Jason Harris

Co-Founder & CEO of @mekanism | Bestselling Author "The Soulful Art of Persuasion” | Co-Founder @creativeallnc

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

@elmo Elmo’s World is a subway ride from the Garden and he is out here playing Switzerland. Do better.

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Flotus giving me Jim Carrey in The Mask vibes

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

How do you scale and disrupt?

This week, I spoke with Erika Badan, CEO of Food52, on the Soul & Science podcast about fearlessly reshaping sports media with @barstoolsports and reimagining home goods with @Food52.

Here are 3 key takeaways:
1️⃣ Bold moves drive disruption.
2️⃣ Adaptability fuels scaling.
3️⃣ Community is everything.
Listen here: https://t.co/hsTQ5fiX8t

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

@Espngreeny Without fail, this team ruins my Sunday, every Sunday.

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Netflix just launched the ‘Moments’ Feature.

You can bookmark and save a scene. You can even share a clip of a show on social media.

How it works:

1️⃣ See a scene you like?  Tap the Moments’ button at the bottom of the screen.

2️⃣ Saved clips go straight to your ‘My Netflix’ tab so you can revisit them whenever you want.

3️⃣ Post it on social; anyone who clicks your clip will jump right to that moment in their Netflix app.

Netflix is also debuting a new campaign called “It’s So Good.” The campaign features pop culture icons like Cardi B, Simone Biles, and Giancarlo Esposito sharing their Netflix moments.

Saving and sharing clips have been a successful console gaming and marketing feature for years.

This will be a great way to have Netflix customers help do their marketing for them.

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

The Horseless Headsman (not a typo), but still one of my all time favroite Halloween ads.

A perfect Halloween version of the famous “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry.”

It still works 10 years later.

https://t.co/3tt9vLDFFH

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[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Amid the noise of AI-generated content, wars, and a huge US election just weeks away, Americans' trust in mass media has reached an all-time low.

A new Gallup survey shows that 31% of Americans have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of trust in media. But 33% said they have “not very much” trust, and 36% reporting “none at all”.

That means that almost 70% of us do not trust the media, which is sadly not a huge surprise.

This declining trend accelerated after 2016 when Oxford Dictionaries named "post-truth" the word of the year. The political and cultural polarization that has grown since has fueled further distrust in mainstream media as people increasingly question the fairness and accuracy of the news.

Even our leaders can lie with impunity.
Do fact-checking, sourcing, and discerning news from opinion even matter anymore?

Will we ever get back to a pre-post-truth world?  Fucking sad.

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[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Yesterday, my son sang, “Blame it on the rain.” I thought, how the hell do you know that song?

The next day, I kid you not, I heard my other son singing, “Girl, you know it's true.”

What the hell is happening?

This resurgence is happening mainly because of the series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. This show has resulted in streaming numbers for Milli Vanilli going up 114%. I only remember the grammy win followed by their lip-syncing scandal. Today, Tik Tok has also normalized lip-syncing, making it acceptable combined with nostalgic music being rediscovered on the platform.

Baby don’t forget my number. iykyk.

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Like Seinfeld, I freaking love cereal.

I asked perplexity to list the top 10 selling cereals in the United States.

1. Cheerios - $435.9 million in sales.

2. Honey Nut Cheerios - $421.7 million in
sales.

3. Frosted Flakes - $412.6 million in sales.

4. Honey Bunches of Oats - $375.2 million in sales.

5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch - $344.3 million in sales.

6. Lucky Charms - $283.4 million in sales.

7. Froot Loops - $269.1 million in sales.

8. Frosted Mini-Wheats - $241.9 million in sales.

9. Life Cereal - $177.5 million in sales.

10. Fruity Pebbles - $172.3 million in sales.

My all-time favorite is Frosted Mini-Wheats. What’s yours?

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Is the Gap back?

Someone at my office recently pointed out she was wearing new Gap jeans. I have not even thought about the Gap for years. I had assumed it was still tanking. No, the Gap was is “killing it”. Killing it? No way.

Yes, way. Even in a difficult retail environment. Gap Inc. has reported stronger-than-expected sales growth in the first half of the year, with a 5% year-over-year increase in second-quarter net sales.

Here are three things that have led to their resurgence.

1. Creative Collaborations and Campaigns: Gap has leveraged high-profile collaborations to refresh its brand identity and attract attention, such as the "Gap x Disney" collection and its collaboration with fashion brand Cult Gaia.

2. Engagement with Pop Culture: Marketing campaigns like the "Get Loose" campaign starring pop icon Troye Sivan are designed to tap into music and culture. A TikTok video, for example, has 30 million views.

3. Focus on Trend-Right Products: The company has shifted its marketing approach to emphasize products that are way more on trend, especially in the denim category.

Impressive start of a comeback.

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Beyoncé just gave Levi's classic

"Launderette" ad a major glow-up.🔥👖
It's like the OG 1985 ad, but with Queen Bey. "Chapter 01: Launderette".

The track was swapped from Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" for Beyoncé's track "Levii's Jeans" from her country album Cowboy Carter.

Beyoncé said denim-on-denim has been too much of a guy thing, and this ad is all about celebrating the female perspective.

After "Levii's Jeans" dropped, Levi's stores saw a 20% jump in foot traffic, so obviously this ad had to be made.

Having worked on Levi’s at TBWA in my far distant past, I love to see this pop culture moment that will absolutely reinvigorate the women’s business at Levi’s.

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

ESPN sources: Jets fired HC Robert Saleh.

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Orion AR Glasses

Meta recently revealed Orion. These Clark Kent-style frames may look ordinary, but they symbolize Zuckerberg’s multibillion-dollar vision for a future where AR replaces smartphones.

I mean these look like glasses that I already wear, so I think the initial design is kinda cool.

What Is Orion?

Orion is an advanced pair of AR glasses that layers digital information over the real world. Imagine being able to communicate, play games, and interact with AI — all through eyewear.

Key Features:

•AR Overlays: Orion’s Micro LED projectors beam digital graphics onto your field of vision. -AI-Powered Interactions: The glasses identify real-world objects and add context, like labeling ingredients for a recipe. Too much information or badass?

•Neural Wristband: A next-gen controller that uses neural signals to trigger hand gestures for navigating the interface. I do not have any idea how this could actually work.

Despite the innovation, Meta has shelved Orion’s release. Why? The cost of manufacturing, specifically the silicon carbide lenses, is too high. At $10,000 per unit, it’s not yet a viable consumer product.

Zuck envisions these AR glasses as the first step toward a post-smartphone world. Do you think it will happen?

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Implications of Open AI becoming a PBC

Open AI started as a nonprofit to safely develop AI.  As we know, in 2019 it created a for-profit subsidiary to raise more money, as attracting money for nonprofits is much more complicated.

OpenAI now plans to transition into a public benefit corporation (PBC). This change allows OpenAI to balance profit-making with a broader societal mission and allows founder Sam Altman and investors to earn billions.

What Is a PBC? I had to look it up.
A PBC is a for-profit entity that legally commits to both financial success and a positive impact on society.

If this move happens here are some key changes:

•Transparency: OpenAI must disclose more about its operations.

•Attracting Investment: This could allow capital to be raised through an IPO for example.

•Decision-Making Flexibility: Directors can balance the purpose with profits without fear of liability.
Potential Challenges:

•Ethics Washing: With more decision-making, the backlash of poor ethics could come into play.

Operational Complexity: It will be challenging to manage purpose and profit, which is always hard when investors become more involved.

•Investors: More push to continually increase profits.

This is no surprise that Open AI is going to make this move. How do you feel this will impact the future of AI?

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

Forrester recently released The State of Generative AI Inside Us Agencies.

Agencies must overcome AI-induced apprehension to scale creativity.

How many agencies are using genAI?

61% reported their agencies already use AI, which is much higher than that of internal marketing organizations and the general business population. 78% of large agencies use AI, and only 53% of small agencies use it.

Is genAI a major disruptor?

77% report that genAI is a disruption for their agency. Of this number, 30% say this is a significant disruption that will change their agency forever. 83% say that using genAI is a challenge for their agencies. These risks include, adoption, accuracy, client concerns, and ethical issues.

What is the most significant improvement?

54% of agencies say that AI improves the speed and quantity of creative ideation and production.

We are certainly embracing genAI and moving as fast as we can. The key is to determine what you are doing with it that is a differentiator.

Do these stats resonate with your agency?

[Jason Harris @jason_harris]

The WNBA: A Slam Dunk for Brands?
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is experiencing unprecedented growth, proving that women's sports are not just the future – but the present. 🏀🚀

Key stats that are turning heads:

•133% increase in viewership this year

•Average in-person attendance is between 10,000 and 16,000

•Average viewership of 1.2 million viewers (up 170%)

This surge in popularity hasn't gone unnoticed by major brands. Giants like Google, Nike, AT&T, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Amazon Prime Video are all in the game, recognizing the WNBA's power.

What's driving this growth?

1. Increased media coverage

2. Rising star power of players and quality of play

3. Caitlin Clark

For brands, it is not about supporting women's sports – it's a strategic move to connect with a passionate, growing audience. With plans for expansion (hello, Bay Area team in 2025!).

Are you watching the WNBA? How do you see this growth impacting the broader sports and marketing landscape?