| name | research-cultural-trends |
| description | Research the cultural zeitgeist — emotional mood, movements, nostalgia cycles, narrative hooks, geographic moments, persona archetypes, and AI perception. Use this skill during Phase 1, when the brainstorm skill needs cultural context, when the manager requests a cultural read, or when anyone asks about what resonates culturally right now. |
| allowed-tools | WebSearch, WebFetch, Read, Write, Bash |
Cultural Trends Research
Research what people FEEL right now, not just what they consume. Music doesn't exist in a vacuum — the most successful artists tap into something larger. Use web search extensively.
Research Areas
- Emotional zeitgeist — Dominant cultural mood (anxious, optimistic, nostalgic, escapist?). Underserved emotions in music. What people are seeking. Impact of economic/political climate.
- Cultural movements — Gaining momentum (lifestyle, aesthetic, philosophical). Subcultures crossing mainstream. Online culture's relationship to music. Communities lacking "their artist."
- Nostalgia & eras — Which decades people romanticize. What about those eras appeals now. Nostalgia gaps nobody's mining.
- Narrative & storytelling — What stories resonate (underdog, anti-hero, redemption?). Compelling backstories. Is authenticity still king or is fiction gaining?
- Geography & place — Regions having a cultural moment. Hunger for music "from" specific places. Geographic branding models (K-pop, Afrobeats, Latin).
- Persona & identity — How people relate to artists (friends, icons, mysteries, memes?). Expected personal sharing level. Appetite for anonymous artists. Underrepresented archetypes.
- AI perception — How AI is perceived in pop culture. Fatigue vs fascination. Authenticity in the AI age.
Output
Save to outputs/research/cultural-trends-[date].md:
# Cultural Trends Report — [Date]
## Executive Summary
[3-5 sentences: the cultural moment and what it means for our artist]
## The Mood Right Now
[What people feel, seek, react against]
## Movements to Ride
### 1. [Movement]
- What: [description]
- Why it matters: [strategic relevance]
- Audience: [who's driving this]
- Longevity: [flash or deep?]
## Narrative Hooks
[Backstories and personas that tap the current moment]
## Geographic Opportunities
[Places with cultural weight right now]
## What's Oversaturated
[Themes, aesthetics, narratives to avoid]
## Key Insight
[Most important cultural finding]
