The Fanbase Builder

Navigating AI beyond the hype in 2026

Why artists must build ‘AI intuition’.

Jan 6 • Carlo Kiksen

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December 2025

How to track Asian pop culture

RedNote, Labubu, and the new geography of pop culture.

Dec 30, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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The blueprint trap: Why copy-paste strategies fail

Your career is not a template.

Dec 23, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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Focus on input, not output

Win the game by ignoring the score.

Dec 16, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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Why fans wear band shirts like football jerseys

Using Social Identity Theory to turn listeners into a tribe.

Dec 9, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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I built a web-synth in four hours

Building your own virtual merchandise is now easier than ever.

Dec 2, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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November 2025

Why artists should do things that don’t scale

Inefficient communication is the most efficient way to build a superfan.

Nov 25, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

Autonomous humanoid robots joining the band

Will artists work with droids sooner than we think?

Nov 18, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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Creating a human-first content funnel

A strategic exercise grounded in human behaviour.

Nov 11, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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Accessible alternatives to costly design apps

Affinity, Nano-Banana, and more tools that keep visuals strong and costs low.

Nov 4, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

October 2025

Measurement fallacies in music and fandom

Why music is more “unmeasurable” than most industries

Oct 28, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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Brand spillover: The hidden brand effect behind artist collaborations

The brand strategy behind collabs.

Oct 21, 2025 • Carlo Kiksen

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