daddy” Episode

* Tana Mongeau “Call Her Daddy” Episode

* Dave Portnoy “Call Her Daddy” Episode

Time Stamps:

* Introduction — 0:00

* Table of Contents — 3:57

* Why did Alex Cooper start the “Unwell” Network — 8:30