Once a signifier of luxury or novelty, custom products and services are now within reach of the everyday consumer, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, algorithm-led platforms, and the COVID-era digitisation boom. Today, everyone wants to be the main character of their brand experience.

With digital channels offering them increased access to their heroes, casual supporters and ‘stans’ alike are embracing novel ways of showing their devotion to celebs and sports teams. How are these passionate individuals forging new cultural tribes and changing expectations of fan interactions?

Thanks to streaming platforms, people are able to soundtrack their lives with a near-constant stream of new and familiar music. But how often are listeners actually tuned in? Canvas8 spoke to 20 men and women from across the US to find out how and when music gets their full, undivided attention.

The headphone market is highly competitive, high-tech, and usually high priced. Nura is a company renowned for offering premium headphones that are customized to each person’s needs. Through NuraNow, it’s offering the same quality on a subscription basis, removing the initial price barrier.

The digital music streaming sector is dominated by three big brands, but new kid on the block Deezer is looking to offer consumers a very different proposition. How? It curates playlists using humans rather than algorithms, offering a more personal experience.