1 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business, Variety's weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: Corey Erickson, media analyst a Variety Intelligence Platform. This episode's 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: guest is Stephanie Latham, vice president of Global Brands Partnerships 5 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 1: at Roadblocks. Our conversation touches upon the massive reach of 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: the game creation platform, which boasted an average of seventy 7 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: seven million daily active users in the first quarter of 8 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. We get into how Roadbox utilizes outside 9 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: brands to keep users engaged within its many interactive experiences, 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: and how the platform incentivizes those same players to craft 11 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: their own experiences. But when so many Roadbox users are children, 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: focusing on safety is as big a priority as making 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: the most of its brand deals. We're going to take 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: a break, but let me come back. Listen to the 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 1: full conversation to understand why Roadblocks isn't going anywhere and 16 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: how its approach to advertising is always evolving. Welcome back 17 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 1: to Variety Strictly Business podcast. I'm Corey Erickson, media analyst 18 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: with Variety Intelligence Platform, and I'm joined today by Stephanie Latham, 19 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: vice president of global brand partnerships at Roadblocks, Stephanie. Before 20 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: you joined Roadblocks, you spent more than a decade I 21 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: Meta Platforms back when it was mostly still just known 22 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: as Facebook. What was the nature of the various roles 23 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: you had there and how did that lead you to Roadblocks? 24 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: Well, Hi, Corey, First, thank you so much for having 25 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 2: me excited to dive in with you today. Yes, you 26 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: are correct, I spent about twelve years at Meta or 27 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 2: as you, as you can point out, Facebook will always 28 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: be Facebook to me in my heart. My entire time 29 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: at Meta, I worked in the advertising and partnership space, 30 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: so I worked across so many different categories, from helping 31 00:01:55,800 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: build our automotive vertical to more recently running on the 32 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: entertainment tech in Telco North America advertising partnerships for Meta. 33 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 2: So was really able to work across so many different 34 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: creative surfaces as we launched them and then help bring 35 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 2: advertisers along into kind of where some of the future 36 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,359 Speaker 2: media was. So I've kind of followed behavior consumer behavior 37 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 2: my entire career, and before Meta, I worked in the 38 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: advertising agency space, both in digital and in print and 39 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: TV before that, so consumer behavior has been a through 40 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: line of every step and for me coming to roadblox 41 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 2: with such a natural fit as we started to see 42 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 2: so many partners lean into immersive and what is the 43 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 2: future of that? 44 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: Very cool? When did you join Roadblocks specifically? 45 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 2: I joined Roadblocks this fall, in early October last fall. 46 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: I guess I should say, yeah. 47 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: So you're coming to Roadblocks after sort of this period 48 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: where you know your previous employer was moving into the metaverse. 49 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: How does Roadblocks itself sort of revolve around the same 50 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: concept of not just you know, a core gaming experience 51 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: that maybe a lot of outsider see it as, but 52 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: also a platform that offers all different kinds of experiences, 53 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: oftentimes far removed from you know, the concept of video 54 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: games itself. 55 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 2: I mean, I think, yes, it's so exciting, Like Robox 56 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: is so much more than gaming, and we have a 57 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 2: very visionary CEO at the top who has put out 58 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: a big, bold vision for us to really reimagine how 59 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: people come together. I think we are really sitting at 60 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: the future of communication and connection and as we you know, 61 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: set out to connect a billion people on Roadblocks, we 62 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: have already seen the behavior expand beyond playing, which is 63 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: where we started for sure, to shopping exploring, learning all 64 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: kinds of different things, Corey. You know, it's been really 65 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: fun to see in the music space, artists like Black 66 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: Pink Twice, Elton Mariah, I mean, the full range and 67 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 2: full gamut come to the platform to perform, to connect 68 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: with their fans and really use it as a deep 69 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: form of engagement. We're seeing that across categories too. You know, 70 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 2: sports is another great please. A lot of the leads 71 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: have leaned in, Corey, like NFL, NHL, even Tennis, USTA, 72 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: NASCAR using Roadblocks as a way to extend the events 73 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 2: that are happening in real life, using Roadblocks as a 74 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: way to extend the seasons and kind of keep that 75 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: connection going. And I think also it's been really exciting 76 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 2: to see new audiences, right Roadblox brings to so many 77 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: of them, this new audience of the ten millions of 78 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: gen z's that we have every month. 79 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: Ye speaking to that point on audiences, I do think 80 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: a lot of people sort of in the public ice 81 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 1: Roadblocks as a platform primarily for kids, but with the 82 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: kind of engagement it has. You know, clearly Roadblocks has 83 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: to rely on appealing to all sorts of different kinds 84 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: of demographics and just today through an Xbox sort of 85 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: third party presentation, they announced this partnership with the Chucky 86 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: brand for this IP hub called Griefill. How do experiences 87 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: like that come together? 88 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: Sure, well, a lot of parts of that question to unpact. 89 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: So I think Chucky the Chucky experience is a great 90 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: example of how the entertainment industry overall is looking at 91 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: roadblocks is a new way to really bring immersive IP 92 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: to their fans. We're seeing that across the board right 93 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 2: whether it's Hunger Games bringing the Academy experience to Roadblocks 94 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 2: you could kind of go through that, or it's Aquaman, 95 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 2: Kung Fu Panda four, like, just all kinds of IP 96 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 2: is coming and bringing that to life for our users. 97 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: We're also seeing Corey like robos being used to bring 98 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 2: new life to some older or more classic IP. We've 99 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 2: had a recent activation with Jaws for example, and again 100 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: it's giving that like new audience extension and kind of 101 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 2: that new life to things by being able to put 102 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 2: users like immersed in the story and the experience in 103 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: the IP. 104 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: And you've already mentioned a lot of different experiences across music, 105 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: sports and now filmed to that you know you've helped 106 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: overseeing through the brand partnership side of Roadblocks. What's one 107 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: recent experience in particular that you were really excited to 108 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: finally bring to the platform. 109 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 2: Well, I am really excited, Corey. By the time this 110 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: episode airs, we will have brought our first major streaming 111 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 2: co to the platform with a hub like experience, seeing 112 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: them invest truly in a persistent presence on Roadblocks to 113 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 2: bring their best ip forward. 114 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: What are the strategies at play to keep users loyal 115 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: to Roadblocks and consistently coming back to the platform. 116 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: So this is a fun one for us Qurey. As 117 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: we lean into the future here, we're really starting to 118 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 2: see more crossover with loyalty programs like back to the 119 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 2: spirit of like that blur between the digital and the 120 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: physical and how to connect the dots. So you know, 121 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 2: we've had recent example with Hilton Honors Points in Living Land, 122 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 2: which is Paris Hilton's experience, and we saw that they 123 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: were able to connect their like real world loyal with 124 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 2: behavior on Roadblocks and close the loop. We also have 125 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 2: seen a recent activation with Pepsi and Bubbly similar spirit 126 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: and one of my favorites was Lamborghini offered some exclusive 127 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 2: UGC in their experience that then was redeemable for a 128 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: ticket to their factory in Italy. And so just kind 129 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 2: of like this continuous activate the community on roadblocks and 130 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: then connect the dots to the real world, which is 131 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,679 Speaker 2: also kind of the spirit of I mentioned we're getting 132 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: into real world commerce and we'll be testing that later 133 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: this year. So we talked a little bit about it 134 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 2: with the shopping lens, which is so endemic to our platform. 135 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 2: But when we think about entertainment and we think about 136 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: other categories, it's really exciting to imagine once you're able 137 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 2: to link out to another place, you could watch an 138 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 2: immersive trailer, watch an immersive trailer with a friend, and 139 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 2: then click out two ticketing to Fandango and purchase your 140 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 2: movie tickets for that weekend or that night. And so 141 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: I think these use cases are really exciting us as 142 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 2: we get beyond just brand exposure and brand experiences to 143 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: actually driving real world outcomes for our partners. 144 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, alongside those e commerce aspects, what other areas of 145 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: engagement has roadblocks not fully tapped into yet. 146 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 2: We have touched on this throughout Corey, but we are 147 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 2: just getting into ads. Like we're at the very very 148 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: early days of like what our ads and solutions are, 149 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 2: and I think the more ways we can connect the 150 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 2: dots like brands is such a flywheel for us right 151 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: it's content, it's shopping, its ads, And as we continue 152 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 2: to evolve those solutions and lower the barrier to entry 153 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 2: for brands on the platform, I think the future there 154 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 2: is limitless. 155 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: Do you think there is maybe like a little bit 156 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: of a user risk if you know, experiences within roadblocks 157 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: users are very familiar with and comfortable with the you know, 158 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: like grant them a lot of kind of the same 159 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: kind of experience they may want over and over again. 160 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: Could there potentially be a bit of a user backlash 161 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: if they suddenly just start seeing ads appearing within the 162 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: experiences where they're not used to seeing ads. 163 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 2: I think we've been very intentional about this, Corey. You 164 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 2: may remember years ago robots actually did have ads, and 165 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,719 Speaker 2: I think we learned a lot from that, and so 166 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: like the true north for us on everything ads is 167 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: our ads are all really immersive. They're very thoughtfully integrated 168 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 2: into an experience that already exists. So think about it 169 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 2: like walking by a real world billboard, Like that's how 170 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: the ads are integrated into the experiences. So it's very 171 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: different than a pre role or a force view or 172 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 2: something like that. They're very thoughtfully executed in that way. 173 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: So do you see robots kind of taking a cue 174 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: from sort of the way a lot of existing things 175 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: like product placement are handled in TV and film like 176 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: Like for instance, last night, I was rewatching one of 177 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: the older seasons of True Detective and during sort of 178 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,439 Speaker 1: this legal during this legal scene, uh, they had water 179 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: bottles out on the table with you know, the brand 180 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: very clearly displayed. You know. Is that sort of something 181 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,719 Speaker 1: that is front of mind for roadblocks? You know, how 182 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: do we kind of replicate that sense of you know, 183 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,839 Speaker 1: product and ad placement that feels, you know, just as 184 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 1: natural as what already exists in other forms of media. 185 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 2: So I think that exact example is a little bit 186 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 2: early days. However, if you think about our Avatar marketplace 187 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,359 Speaker 2: and our Creator marketplace, like, we have the virtual economy 188 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 2: and like infrastructure in place to be able to extend there, 189 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: so you can imagine that is a natural place for 190 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 2: us to go over time. But I don't have anything 191 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 2: specific to announce about that today. 192 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: Okay, So roadblocks, in addition to all these different kinds 193 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: of brand partnerships is also known for, you know, being 194 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: a pretty big player in the creator economy. Lots of 195 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: different Roadbox users can create their own experiences within the platform. 196 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: How does that aspect of Roadblox still sort of form 197 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,239 Speaker 1: opportunities for brand partnerships? 198 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 2: Sure, well, I think you know, Roadblocks at its core, 199 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: we're always thinking about our community first, We're always thinking 200 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 2: about our creators first. We have this very robust creator economy. 201 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 2: The exciting thing for someone in my role and someone 202 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 2: that gets to work with brands is brands are a 203 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: very core part of that creator economy. Last year alone, 204 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 2: I think we paid out seven hundred and forty million 205 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 2: dollars to creators. But when we look at the brand 206 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 2: role in that, we're seeing like one point eight billion 207 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 2: visits to brand experiences corey, like one hundred and eighty 208 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 2: five million hours. Like, the brand component of Roadblocks is 209 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 2: a very robust and growing one, and there's lots of 210 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 2: different ways that brands are participating. Right, So brands are 211 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 2: creating persistent experiences like some of the ones that you mentioned. 212 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 2: They're also selling virtual items and getting in on our 213 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 2: virtual economy. Of course, they're they're buying ads, and we're 214 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 2: also seeing them matchmake with our creator community, so a 215 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 2: lot of integrations. I think integration grew one hundred and 216 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 2: twenty four percent year on year last year. So they're 217 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,839 Speaker 2: very hungry to contribute in different ways, and it all 218 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: works together to fuel that economy. 219 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: Given that creators can make money off of the experiences 220 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: they make within roadblocks, I think you just said, you know, 221 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: it was as much as seven to fifty million in payouts. 222 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: I think forty right, sort of on the inverse on that, 223 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,359 Speaker 1: because users can potentially make their own money through roadblocks, 224 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 1: does it cost users money to be able to create 225 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: on roadblocks? 226 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: No, I think that's the Like one of the magical 227 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 2: parts of it is we really invest heavily in giving 228 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 2: creators the tools to then take that in front of 229 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: it right where their creativity takes them. I think that 230 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 2: is the heart and soul of a UGC platform like ours, 231 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 2: and one of the reasons we've been able to have 232 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 2: such terminous growth and also such diversity of content. Right, 233 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 2: we provide the tools and the platform, and then we 234 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 2: let the creativity flow. 235 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: Given that Roadblocks does have you know, such a heavy 236 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,199 Speaker 1: agen z and in some cases gend alpha presence as 237 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: well as this incentive for users to you know, figure 238 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: out ways to create their own experiences within roadblocks that 239 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: could you know, potentially go viral and become very popular. 240 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: You know, are there exterior concerns with regard to safety 241 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: for you know, all these different users on the platform 242 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: that could be spending significant amount of amounts of time, 243 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: especially for the younger users. 244 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 2: You no, I love this question. Corey Roadbox's commitment to 245 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 2: safety and civility is actually one of the reasons that 246 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 2: I came over. It is absolutely amazing to work at 247 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 2: a company that was founded with safety and civility at 248 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 2: its core, and that commitment has is so clear, has 249 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 2: been part of the DNA from day day one. With 250 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 2: the leadership team here, I think there is a very clear, 251 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 2: full company alignment that our vision is to be the 252 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 2: safest platform possible, and we invest really heavily in that right. 253 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: We're constantly building safety features into our design, leaning into AI, 254 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 2: leaning to mL text filters, chat filters, like all kinds 255 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 2: of work. With that, we have moderators, a robust team 256 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 2: of moderators monitoring twenty four to seven. We partner with 257 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 2: I think over twenty different global organizations on this because 258 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: we feel like it's it's our responsibility to be so 259 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 2: heavily leaned in here and honestly to lead the industry 260 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 2: in a lot of ways. 261 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: On the brand side, when you know you're fostering different 262 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: partnerships with different companies, do they oftentimes, you know, want 263 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: to have a lot of control with regard to how 264 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: users can come to their experiences, especially when they know 265 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: a significant chunk of the Roadblox audience is going to 266 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: be younger users, you know, do they have their own 267 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: concerns sometimes about how that's going to integrate with an 268 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: experience you know branded under IP they control? 269 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 2: So I think, you know, we do not do any 270 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 2: advertising to anyone under thirteen. And the exciting part for 271 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 2: us is that our over thirteen audience is can consistantly 272 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 2: the largest growing cohort. So I think when we think 273 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: about ads, when we think about solutions, when we think 274 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 2: about traffic driving, that's all for the over thirteen and 275 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: we have a very extensive process and policy around that 276 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: to ensure that ads are not shown to the under 277 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 2: thirteen crowd. 278 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:24,239 Speaker 1: So on the business side, how do these brand partnerships 279 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: and you know, the various partners which you want to 280 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: license IP from. How does that ultimately inform the actual 281 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: revenue models behind roadblocks, especially, you know when so many 282 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: of its users are on the platform playing for free essentially. 283 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 2: So I think a call take you back to kind 284 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 2: of where we were talking about the creator economy. Right, 285 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 2: we give brands a variety of ways to come onto 286 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 2: the platform and help fuel our ecosystem. Yes, one of 287 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: course is content, but then we also let them do 288 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 2: virtual items and participate in our marketplace. Right. We also 289 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 2: you're seeing us and you'll just continue to do this 290 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 2: remove friction from an average perspective, so that we have 291 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 2: more standard ad products to give brands access to our audience, 292 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: even if they're not ready for a persistent experience yet. 293 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 2: You're going to see us over the next couple of 294 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 2: weeks and months, even have more exciting opportunities for brands 295 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 2: to own cultural moments where we have a new website, 296 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 2: takeover product, We're you know, launching our first playable trailer 297 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 2: with Godzilla. So we're giving them lots of different ways 298 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: corey to come into the platform based on what their 299 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 2: objectives are, and all of those ways help roadblocks in 300 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: a variety of other ways. 301 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: So for something like, you know, an experience crafted around 302 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: a trailer for Godzilla, that that's going to be the 303 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: kind of thing that a company is sort of going 304 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: to want to have a lot of input over. But 305 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: there's also this whole music side of roadblocks where virtual 306 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: concerts can happen. You know, when you're fostering those specific partnerships, 307 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: is that always as much of a conversation with you know, 308 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: the artists themselves as much as as much as it 309 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: is label And how do artists who have sort of 310 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 1: their own direct involvement with roadblocks tend to, you know, 311 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,400 Speaker 1: think of ways to bring their experience to the platform. 312 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 1: I think you mentioned a Black Pink earlier, right. 313 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: I think that takes a very different flavor cory depending 314 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 2: on the artists and depending on the label, and depending 315 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 2: on the artists comfort and knowledge with roadblocks from the beginning, right, 316 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 2: So we have all different you know, ways that they're 317 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 2: coming in we had, you know, we think about Black 318 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: Pink like they have a really robust fan club experience 319 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: where users are able to leave them messages and notes 320 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 2: and fan mail and they're able to respond. We see 321 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 2: other artists like drop into their experiences unprompted paras Hilton 322 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 2: just did this to s living Land a couple of 323 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 2: weeks ago and kind of show up with the surprise 324 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 2: and delight. And so I think you see the whole 325 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 2: range based on who that artist is and also how 326 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 2: they're organized and how their teams organized. 327 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: So when you are dealing with an artist or of 328 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 1: an experiencediences where a labels involved and artists is involved, 329 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: how does that translate to you know, the money that's 330 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 1: essentially made off of the experience. You know, concerts usually 331 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:14,640 Speaker 1: always have merch tables after and especially for how kind 332 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: of fragile the touring business can be these days, you know, 333 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: the sales made at merch are really significant to artist 334 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 1: bottom lines? Is that very much the case on sort 335 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 1: of you know, the digital ecosystem and virtual worlds of roadblocks, 336 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: you know, as much engagement as a really fun concert 337 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: can get, you know, is there still a lot of 338 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: thought pot into well, how does this translate to virtual 339 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: items for users to buy and then you know continue 340 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 1: to you know, where on their characters as they go 341 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: into other experiences. 342 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: Yes, so I think from the very beginning are like 343 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 2: virtual virtual items, and also we have quary what's called emotes, 344 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 2: which is basically like you can sell your dance moves. 345 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, you can also sell your merch you can 346 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 2: sell your style like a variety of ways. So you're 347 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 2: seeing artists lean in and do that and actually generate 348 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 2: generate money from that in our marketplace. The other thing 349 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 2: that we're leaning into this year, and you're going to 350 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 2: hear more from us about this later this year, but 351 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 2: is real world commerce. So how do we take that 352 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 2: idea of exactly what you're talking about right the merch 353 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 2: table at the concert, and how do we enable users 354 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 2: to actually like link out somewhere and purchase that T shirt, 355 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 2: that poster, those you know, like whatever that item is. 356 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 2: And we're thinking about that a lot in the lens 357 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 2: of like the number one ask we get from all 358 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,359 Speaker 2: brand partners, not just music partners, is how do you 359 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 2: merge that digital and physical world? And our users love twinning, right, 360 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 2: that's a huge ass that we get from them all 361 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 2: the time. So to be able to merge the here's 362 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 2: my black pink concert T shirt and now I just 363 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 2: ordered it to be delivered to my house to match 364 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 2: so that my avatar and I are in sync is 365 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 2: a place where we feel like we're really excited about 366 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 2: shopping is so endemic to our platform. I think one 367 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 2: point six billion items were sold on robots last year, 368 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 2: so that we're just getting started there, and there's set 369 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 2: an opportunity for artists and others to monetize that way. 370 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: On the music side, aside from these digital items, when 371 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: you focus on these partnerships, do you also make the 372 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 1: kind of deals that allow you to bring you know, 373 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: the actual music libraries of you know, big rosters like 374 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 1: Sony Music or Universal or you know, Warner Brothers Music, 375 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,679 Speaker 1: So that way these experiences can also be played, you know, 376 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 1: to user curated soundtracks of music that these labels own. 377 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 2: You know, this is a complicated one, Corey, and it's 378 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 2: it's a place where we're like leaning in and exploring 379 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 2: what a variety of different futures here could look like. 380 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 2: But I would say we're pretty early on the rights 381 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 2: negotiation and what that looks like honestly in the immersive 382 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 2: space and for the future. 383 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: Right because then you have to contend with you know, 384 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: not just you know, the kind of deals a label 385 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: wants to make with respect to the rights of what 386 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: it owns, but also you know, are there very specific 387 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: differences from artists to artists in terms of the contracts 388 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: that are on place, that are in place exactly right. 389 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 1: So we are going to take a break. When we 390 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,679 Speaker 1: get back, we're going to get into the wider market 391 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: that Roadblocks is a part of. And you know what 392 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: we're seeing across the competitive space against Roadblocks, We're back 393 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: on strictly business with Stephaney lay them from Roadblocks, So 394 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: alongside Roadblocks in sort of this very metaverse driven ecosystem 395 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,439 Speaker 1: on platforms that are associated with gaming but catering to 396 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: so many different other kinds of experiences. You know, one 397 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,000 Speaker 1: other very very big name in the space is Fortnite. 398 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: You know, does Roadblocks see Fortnite as its primary competition 399 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: and if so, what are the sort of key differences 400 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: you see with where Roadblocks offers versus what competitors like 401 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:58,120 Speaker 1: Fortnite offer. 402 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 2: So, I mean, I think zooming up Corey, right, we 403 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 2: have the largest immersive platform, we have a massive virtual economy. 404 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 2: We have a huge vision to reimagine how people come 405 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 2: together and communicate and connect. So, you know, I think 406 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 2: when we apply that lens, it's really hard to quantify. 407 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,719 Speaker 2: Like one, it's hard to compare us to anyone truly 408 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,360 Speaker 2: when you look at our demographics, when you look at 409 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 2: our female demographics, like, there's just so many places where 410 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 2: I think we are really hard to compare. I'll tell 411 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,119 Speaker 2: you from the advertising side, because I spend most of 412 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 2: my time talking to brands and talking to agencies. I 413 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 2: think what's really exciting as we think about for the 414 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 2: future is ROADBLOCKX fits into so many different buckets, which 415 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 2: makes our opportunity limitless. We're in the gaming bucket, We're 416 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 2: in a social bucket, we're in the now digital video bucket, 417 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 2: we're in the innovation bucket, and so we get to 418 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 2: play across and I think it makes the competitive set 419 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 2: much greater. But then it also allows us to stand 420 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 2: on our own. We're uniquely positioned. Yeah. 421 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 1: I brought up four Night in particular just because last 422 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: month there was pretty significant news on sort of the 423 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: partnership side with Fortnite and Epic Games, where Disney invested 424 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:13,719 Speaker 1: as much as one point five billion into the platform 425 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: to you know, build a variety of different player experiences 426 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 1: around its IP. Since Roadblocks partners with so many different brands, 427 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 1: is that kind of sort of megadeal something that Roadblocks 428 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 1: is open to or is Roadblocks's you know, primary point 429 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: of concern trying to keep its options as open as 430 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: possible and not you know, devoting too much attention and 431 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: presence to one brand. If you know, there's a priority 432 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: to make sure no one associates any sort of particular 433 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: big company with the platform. 434 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 2: You know, I think on that, Corey, what I'll say is, 435 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 2: when we're in a really fortunate position. You know this, 436 00:23:51,440 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 2: We're a publicly traded company, and we've been generating cash 437 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 2: and have a really strong balance sheet, but we are 438 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 2: always looking towards what our community wants, right, and so 439 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 2: I think we will always we will always lean into that. 440 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 2: We've done that in the past. You've seen us lean 441 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 2: in with Gucci to set up Gucci Garden. We leaned 442 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 2: in with Lil naz X to bring that to the 443 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:15,159 Speaker 2: platform and kind of lighthouse examples that move different categories 444 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 2: and move different use cases for how to think about 445 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 2: roadblocks and how to think about content on Roadblocks. So 446 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 2: I think again, we'll be listening to our community and 447 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 2: staying close to what they want to help us grow 448 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: and diverse. 449 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: Five. Obviously, Roadblocks is not confined to gaming, but it 450 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: is still a significant player within the gaming space, and 451 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 1: this year in particular is seen not not just this year, 452 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: last year as well, but lately there's been a significant 453 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: amount of belt typening across belt tightening across a lot 454 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: of the sort of major players in the gaming space, 455 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 1: to the point where a publisher like EA, for instance, 456 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: as part of you know, a layoffs announcement, also revealed 457 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: that they were going to sort of be going away 458 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: way from licensing as a part of their strategy, as in, 459 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: you know, they were going to sort of double down 460 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: on the IP they own rather than licensing out from 461 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: other companies. Obviously, to do what Roadblocks does does require 462 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: a lot of licensing of sort of exterior companies. You know, 463 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 1: has there been any kind of impact on the Roadblocks 464 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: end in terms of finding that you know, some companies 465 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: are now not as willing to license to the degree 466 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,199 Speaker 1: they were. You know, how how does Roadbos respond to 467 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: sort of shifts in the wider you know, media business 468 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: when companies move away from wanting to work with licensing partners. 469 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 2: So you know, for us qrey, we're the platform, right, 470 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 2: so we're we're creating the space for that to happen. 471 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 2: We are not brokering all those licensing deals, Like we 472 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 2: have been UGC from the start and we can you know, 473 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: we lean into our community in that way. But our 474 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 2: core business model is to set up the platform and 475 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 2: we've let it grow organically from there with the creators. Right. 476 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: Since Roadbox is so focused on the platform itself and 477 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 1: making sure it's as flexible as possible to attract you know, 478 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: as many partners as possible, potentially, has Roadbos had any 479 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: kind of inclination to sort of you know, approach partnerships 480 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,560 Speaker 1: from outside the platform. You know, we see a lot 481 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: of gaming companies now getting their IP into the TV 482 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: and immediate the TV and film spaces for various kinds 483 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:36,280 Speaker 1: of adaptations. Minecraft for instance, has a film set up 484 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty five. I think, you know, is that 485 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: something that Roadblocks is you know, potentially interested in as well, 486 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: eventually you know, finding ways for Roadblocks to gain visibility 487 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: outside of its own platform. 488 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 2: So I think Corey, our filter with this again is 489 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 2: we're always looking to support our creators, right, So it's 490 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,080 Speaker 2: really exciting for us to see adopt Me working with 491 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 2: McDonald's and that standing outside of our world or IP 492 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 2: like Piggy inspiring books and things like that. So we're 493 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 2: always like in service of the creators, and you know, 494 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 2: there's nothing that we would love more of them for 495 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: them to get more access and more exposure to grow 496 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: their businesses. 497 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: Since a lot of sort of individual gaming personalities are 498 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,120 Speaker 1: often kind of their own brands themselves, how does Roadblocks 499 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:29,679 Speaker 1: partner with known creators on the individual level, you know, 500 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: not just companies, but people acting as sort of their 501 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,439 Speaker 1: own streaming personalities. Do they often come to Roadblocks with 502 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: their own ideas of an interesting experience that they can 503 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: build and then you know, potentially stream to their own audiences. 504 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 2: So I think we have a variety of ways like 505 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 2: that also takes a bunch of flavors, right, So we 506 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 2: have a robust developer relations team that works with creators 507 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 2: of all sizes to help them maximize the tools that 508 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 2: we have to offer and lean into our best practices. 509 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 2: We also offer and work with influencers, right And you know, 510 00:28:02,119 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 2: we talked a lot about music talent and artists, but 511 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 2: we have kind of a variety of different service flavors 512 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 2: and support that we offer based on what they need. 513 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: Are there any upcoming experiences that you know you're you're 514 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,240 Speaker 1: actively working on that you're really excited about in the 515 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: near future. 516 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 2: There's so many Corey, So I'm really excited about some 517 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 2: of the shopping stuff. Adidas just launched their shop and 518 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 2: for the first time ever, you can buy footwear on roadblocks, 519 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 2: so you can get some sambas for your avatar to 520 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 2: match yourself in real life. And then, like with the 521 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 2: Lens on the entertainment space, I'm really excited about this 522 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 2: new streaming hub that we'll be talking more about soon, 523 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 2: and I just think it's really underlining how we're transitioning 524 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 2: from like one off moments to how our entertainment partners 525 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 2: are thinking about what is the like persistent conversation they 526 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 2: want to have with their fans across their library of 527 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 2: content all the time. And so I just feel like 528 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 2: that's so exciting to see because that feels very much 529 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 2: like the future to me. 530 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: Looking at these various shopping hubs, but also the streaming 531 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: hub you're excited about, is there any kind of move 532 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: to have the option of integrating those with other kind 533 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: of more like game heavy experiences, as in, you know, 534 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: can a user you know, theoretically in a shopping hub 535 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: also sort of unlocker access kind of like a mini 536 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: game within that kind of virtual environment, so that way, 537 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: you know, it doesn't just feel exactly like you know, 538 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 1: going to the store and shopping. You know, there's an 539 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: aspect of it you wouldn't actually get in the physical 540 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: space at them all. 541 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 2: Yes, like absolutely is the short answer to that. And 542 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 2: you're going to see a lot more ad products from 543 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 2: us coming out that lean into that behavior and give 544 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 2: developers and brands ways to drive traffic, with ways to support, 545 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 2: ways to make that actually like very scalable and easy 546 00:29:56,680 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 2: to create your shop, and to then work with our 547 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 2: team to find the right creators and partners to showcase 548 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:06,200 Speaker 2: your shop and their experience and different things like that. 549 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Stephanie. 550 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Corey. 551 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Strictly Business. Next week we'll have 552 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,440 Speaker 1: a conversation with Takashi Nakano, head of content and Distribution 553 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 1: for Samsung TV Plus. Feel free to leave us a 554 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: review at Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music, and be sure 555 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 1: to sign up for our weekly Strictly Business newsletter at 556 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: Variety dot com.