2024 has been a whirlwind for me so far.  I spent most of January on the traveling and found it impossible to settle into any type of routine.

So, I’m treating February 1st as the start of my new year. 

That means a fresh slate of personal and professional goals, a renewed commitment to entrepreneurship, and even more opportunities to deliver insights on the Creator Economy straight to your inbox. 

This week we’re getting into:

+ Angel City FC’s massive rookie season
+ 3 social/creator economy essays 
+ AI tools I can’t get enough of

-LaTecia Johnson

How Angel City FC is Reshaping Entrepreneurship

Last week found me in London, guiding a dialogue at the MusicAlly Connect Conference that was nothing short of electric. Picture this: Universal Music Group, Warner Music, and Beggars Group all at one table, with me stirring the pot on how startups can sync up more effectively with their teams for long-term wins. It was a deep-dive session that unpacked layers of industry know-how, and I'm itching to share those nuggets with you in upcoming articles.

But first, let's shift the spotlight to Angel City, because en route to London, with seven hours to play with, I got sucked into the documentary on MAX about this bold soccer startup's rookie year. And let me tell you, it was an eye-opener.

The HBO docuseries "Angel City" delves into the inaugural season of Angel City FC, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The club's founding group, led by Julie Uhrman, actress Natalie Portman, venture capitalist Kara Nortman, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, exemplifies a diverse leadership dynamic striving for impact both on and off the field.

The parallels between the themes we riffed on at the conference and Angel City's playbook were striking. Both are about the hustle of breaking new ground, the symphony of orchestrating the right partnerships, and the art of engaging communities in ways that go beyond the conventional.

Here's where Angel City truly scores: they're not just playing the game, they're changing it. They've crafted a brand that's as much about impact as it is about soccer. It's a masterclass in narrative, a blueprint for startups on how to step into the arena with purpose and come out with a brand that sticks, a culture that endures, and a strategy that wins.

That's the kind of energy I brought back from London—inspired by how industries can intersect, how giants can learn from newcomers, and how a startup, much like a fresh track, can become an anthem if played right.

Here are 3 lessons I learned from Angel City about making big plays, both on the field and in the boardroom.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Big Visions Need BIG Commitments

Angel City started from a big vision: let’s build a women’s soccer team that considers how women athletes need to be supported and nurtured.  It seems like a no-brainer but was a novel idea when presented in 2021.  The docuseries follows the inaugural season in 2022 while its owners were fighting for a winning season and reshaping the idea of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) at the same time.   The big vision is what kept them going when they lost starters, were wrecked by season-ending injuries, and had to endure league-wide investigations that might’ve ruined similar leagues at other times. 

Not this team. Not this time. 

They had an uncanny ability to just focus on the main thing and stay committed to the task at hand.

Bet On Yourself and Double Down

At one point during the series, the team talks about their refusal to accept a $1 Million valuation for their kits (the jersey’s the team wears weekly) when other losing teams in the men’s league were commanding at least $5M.   The agency was forced to go back to the table to revalue the team, factoring in their celebrity connection, and market opportunity. The results? An overall club valuation of $180 Million, the highest in the NWSL.

In year one, Angel City managed to amass $50 Million in sponsorship dollars during a season that saw them barely break even in wins and had them placed in the heart of Los Angeles, an already saturated market with 13 other professional sports teams.

What this taught me is the immutable power of betting on yourself and refusing to accept the things that have always been.

Never Underestimate the Power of Community

Angel City FC's blueprint for success hinges on a community-centric brand ethos. This forward-thinking team has set a precedent in the sports world by focusing on elevated standards for employee and player welfare, advocating for equitable pay, and fostering robust community ties. Their mission resonates with fans and the wider community, creating a loyal and passionate following. Such a model demonstrates that when a team places communal welfare and engagement at its core, it doesn't just build a brand — it cultivates a movement. This approach is a powerful lesson for any organization aiming to make a meaningful impact beyond its immediate goals.

AI PULSE

Another week, another tool. AI is quickly augmenting the platforms we know and love, so the purpose of this corner is to highlight ones that enhance the creative workflow without completing replacing human interactions.

This week: I’m still stuck on Canva and their “Magic Edit”

Canva's "Magic Edit" feature simplifies the process of editing and designing by automating various tasks throughout the design process offering auto-resizing, background removal, style transfers, smart mockups, animations, and a lot of other elements that are integrated utilizing AI strategically.

Why I love it: the editing process is tedious, but Canva’s feature manages to create an intuitive suite of tools to ease the process while speeding up execution.

CREATOR PULSE

There are so many moving pieces to the Creator Economy with more and more things shifting every day. Here’s a list of things that crossed my desk this week that made me stop and think or get inspired and dream.

Why are there so many layoffs if the Music Industry is growing? 

That’s a really great question a lot of my talented friends in media are asking themselves this week. Billboard seeks to answer this question and more throughout this article that’s a pretty deep dive into the state of media and the future of music.

Creator-led Marketing is Here to Stay

The future of media is creator-led brands that are less interested in finding a celebrity and more centered on connecting with the RIGHT creator. This article explores this concept offering even more insight into the art and hustle of creator-led brands.

Signing off for the week.

—LaTecia
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