So often media companies hold back from being truly creative with their marketing. But when they let loose they become culture shapers. Find out how. In this 5-minute episode Adam breaks down three ways your company can stop sitting on the sidelines and begin to shape the culture around it. Because when you own the narrative, the world’s your oyster. Grab a pen, this is a highly actionable run through. And if you want to get into it further, follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamRy_n a...
Aug 30, 2022•7 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Is low signal content really the answer for follower engagement? Adam Ryan has some strong feelings around playing to the lowest common denominator. Find out more. Adam gets straight into a subject all media companies should be talking about. In this 5-minute episode he talks clickbait, creating content with one person in mind, and how negative signaling and the lowest common denominator go hand-in-hand. You’ll also hear Adam’s take on vanity metrics and why they clash with Workweek’s values. Fo...
Aug 25, 2022•5 min•Season 3Ep. 4
How do you get the right balance between pushing your products and keeping on the good side of your audience? In this 5-minute teardown, Adam Ryan takes you through his thoughts on getting it right, with some practical examples thrown in along the way. If you’re running a media company, a creator or building audiences of any kind, this is the episode for you. Follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamRy_n and sign up to the Perpetual newsletter, where he dives deeper into subscription mode...
Aug 23, 2022•8 min•Season 3Ep. 3
After raising $57 million over the last 5 years, D.C. based media company Axios has been acquired by Cox Communications for $525 million. With execution being key, Adam discusses why some considered Axios to be doomed from the start, only to end up with one of the best outcomes we’ve seen just 5 years later. And if you want to get into it further, follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamRy_n and sign up to the Perpetual newsletter, where he dives deeper into subscription models: https://...
Aug 18, 2022•5 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 3 of Media Moves! This season's topic: Content to Commerce. We are happy to be speaking with Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing for SparkToro. Join Adam and Amanda as they discuss the benefits of sticking to your niche and personal experiences, modern content marketing, and content creator’s responsibility for copywriting. And if you want to get into it further, follow Adam on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamRy_n and sign up to the Perpetual newsletter, where he dives deeper in...
Aug 16, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 1
The media landscape is changing fast and content to commerce is the number one topic on the minds of media operators. Ever since Penn Gaming bought a stake a Barstool, media companies have sat up and decided they want some skin in the game. Media Moves understands the playbook inside out and every week listeners can expect to hear from high-quality guests for their ONE play to help businesses leverage the content to commerce dynamic. Hosted by Adam Ryan, Co-Founder and CEO of Workweek, the show ...
Aug 02, 2022•1 min
This is a spicy one. Why don’t subscription models work? Because they rely on subscription sleepers. Adam Ryan, digs into what that means for media companies. Adam pulls no punches in this 5-minute episode. Find out just how many subscribers become inactive the day after sign-up and why a subscription model should never be your sole play. You’ll also hear Adam’s thoughts on media companies setting the cancellation barrier so high and why Workweek has taken a completely different approach to subs...
Jul 28, 2022•5 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Why would a huge European event business snap up a relatively unknown media company? In this 5-minute tear down, Adam Ryan has the answers. Join Adam as he shares his personal experience talking to Industry Dive CEO Sean Griffey, why Informa has done the math, and some of the challenges they’ll face going forward. You’ll hear Adam’s spicy takes on whether this vertical play will convert, why media is always an execution game, and why going deeper with the audience is Informa’s next challenge. To...
Jul 26, 2022•8 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Why is paid marketing getting a bad rap? When some of the biggest media businesses in the world leverage it, it’s time to challenge the trend. Adam takes 5 minutes to call out the problems of assuming paid content is lower quality, why your product’s market fit is key, and how Workweek is thinking about paid and organic content. Don’t forget to subscribe and join Adam for season 3 as he asks media operators for their ONE takeaway to improve business, going from content to commerce. And if you lo...
Jul 21, 2022•7 min•Season 2Ep. 15
How do you retain talent and keep your creatives in-house? It’s a question that’s plagued media operators for years, and Adam has the solution. In fact, he has 3. Join Adam, as he takes a 5-minute run through on ways to create the kind of work environment that encourages and nurtures your top talent. You’ll also hear Adam’s hot takes on the creator economy and relatable examples. One to take note of. Don’t forget to subscribe and join Adam for season 3 as he asks media operators for their ONE ta...
Jul 19, 2022•6 min•Season 2Ep. 14
What happens when a media company like Morning Brew starts selling merch? They make the kind of vertical play that launches their brand into the stratosphere. Adam introduces season 3 of Media Moves, talking about the growing trend among media companies of turning content into commerce. Running the kinds of playbooks companies like Under Armour and Nike have been using for some time. Find out why content to commerce is a great brand signal, why your loyal customers are desperate to buy from you,...
Jul 14, 2022•3 min•Season 2Ep. 13
How do you solve a problem like LinkedIn? To get past high noise, low signal and build an online community that’s truly meaningful, you need a vertical social network. In this 5-minute run through, Adam unpacks how his old company, Spiceworks, did just that. By creating mascots, products and conversations that actually meant something to their customers, they gained highly engaged, loyal followers. Take a listen as Adam gives two highly meaningful, highly practical takes on how to create a commu...
Jul 12, 2022•4 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Becoming a ghostwriter and capturing someone’s tone of voice is a tough gig. Done well it saves creators time and can take their Twitter engagement to the next level. Find out how. Charlie Light knew he’d got Twitter after his parody account gained huge traction over lockdown. Now he’s pouring all that knowledge into the Workweek mission as the latest member of the team. Adam and Charlie get into the weeds of how Twitter is instrumental in building newsletter subs, why even serious CEOs should g...
Jul 07, 2022•33 min•Season 2Ep. 11
What happens when TikTok and culture collide? The most successful holiday box office opening in the history of the movies. In this quick dive, Adam talks about why media operators act out of fear, missing out on huge opportunities to influence culture, why you need to let your best people loose on TikTok, and why a bunch of 20-something men are dressing in suits and heading to a kid’s movie. You’ll also hear Adam’s thoughts on what happens when FOMO and hype mix, why your camera phone will do, a...
Jul 05, 2022•5 min•Season 2Ep. 10
With a 50% chance of recession in the next two years, it’s time to get into the circle of success. Adam Ryan explains. Join Adam as he takes a 5-minute run at explaining how to succeed during a recession. While not all industries are recession-proof, you can give yourself the best chance of survival by creating a smaller circle of success. How? By knowing your short and long term bets. Plenty of insights drawn from experience, give this one a listen. And if you love listening to Media Moves, ple...
Jun 29, 2022•7 min•Season 2Ep. 9
If there’s one question Adam gets asked all the time, it’s this: What does Workweek actually do? In this media podcast, he unpacks the Workweek mission around the creator economy. When you're writing a newsletter or creating a podcast your time is pressed. From ad sales to admin, being a Swiss Army Knife isn’t optimal, and that’s where Workweek steps in. In this 5-minute run through, Adam explains how Workweek scales creators by picking up back end operations, the triangle of replaceability, and...
Jun 28, 2022•4 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Looking for a debate around the water cooler? Adam gets into why Taylor Swift is the Springsteen of our generation and the secrets of creating longevity. In this five minute solo conversation, get inside Adam’s head as he shares his thoughts on why some brands last decades and others have much shorter life spans. The secret? Growing with your audience. Quick, fun and likely to offend Springsteen fans everywhere. And if you love listening to Media Moves, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My...
Jun 21, 2022•5 min•Season 2Ep. 7
When you’re a woman who loves sports, it’s easy to get overlooked and excluded by traditional media. But Jacie deHoop isn’t standing for that. Find out why 500,000 sports fans can’t be wrong. As a lifelong athlete and with a background in finance, Jacie is at the cutting edge of sports and business. Co-Founding The Gist, a sports media brand and newsletter was a natural evolution of her strengths. Adam and Jacie get deep into how The Gist is representing underserved fans and athletes, why person...
Jun 14, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 6
How do you strategize for a musical genre? You embrace the culture that surrounds it. Dan Runcie is a founder at the intersection of music and business. Hip-hop is way more than just the music, it’s business, culture, and the artists themselves. Dan is one-step ahead of the moves with Trapital, assessing the deals, companies, and artists that shape the culture and delivering the latest trends to venture capitalists, music execs and media moguls. Adam and Dan get into the weeds of the advantages ...
Jun 07, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Only when you’ve truly been a fan of a product (or kids’ cartoon) can you truly understand how brand affinity works. Just ask Jamie Seltzer, General Partner at LightShed Ventures. With a background at the intersection of media, finance, and tech Jamie, through LightShed, is investing in founders at the forefront of these industries. Adam digs deep into Jamie’s core beliefs around reaching a niche audience, why he asks himself if people would get a tattoo of the brand they love, and why you shoul...
May 31, 2022•32 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Don’t own an airport? Build one yourself, then create a real estate empire around it. Oh and run a media company as well. Meet the high flying COO. Amelia Earhart changed the aviation story back in 1927. Flying Magazine picked up the narrative and, still going strong, was acquired by the Flying Media Group in 2021. But what happens when you need a media HQ that reflects your values and can’t find an airport to buy? You create your own. Adam gets into it with Preston, discussing monetizing throug...
May 24, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 3
How can you know if you’re getting a fair price for your company? You start your own media business and make it your job to find out. Alexis Grant began building They Got Acquired after going through two acquisitions. The lack of information out there, meant she had little idea if the deals were fair or even how the process worked. Adam and Alexis dive into why so few founders plan ahead to sell their businesses, the main mistakes first-time sellers make, and why she’s talking about deals the ma...
May 18, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Brian Morrissey is exactly the guest you’d want as a season opener, with the kind of media knowledge you’d pay to hear. As a reporter he didn’t take much notice of the kind of people who wrote emails and sold ads, until he became the kind of person who wrote emails and sold ads. Now editor and founder of The Rebooting, a weekly newsletter on how media operators can build sustainable businesses, Brian brings his immense knowledge of the industry, while also operating within it. Adam and Brian get...
May 10, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Media operators know the challenge of executing in a competitive market. It’s tough getting ahead, and it’s even tougher staying ahead in a constantly moving industry. A well-timed prediction can help you smoothly navigate what’s coming around the corner. And that’s what we are lasering in on with season 2 of Media Moves. I’m Adam Ryan, Co-Founder and CEO of Workweek. On this show we’re zooming in on the future of the media industry, both short and long term. Here’s what to expect. First, we’ll ...
May 06, 2022•2 min
Boostrapping a media business is hard. Being the de facto leader in your category of coverage while being bootstrapped? Near impossible. But for Jason Yanowtiz, Co-Founder and CEO of Blockworks, impossible was never on the agenda. Adam and Jason discuss how to grow a financial media brand from an idea into a business, doubling year on year. They’ll zoom in on why Blockworks throws the kinds of events 10,000 people want to attend, and they’ll zoom out to Jason’s predictions on how Web3 will impac...
Apr 19, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The one where Adam goes head-to-head with Nathan Baschez on subscriptions. This is one episode you won’t want to miss. Every is a bundle of business-focused newsletters, accessed through a subscription service. With 40,000 readers already signed up, Every offers insights, news and opinion from creators at the top of their game. Alternate perspectives make the world whole and in today’s special episode, Adam goes all in with Nathan Baschez debating subscription vs advertising and what works best ...
Apr 12, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Bennett Richardson takes a unique approach to media marketing. Discover how his fascinating background is helping set Protocol’s agenda for success. Through his roles as Founder and CMO of dating app Hinge to Executive Director at Politico, there’s a thread that runs through Bennett’s media playbook: Relationship. Having spent time “on the other side of the desk” in marketing and sales, Bennett believes media organizations work best when they work collaboratively. He also believes you should alw...
Apr 05, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 2
How do you grow a huge online community, write a high signal 10,000-word essay every week, and keep up with the latest tech trends? Ask Mario Gabriele, he’s doing it all. In the fast moving media landscape, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. Mario is an expert at creating community and has become an incredible thought leader through his company, The Generalist. Adam dives into conversation with Mario on how he manages to do it all as a solo creator, how he’s reached more than 55,000 readers,...
Mar 29, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Sean Griffey is a rare commodity. Not only is he a legend in the media operating space, he’s also the man to go to for insightful commentary on where media is heading. There aren’t many media operators who can say they’ve bootstrapped a business to more than $100m in annual revenue but if anyone was going to, it was Sean. Adam zooms in on Sean’s B2B company, Industry Dive, helping decision-makers stay one step ahead of the competition with insightful journalism in niche industries. They discuss ...
Mar 22, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Why Media Moves? Because the landscape is constantly shifting and evolving. In that kind of environment, hearing Jacob Donnelly’s highly actionable insights is vital. More than 3 million people start their day with Morning Brew and as the B2B GM, Jacob is always ahead of the curve. As a Founder and former MD at CoinDesk he lives and breathes all things media. Adam and Jacob discuss underutilized tactics in media companies, his thoughts around monetizing subscriptions versus advertising and how m...
Mar 15, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 3
