Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
Experts discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine. The European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization are each meeting today after more than a dozen EU countries suspended their rollouts—there’s no evidence the shot is unsafe.
Chinese regulators are turning up the heat on tech giants. Tencent’s value fell by $60 billion, while Alibaba has reportedly been asked to sell stakes in Weibo and the South China Morning Post.
Facebook and News Corp struck a deal in Australia. The new licensing agreement is in place a month after the platform blacked out news links for local users.
The UK announces its post-Brexit foreign policy agenda. It will shift its focus to the Indo-Pacific region, which includes India, Japan, and Australia.
A new Ebola outbreak is likely to have been started by a previous survivor. The new cases in Guinea—18 infections, four deaths so far—show why we can’t get complacent about Covid-19 immunity.
Tinder is introducing in-app background checks. US-based users will be able to see publicly available information about prospective dates.
What to watch for
This year’s South by Southwest festival—which opens online today and runs until March 20—will reveal how much brands have learned about hosting high-touch virtual events a year into the pandemic. Normally, companies invest in putting on rich, interactive events, like HBO’s elaborate reconstruction of the Game of Thrones universe at the 2019 festival. Now, with a full year to prepare for an all-remote event, organizers and marketers are unveiling their best ideas for engaging digital audiences.
đź‘€ Virtual reality studio VRrOOm recreated iconic festival landmarks, which attendees can explore with VR headsets or laptops.
🧀 Wisconsin Cheese is mailing a literal ton of cheese to thousands of attendees for a live tasting with comedian Nick Offerman.
🎠HBO built an interactive game that responds to users’ facial expressions and voice commands to find matching clips from its catalog of shows and movies.
Charting the most valuable payments companies
Stripe’s valuation has more than doubled from a year ago to $95 billion, putting the fintech firm into the upper echelons of the world’s most valuable payment companies.
The payments company made its name by targeting developers and making it easier for companies to get paid over the internet. But as John Detrixhe writes, Stripe’s loftier goal is “to increase the GDP of the internet” and build the “economic infrastructure” of the online world.
How Nike raises the dead
Over the years, Nike has become adept at managing its distribution to maintain a balance between being the world’s biggest footwear company, and an ultra-exclusive designer. In 2021, you can see the playbook happening in real-time with the Nike Dunk.
Here’s how Nike brings a franchise back to the forefront:
- Put more on the market to rouse appetites for a revival.
- Consider the precise audience and how to reach them. (For Dunks, that means tying the shoe back to its roots in skateboarding and basketball.)
- Develop collaborations. (See: Ben & Jerry’s Dunks, Grateful Dead Dunks, and Travis Scott Dunks.)
- Use feedback and data to adjust your strategy. (Even Nike doesn’t always get this right: A few years ago, the company put too many Jordans on the market.)
Has it worked for the Dunk? Nike doesn’t reveal its sales by model, and it’s difficult to track demand for a shoe that’s deliberately sold in limited quantities. But the secondary market suggests demand soared in 2020.
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Surprising discoveries
French people bought a lot of Italian cheese during lockdown. Mozzarella sales grew 21% in 2020.
These algae-covered clothes help reduce carbon emissions. Just keep your spritzer bottle handy.
Yo-Yo Ma serenaded a vaccination site. To celebrate getting his second shot, the cellist treated other patients to an impromptu concert.
A 2,000-year-old mosaic was being used as a coffee table. It’s finally on display in an Italian museum.
Chinese movie theaters are testing surge pricing. With the success of Detective Chinatown 3, the practice could be here to stay.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, hidden ancient art, and impromptu shows to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Mary Hui, Tripti Lahiri, Kira Bindrim, Liz Webber, and Jordan Lebeau.