Oliver Burkeman, writing for The Guardian, on the phenomenon of when something gets so much praise, or hype, and then you end up avoiding the praised thing expressly because of how much everyone else seems to like it:

So what’s going on? One explanation is what psychologists call “optimal distinctiveness theory” – the way we’re constantly jockeying to feel exactly the right degree of similarity to and difference from those around us. Nobody wants to be exiled from the in-group to the fringes of society; but nobody wants to be swallowed up by it, either. In toddlerhood and teenagerhood, this manifests as a bloody-minded refusal to do what we’re told, precisely to show we can disobey our parents. Perhaps it never entirely goes away.

I’ve been reading up on the optimal distinctiveness theory on Wikipedia today and it’s almost funny how well it describes interactions I see in our forums on a daily basis.

Jesse Cannon, from Noise Creators/Off the Record, has released a free ebook breaking down his guide to getting into the music business:

After four annual editions of Get More Fans: The DIY Guide To The New Music Business, and being added to a dozen University programs, and tons of praise from the music world, the one complaint I would always get is that it took too long to read. So I decided to make a free version that contains all the information a musician needs to get their music off the ground. The 30 Minute Guide To Getting More Fans is the most concise way to learn how to promote you music and it’s free over at Noise Creators.

Voters have decided that Britain will exit the European Union. Vox has a good rundown on what this means and what the ramifications may be:

Britain’s exit will affect the British economy, immigration policy, and lots more. It will take years for the full consequences to become clear. But here are some of the most important changes we can expect in the coming months.

Read More “What Happens When Britain Leaves the EU”

Libby Nelson and Javier Zarracina, writing for Vox:

LaCroix isn’t the only brand to benefit from the sparkling water boom. But it’s the one that’s risen to the coveted status of lifestyle brand, not just generating loyalty but becoming part of how we define ourselves. The secret behind LaCroix’s rise is a mix of old-fashioned business strategy and cutting-edge social marketing. When Americans wanted carbonated water, LaCroix was positioned to give them them fizzy water. Then, sometimes by accident, LaCroix developed fans among mommy bloggers, Paleo eaters, and Los Angeles writers who together pushed LaCroix into the zeitgeist.

When I’m working on the computer I need something to drink nearby.1 About a year ago, I made it a priority to remove (as much as I could) sugar from my diet, and picked up the habit of drinking sparkling water almost every day. I didn’t know it had become a trend. I feel so fashionable.

Rob Levine, writing for Billboard, on how 180 musicians have signed a petition to close some of the loopholes from the DMCA:

In an ad that will run Tuesday through Thursday in the Washington DC magazines Politico, The Hill, and Roll Call, 180 performers and songwriters are calling for reform of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which regulates copyright online. A range of big names from every genre signed the ad — from Taylor Swift to Sir Paul McCartney, Vince Gill to Vince Staples, Carole King to the Kings of Leon — as did 19 organizations and companies, including the major labels.

I think this is good, but also hope they don’t go too far in the other direction. As someone that runs a forum where anyone can sign up and create an account, some of the safe harbor protections of the DMCA make a forum of that size possible.