__What do Kim Kardashian and Batman have in common?...__ An exclusive __[Spotify](https://robinhood.com/stocks/SPOT)__ partnership. The Swedish streaming champ just [inked](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/18/spotify-lands-deal-for-scripted-podcasts-featuring-dc-comics-characters.html) a deal with Warner Bros' DC Comics and reality TV's Kim Kardashian West. Its stock surged 12% to a record high on the news. What Spotify splurged on:

- __The entire DC Comics universe:__ Spotify gets the exclusive rights to use the blockbuster intellectual property for original scripted podcasts. Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and the Joker... welcome to the playlist.
- __Kim K:__ Spotify gets an exclusive Kim K podcast, focused on criminal justice and prison reform (less *E! News*, more *Law & Order*). Kim has been hitting the law books, and will be co-producing/hosting the show. 
 
__Making it exclusive...__ Spotify is defining the relationship with big stars. The goal? Bring their huge followings (exclusively) to its platform. It's the "Gated Garden" strategy:

- __A month ago,__ Spotify snatched exclusive rights to *The Joe Rogan Experience* — aka, the biggest pod in America. It dropped over $100M to make Joe a 100% Spotify experience. 
- __Now,__ Spotify is hoping to woo some of Kim's 175M Insta followers to join its [286M](https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/spotify-warner-bros-dc-superheroes-podcasts-1234641401/) users. *And* lure DC Comics fans, which boasts some of the highest-grossing films of all time. 

_Spotify making its exclusive deal pitch_

Tune

__Pods have lived up to the splurge...__ Spotify has spent almost $1B snatching up pod content/companies over the past 1.5 years, [including](https://snacks.robinhood.com/newsletters/2NAQjqWOY8CUQ4E7cSgLSV/articles/ib1obLuM7DcHI0MDKjbms/) Gimlet Media and The Ringer. Those acquisitions were mainly focused on existing pods with existing audiences. With Kim and DC, Spotify wants more non-podding people to start podding. Since its 1st pod-cquisition in February '19, Spotify's market value has grown by $25B — and its pod audience [more](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/18/spotify-lands-deal-for-scripted-podcasts-featuring-dc-comics-characters.html) than doubled.

Spotify stock soars to all-time high after Kardashian and DC Comics pod deals

__Fire up the nautical puns...__ After at least 3 ships faced on-board COVID-19 crises, a wave of cancellations, and a straight up ban on cruises, we weren't expecting much from __[Carnival](https://robinhood.com/stocks/CCL)__. But the cruise operator managed to sink below even the worst expectations. 

- __Biggest quarterly loss (ever):__ Carnival lost [$4.4B](https://www.wsj.com/articles/carnival-to-post-largest-quarterly-loss-in-at-least-25-years-11592501039) — nearly 2X more than what Wall Street expected. In the same quarter last year, it turned a $430M profit. 
- __Sales plunge:__ Sales took an 85% scuba dive, coming in at only $700M. Blame corona-related travel concerns, followed by a strict No Sail Order.
- __Cash burn:__ Carnival expects to burn $650M *per month* for the 2nd half of 2020. Its massive $700M+ cruise ships are just chilling on water, burning cash by the minute.


__IDGAF'ing...__ Carnival investors. The stock actually *jumped* 5% after the Titanic-style earnings. Investors are focused on the rising tide:

- __August 1st:__ The day Carnival plans to sail again. That's only a week after the CDC's No Sail Order is expected to end. Carnival says the plan is "premature," but hasn't cancelled the 8 scheduled cruises. 
- __2021 bookings:__ As of May 31, advanced bookings for 2021 cruises were surprisingly near pre-COVID levels (though selling at lower prices).
- __Liquidity:__ Carnival's $7.6B in available cash will help it survive until it can sail. It's also planning to sell six ships over the next three months. 

_Waiting for the "no sail" order to expire_

Cruise

__It's the cathartic earnings report...__ People were expecting terrible results from Carnival. That helped stabilize its stock when earnings tanked. Carnival shares are up 33% over the month as investors focus on economic reopenings. Carnival shareholders hope they just got over the worst hump. Meanwhile, some corona-conomy thrivers like __Slack__ have dropped after earnings, because their numbers weren't as jaw-dropping as expected. 

Carnival lands a record $4.4B loss — but investors are eyeing 2021 bookings

__Ronald thrives on minimalism...__ The one thing __[McDonald's](https://robinhood.com/stocks/MCD)__ is slimming down: its menu. When coronavirus hit, the Golden Arches streamlined operations by temporarily cutting menu options. Salads, yogurt parfaits, and bagels were among the 100 unfortunates that got booted. Now, they won't be returning to the menu any time soon.

__Less is more...__ That's what McDonald's realized after this corona-conomy experiment. Fewer menu items means less to source, stock, prepare and serve — and less waste. McD's is lovin' the results:

- __Speed:__ Drive-thru times [dropped](https://www.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-keeps-salads-bagels-off-menus-for-now-11592494697?mod=hp_lista_pos4) by an average of 25 seconds. Buuut — this extra speed could also be due to the lack of dine-in customers (who hold up the line).
- __Satisfaction:__ Customers reported that their food tasted better and their orders were more accurate — because chicken nuggies and fries are easier than Southwest Chicken salad with half dressing on the side. 

_When the salad purge is complete_

Grub

__Corona-conomy has been one giant business experiment...__ It accelerated the WFH trend, and now it's speeding up McDonald's menu-slimming. For years, McD's has been getting feedback that its menu is overwhelming. So it planned to potentially simplify it in 2023 with a menu review. But now that change has already happened... three years ahead of schedule.

Spotify stock soars to all-time high after Kardashian and DC Comics pod deals

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