Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe: Episode Summary – "How to Spot an Industry Plant (Video)"

Release Date: February 11, 2025
Host: Coco Mocoe

Introduction

In the episode titled "How to Spot an Industry Plant," Coco Mocoe delves into the enigmatic concept of "industry plants" within the entertainment and music industries. Coco, a seasoned marketing professional with extensive experience in digital media and entertainment, explores the nuances of what constitutes an industry plant, debunks common misconceptions, and offers insights into identifying potential future industry plants. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn from the episode.

Defining "Industry Plant"

Coco begins by addressing the nebulous nature of the term "industry plant":

[00:00] Coco Mocoe: "But what really is an industry plant? It is a term that is thrown around in YouTube thumbnails and Reddit threads, but no one ever really defines who and what an industry plant is."

She emphasizes the lack of a universal definition and sets the stage for her interpretation based on her marketing expertise:

[00:30] Coco Mocoe: "In this episode of Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe, I will talk in detail about what I believe an industry plant actually is as someone who works on the back end of marketing in the entertainment industry..."

Misconceptions and Biases in the Term

Coco critiques how the term "industry plant" is often weaponized against certain demographics, particularly women and people of color (POC):

[12:45] Coco Mocoe: "I personally believe that the term industry plant is often thrown more at women and POC who find success in the entertainment industry much more often than men."

She draws parallels to historical misconceptions, likening the skepticism towards successful female and POC artists to beliefs about ancient civilizations' achievements.

Case Studies: Alleged vs. Actual Industry Plants

Chapel Roan

Coco uses Chapel Roan as a prime example to illustrate misconceptions:

[04:15] Coco Mocoe: "Chapel Roan is anything but an industry plant. She was dropped by Atlantic Records and had to work at a donut shop in Hollywood before finding success as an artist."

She highlights a Reddit post erroneously labeling Roan as an industry plant, reinforcing her argument against the unfounded nature of such claims.

Travis Kelce

In contrast, Coco presents Travis Kelce as a hypothetical industry plant, questioning why similar labeling isn't applied to male figures:

[10:30] Coco Mocoe: "I think Travis Kelce would be a great example of a hypothetical industry plant, if that term even exists outside of Twitter and the depths of Reddit."

She points out Kelce's strategic marketing moves and major corporate backing without the accompanying accusations of being an industry plant, suggesting a gender and racial bias in the term's usage.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice is another focal point, showcasing how significant marketing and aesthetic changes can lead to sudden fame and subsequent "industry plant" accusations:

[15:20] Coco Mocoe: "Once she changed her hair to the iconic orange bob, she became that much more memorable and identifiable. I do think just physical media sales in general are seeing a decline... she was able to achieve these heights of fame on her own hard work, merit and vision."

Remy Bond

Coco anticipates Remy Bond facing similar accusations as she ascends in popularity:

[19:10] Coco Mocoe: "The moment she skyrockets to overnight fame, you are going to see YouTube videos that are like Remy Bond, industry Plant confirmed."

Marketing Strategies Behind Success

Coco underscores the pivotal role of marketing in an artist's rise, separating it from the notion of being an industry plant:

[22:00] Coco Mocoe: "As a marketer, I think people believe that our job is much more important than it actually is. The art and creation is the most important part."

She references Mark Cuban's insight on overnight success:

[23:30] Coco Mocoe: "As Mark Cuban said, it takes 10 years to be an overnight success."

Coco discusses the importance of consistent branding and aesthetic reinforcement in creating memorable public images for artists.

Identifying the Next Industry Plant

Coco provides actionable criteria for spotting potential industry plants:

1. Distinctive Aesthetic: Artists locking in a memorable and consistent look, often bordering on iconic or cartoonish.

   [26:45] Coco Mocoe: "The moment they start to spark to a bigger audience is often when they lock in a clear and distinct aesthetic."

2. Third-Party Recognition: Increased mentions and discussions from external sources rather than self-promotion.

   [30:10] Coco Mocoe: "If you hear about them from a third party perspective, I know that it means they are about to break big soon."

3. Strategic Marketing Moves: Utilizing SEO, anonymous accounts, and other marketing tactics to boost visibility organically.

   [29:50] Coco Mocoe: "Another way to tell if someone is about to be massive is if you hear about them from a third party perspective."

Extending the Conversation: Substack and Exclusive Content

Coco directs listeners to her Substack for an extended discussion, promising deeper dives into marketing strategies and personal anecdotes:

[35:00] Coco Mocoe: "For those of you coconuts who are members of my bestselling Substack, I will now talk about specific marketing strategies you can use..."

She teases upcoming content on building a team, managing public perception, and maintaining authenticity amidst rising fame.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Coco wraps up the episode by reinforcing the importance of hard work, authenticity, and strategic marketing in an artist's success, rather than falling into unfounded industry plant accusations:

[49:30] Coco Mocoe: "As a creator, if you are hitting a rut right now, if you're hitting a dead end, I'm glad this video found you, because I think that the analogy I'm going to use will really, really help."

She encourages listeners to support the podcast by leaving reviews and engaging with her Substack community, emphasizing the value of uninterrupted, ad-free content.

Key Takeaways

• Industry Plant Defined: A misunderstood and often misused term lacking a universal definition, frequently biased against women and POC artists.

• Misconceptions Addressed: The term is often employed to discredit artists' hard-earned success without substantive evidence.

• Marketing's Role: Effective marketing strategies are essential for visibility and success but should not be conflated with the nefarious implications of being an industry plant.

• Spotting Future Plants: Look for distinctive aesthetics, third-party endorsements, and strategic marketing efforts as indicators.

• Challenging Biases: Recognize and question the underlying biases that lead to disproportionate industry plant accusations against certain demographics.

• Support Authentic Success: Emphasize genuine talent, hard work, and authentic branding over unfounded conspiracies.

Notable Quotes

• Coco Mocoe on Defining Industry Plants:

  "[00:30] Coco Mocoe: '... what I believe an industry plant actually is as someone who works on the back end of marketing in the entertainment industry...'"

• On Misconceptions:

  "[12:45] Coco Mocoe: 'I personally believe that the term industry plant is often thrown more at women and POC who find success in the entertainment industry much more often than men.'"

• On Marketing Importance:

  "[23:30] Coco Mocoe: 'As Mark Cuban said, it takes 10 years to be an overnight success.'"

• On Identifying Future Plants:

  "[26:45] Coco Mocoe: 'The moment they start to spark to a bigger audience is often when they lock in a clear and distinct aesthetic.'"

Further Engagement

Listeners are encouraged to engage with Coco’s content across various platforms:

• Substack: Access exclusive extended episodes and discussions.
• Spotify and YouTube: Watch the video version of the episode.
• Social Media: Follow Coco Mocoe on Instagram (@CocoMocoe), YouTube, and TikTok (@CocoMocoe).

Coco also invites listeners to participate by leaving reviews and comments to foster a supportive community of "coconuts"—her dedicated audience who appreciate insightful marketing discussions.

Thank you for tuning into "Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe." Stay informed, stay ahead, and keep embracing the curve of evolving trends and insights in the entertainment industry.