From Podcast to Empire: Alex Cooper on Building a Media Brand

Summary

In this candid interview, Alex Cooper discusses her career, her transition from creator to entrepreneur, and her vision for the future. She highlights her love for podcasting and TV, and shares insights into her upcoming ventures, including the launch of 'Unwell Hydration,' a new product aimed at women. She also offers advice to legacy media on connecting with younger audiences, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and organic content. Throughout the conversation, Cooper reflects on the evolving media landscape and her role in shaping it, focusing on innovation and audience engagement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alex Cooper plans to continue being in front of a camera in some capacity, whether through podcasts, TV shows, or other media formats.
• 😀 She loves mentoring creators and sees a lot of potential in them, sharing her own experiences to guide them.
• 😀 Alex wants to build a creator network but emphasizes it's not about ego—it's about leading and helping others succeed.
• 😀 She is deeply interested in the television space and actively explores new opportunities in both scripted and unscripted TV.
• 😀 Alex is launching a new hydration beverage, 'unwell hydration,' targeted at both men and women, focusing on low sugar and added B vitamins.
• 😀 The beverage, launching January 1st, will be exclusive to Target for the first few months, addressing an underserved market for women-focused hydration products.
• 😀 Alex partnered with Nestlé to create the hydration drink, ensuring it is credible and easily distributed to reach a wide audience.
• 😀 The product was born from Alex’s experiences on tour, where she struggled to find energy and hydration drinks marketed toward women.
• 😀 She envisions the hydration product fitting into a larger unwell lifestyle, designed for people who are exhausted or recovering from a night out.
• 😀 Alex believes that many people, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are skeptical of legacy media and prefer creators who seem more authentic and less agenda-driven.
• 😀 She advises legacy media to find ways to incorporate more humanity into their content and listen to younger voices for more genuine, organic communication.

Q & A

What is Alex Cooper's primary focus when it comes to her career in media?

Alex Cooper's primary focus is on creating engaging content through platforms like podcasts and shows. She enjoys being in front of the camera and talking to people, with a goal to continue this while also expanding into other areas like television and consumer products.

How does Alex Cooper approach mentoring creators?

Alex views mentoring as an opportunity to help new creators grow by providing guidance based on her own experiences. She sees potential in the creators she works with, aiming to help them develop into successful figures, whether they achieve 'singles,' 'doubles,' or 'home runs.'

What is Alex Cooper's perspective on the balance between ego and leadership?

Alex does not want to be the center of attention for ego's sake. She emphasizes that while she is confident in her skills, her leadership comes from her ability to guide others and expand her projects, not from a desire for personal recognition.

What is Alex Cooper's involvement in the television space?

Alex is very interested in television and frequently meets with writers for both scripted and unscripted shows. She sees television as a key way to give her audience more diverse content and to further expand her brand.

Why is Alex Cooper launching a consumer product, and what is it?

Alex Cooper is launching a hydration beverage called 'Unwell Hydration' to cater to her audience's lifestyle needs. The product is designed to help with hydration and energy, specifically focusing on a market that includes women, addressing a gap in current offerings that are often targeted exclusively at men.

How does Alex Cooper ensure the credibility of her product, Unwell Hydration?

Alex partnered with Nestlé to ensure the product's credibility, as she is not an expert in product development herself. She wanted a reliable partner to help create a high-quality drink and ensure its wide distribution.

What makes Unwell Hydration different from other drinks on the market?

Unwell Hydration is designed with low sugar and added B vitamins, catering to both men and women. It aims to be more inclusive, addressing a gap where most hydration drinks are marketed primarily to men, particularly those focused on high performance.

What is Alex Cooper's approach to understanding her audience's preferences?

Alex constantly thinks about her audience and what they enjoy. She explores various formats and products, such as podcasts, live events, and merchandise, to provide her audience with diverse and relevant content.

What challenges does Alex Cooper see in the legacy media landscape?

Alex observes a growing distrust in legacy media, especially among Gen Z and Millennials. People are skeptical of being told what to believe and prefer creators who offer more organic, authentic perspectives without hidden agendas.

What advice does Alex Cooper give to legacy media organizations?

Alex advises legacy media to embrace more authenticity and give young voices more influence. She suggests that media outlets should avoid being overly commercial and strive to feel more organic and relatable, potentially by listening to younger interns or creators for fresh ideas.