2022(3)
The Ukraine war risks a repeat of 2022's hardship
What we’re watching
The West Ups the ante in Ukraine
$200m for a music catalog
The West is sending its most advanced tanks to Ukraine. The days of linguistic tango on the Ukraine war are fast coming to an end. Russia’s calling this a war, not a “special military operation”. And the US and Europe are no longer sending “defensive weapons”. They are sending some of their most advanced tanks to the battlefield in Ukraine. One year on from the war in Ukraine, things are about to heat up. And it looks like the global economy in 2023 is likely to get the 2022 treatment and more; high energy prices, decreased supply of key grains from the black sea region, worsening economic realities for poor countries, and increased risk of a spillover of the war into NATO territory. Fingers crossed.
On a lighter note, Justin Bieber got $200 million richer. Boy joined a group of artists who recently sold their music catalog for hundreds of millions of dollars. But the price tag isn’t the news. It’s the evolving business model where investment firms are able (or so they claim) to put lifetime value on a song, thereby determining a clear sales price. What’s more? It won’t be long before these firms open up to the public. Soon enough, you might be able to own a piece of your favorite Cardi B song, and make some money doing that. Isn’t that cool?