Joe Rogan is exclusive to Spotify, which suggests the streaming service realizes it needs to steal share to get its Aggregation flywheel spinning.
Uber + Grubhub?, Aggregator Acquisitions, Uber and Lime
An Uber acquisition of GrubHub makes all kinds of sense, but for the same reasons that it will be frowned upon by regulators (and for good reason). Then, Uber’s investment in Lime makes sense as well.
The Anti-Amazon Alliance
Google Shopping is changing its model, suggesting Google is joining the Anti-Amazon Alliance; 3rd-party merchants should do the same.
The NBA and Microsoft, and An Interview with Adam Silver and Satya Nadella
Microsoft and the NBA are announcing a new partnership; then, an interview NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella
Amazon Cuts Affiliate Marketing, Google Versus French Publishers, Streaming Services and Movies
Amazon cutting affiliate fees, Google versus French publishers, and movie studios seeking to sell to Netflix are all examples of the same trend: you must own your relationship with your customers.
An Interview with Okta CEO Todd McKinnon (and Slack correction)
An interview with Okta CEO Todd McKinnon about Okta’s moat, holding a virtual developer conference, and the Okta platform.
Apple, Amazon, and Common Enemies
It is tempting — and useful — to look at Apple and Amazon’s deal in a bilateral context. It probably makes more sense, though, in the context of Netflix and the future of video.
Studios Go Direct to Consumer, Theaters and Demand, Universal Versus Disney
Studios go direct-to-consumer out of necessity; Disney has the most potential, even if they should use Universal’s model.
Morgan Stanley Acquires E*Trade, Intuit Reportedly Acquiring Credit Karma, User Acquisition and Market Power
Morgan Stanley acquired E*Trade, and Intuit is reportedly acquiring Credit Karma; both are about improving customer acquisition, but the competitive impacts differ.
The Rationale Behind the Daily Update Podcast, Podcasts and Email, Spotify and the Three Bens
An explanation of the strategy undergirding the Daily Update Podcast, how the implementation fits into that strategy, and how Spotify’s podcast strategy impacts Stratechery’s approach.