Harry and Meghan’s Brand; Snoop Dogg’s Foray Into Fast-Food: Tuesday’s First Things First

Could Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Build the World’s Most Valuable Brand?

Since she became the Duchess of Sussex, nearly everything Meghan Markle has touched has increased value exponentially—from the pair of skinny jeans she wore in Cardiff, Wales, to the Strathberry handbag that sold out in 11 minutes after she was seen carrying it. Since she and Prince Harry announced that they’re “stepping back” from their roles as senior members of the royal family, many have been wondering how their brand will evolve. They’ve said that they plan to become financially independent from the crown, leading many to assume that monetizing their brand will become more than just an opportunity—it’ll be a necessity.

Read more: Before her royal days, Markle was already a successful influencer with over 3 million followers on Instagram before deleting her accounts in January 2018.

Snoop Dogg Gets Behind the Counter for Beyond Meat and Dunkin’

At a Dunkin’ in Los Angeles last week, Snoop Dogg donned an apron and visor to spend the day behind the counter in his latest stunt for Beyond Meat, the faux meat rising star that he’s invested in as well as serving as a frequent brand spokesperson. This time, he stood in as “employee of the month,” serving up Dunkin’s new Beyond Sausage Sandwich to a very surprised clientele. Along with a hidden camera-style spot, Snoop presides over an online apparel shop (he made the merch selections) and a week-long “menu hack” called the Beyond D-O-Double G sandwich that consists of Beyond Sausage, egg and cheese served on a sliced glazed donut.

Read more: The latest campaign comes as Dunkin’ is promoting its Beyond breakfast product, which it launched nationwide in November two months ahead of schedule.

Google Kills the Cookie, Leaving Digital Media Companies Craving a New Way Forward

Following the announcement that Google will be phasing out third party cookies on its popular web browser, Chrome, Adweek’s Ronan Shields took a deep dive into what this means for digital media companies—is it the “cookie-pocalypse,” or a new dawn for an industry that’s struggled through a difficult transition to digital?

Several industry executives weighed in on the announcement, expressing their disappointment with the decision, predicting a mass reevaluation of or doubling down on data strategy. For Mathieu Roche, CEO of ID5, the next two years will be characterized by “madness and transition” as the industry devises an entirely new infrastructure.

Read more: “In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king,” Roche said.

YouTube Will Double Its Original Programming in 2020, Focusing on Documentaries

Last May, YouTube made a major shift to its original programming strategy, putting all of its original shows free in front of its paywall and streaming them with advertising—a movie that was inspired by an Adweek cover story on Cobra Kai, YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl said last May. Less than a year later, the platform has plans to double its original output while continuing to offer both ad-supported (free) and ad-free (subscription) options.

“We are really pleased with this new direction and for what it means for our fans and for our business,” YouTube global head of original content Susanne Daniels said at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif.

Read more: While YouTube Originals is moving forward with the third season of scripted series Cobra Kai, Liza On Demand and Kevin Hart: What The Fit, much of its upcoming programming is nonfiction.

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