Warner Bros.’ Heater Is Officially Over
Warner Bros. enjoyed a record‑setting run of nine consecutive No. 1 openings, from *Minecraft* to *Wuthering Heights*. The streak snapped in March when the horror‑thriller *The Bride!* opened to just $5 million, the studio’s weakest wide release since *The Alto Knights*. A second flop, *They Will Kill You*, reinforced the downturn. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM’s *Project Hail Mary* surged past $300 million worldwide, dropping only 32 percent in its second week.
Talent Agencies: Who Leads the Next Era?
Talent agencies are increasingly leveraging high‑margin brand and marketing partnerships to outpace traditional commission‑based talent representation. Landmark deals such as CAA’s 1991 Coca‑Cola consulting contract demonstrated the profitability of corporate collaborations, a model now replicated by agencies with partners like...
20th Century Studios Developing “The Marriage Bargain” Movie
Disney’s 20th Century Studios has secured the film rights to Jennifer Probst’s bestselling romance novel *The Marriage Bargain*. The adaptation will be scripted by Laura Lekkos, known for her work on *Relationship Goals* and *Somewhere Only We Know*. Production will...
How Artist Agencies Bury Bad News
Harrison Parrott, after selling part of its business to a French family fund, saw its chief operating officer and general counsel, Lorna Aizlewood, announce her departure. Aizlewood, a former EMI Classics legal chief, cited personal reasons and a desire to freelance...
SoundCloud Launches ‘Follower Exclusive Releases’ to Reward Superfans & Build Hype
SoundCloud has rolled out Follower Exclusive Releases, a feature for Artist Pro creators that lets them share tracks solely with their followers, either as a permanent perk or a timed early‑access window. The launch is anchored by Dutch DJ Chris...
Leonardo DiCaprio-Produced Docudrama ‘Sitting Bull’ Sets Netflix US Release Date
Netflix will launch the Leonardo DiCaprio‑produced docuseries “Sitting Bull” on April 13, 2026, as part of a new licensing agreement with A+E Networks that brings several History Channel titles to the platform. The four‑hour series, originally aired in May 2025,...
Paradise PD and Farzar Getting “Final Season” Away From Netflix Following Cancellations
Creators Roger Black and Waco O’Guin launched a Kickstarter to finish their cancelled Netflix animated series Paradise PD and Farzar with a graphic novel titled Paradise PD & Farzar: The Final Season. The campaign quickly surpassed its £15,069 (~$19,150) goal, raising over...
ICYMI: March’s Biggest Headlines + Bonus Insights
March’s ICYMI edition highlights eight platform updates reshaping social media, with Instagram and YouTube accelerating creator‑commerce tools while TikTok pivots toward micro‑drama formats. The newsletter also spotlights a new AI‑antidote creative style and the growing importance of recap content for...
Stop Chasing Shiny Objects: Rob Beeler’s RevenueScape Is the Publisher Map You’ve Been Missing
Rob Beeler unveiled RevenueScape, a draft framework that catalogs 22 concrete revenue moves for publishers, organized by effort, risk, and time to payoff. The document replaces generic vendor pitches with plain‑language, actionable options ranging from SSP optimization to push‑notification monetization....
Danger-Time at Nexstar/TEGNA, Paramount-Skydance-WBD, and Live Nation
The Nexstar‑Tegna merger, Live Nation’s DOJ settlement, and the Paramount‑Skydance‑Warner Bros. Discovery deal are all legally active but face ongoing state and congressional challenges. Executives are forced to integrate assets and allocate capital while the ultimate regulatory outcome remains uncertain....
Your Weekly Creator Economy Update
YouTube unveiled a Gemini‑powered Creator Partnerships suite that lets brands discover and manage creators using natural‑language prompts and first‑party audience data. The platform also plans API integration to streamline affiliate links and future on‑platform messaging. Simultaneously, industry voices are championing...
Netflix Reportedly Offered Make-Goods During MLB Broadcast After Falling Short in NFL Christmas Key Demos
Netflix’s NFL Christmas Day games attracted 27.5 million viewers for the Lions‑Vikings matchup and 19.9 million for the Cowboys‑Commanders, but the streamer fell about 18 % short of its promised 18‑54 demographic ratings. To honor advertiser contracts, Netflix provided make‑good spots during the...
Debbie Dupes Dallas: Porn Legends Clone Themselves With AI To Keep Raking It In Long After Retiring
British startup OhChat is licensing AI‑generated clones of veteran adult performers such as Lisa Ann, Cherie DeVille and Georgia Koneva, letting fans pay for custom, on‑demand sexual content. The platform charges Lisa Ann $30 a month for access to her...
Business Insider’s Subscriber Spiral
Business Insider ended 2022 with roughly 185,000 paid subscribers and has since invested heavily in its subscription model. In November 2023, Barbara Peng was promoted to chief executive, and in September 2024 she recruited Jamie Heller from The Wall Street...
CBS BOSSES UNFAZED BY RATINGS DROP — INSIDERS SAY IT’S NO LONGER ABOUT VIEWERS
CBS Evening News has fallen to about 3.8 million viewers, trailing ABC and NBC, yet its billionaire owners remain untroubled. Insiders say the network has shifted focus from the ratings race to building political influence in Washington, especially under editor Bari...
The Council of Europe Adopts Landmark Convention on Series Co-Production - Industry / Market - Europe
The Council of Europe adopted a convention on co‑production of audiovisual series, the first international framework dedicated to independent series co‑production. Nine countries—France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland and Portugal—signed the agreement at the Séries Mania Forum. The...
The Unsung: Why Songwriters Still Live in the Shadows of Streaming
The streaming era has pushed songwriter credits into obscurity, as digital platforms often deliver incomplete metadata and listeners rarely seek out liner notes. Consequently, songwriters receive a disproportionately small share of streaming revenue compared with master owners. Independent publishers and...
Artists Can Use This Business Tool to Better Navigate Industry Gatekeepers
Artists can apply the classic Power‑Interest Grid, created by Aubrey Mendelow, to navigate the music industry’s gatekeepers. By sorting contacts into key players, sleeping giants, fans and generic audiences, musicians tailor engagement strategies to maximize influence and opportunity. The article...
CBS News Ratings Reportedly Its Lowest on Record
CBS News has reportedly recorded its lowest viewership numbers ever, according to recent ratings data. The decline follows the appointment of columnist Bari Weiss as head of the division, a move critics say has altered editorial tone. The ratings slump...
Most FIFA World Cup Sponsors Are Paying for a Logo Instead of Building a World
Major FIFA World Cup sponsors continue to pour millions into logo placements, yet many neglect to craft immersive fan experiences. The article argues that visibility alone fails to generate cultural moments, and that brands that build “worlds” where fans gather...
AG Emiliou Advises CJEU to Rule that OCSSPs' Authorization Under Article 17 of the DSM Directive Extends to Acts of...
Advocate General Emiliou urged the CJEU to interpret Article 17 of the EU DSM Directive as covering not only the communication right but also the reproduction right of online content‑sharing service providers (OCSSPs). He argued that storing user‑uploaded content creates a...
Adam Schiff’s Hollywood Hail Mary
Senator Adam Schiff is pushing a federal tax credit for film and TV production to counteract the exodus of U.S. projects to the United Kingdom, where incentives can cut costs by up to a third. The proposal enjoys bipartisan Senate...
Amaze Holdings Announces Creator Commerce Media Platform, Designed To Unlock Data-Driven Revenue Streams
Amaze Holdings launched a Creator Commerce Media Platform to monetize its first‑party commerce and audience data. Built on its new demand‑side platform, the service offers four high‑margin products—DSP audience segments, subscription data SaaS, data‑driven brand activation, and enterprise creator‑intelligence tools....
The Needle: NBA Vs. MLB Tale of the Tape, Part III
The Needle column dissects NBA versus MLB television ratings, showing that when only exclusive national telecasts are considered, the NBA averages 2.7 million viewers and MLB 2.6 million – a razor‑thin gap. While MLB’s regional broadcasts inflate its daily audience, the NBA...
What Drives Profitable Bars at Music Venues
Music venue bars are the primary profit engine, generating an average of $27,000 in monthly revenue, with top performers doubling that figure through optimized flow and inventory. Speed‑focused menus, where each drink is poured in under thirty seconds, keep lines...
The Oscars Are Coming to L.A. LIVE: The Academy Partners With AEG For A Ten Year Run At The Peacock...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has signed a ten‑year partnership with AEG, moving the Oscars to L.A. LIVE’s Peacock Theater beginning with the 101st ceremony in 2029 and running through 2039. AEG will overhaul the venue’s stage, sound,...
Creator Sports Network and the Savannah Bananas Are Defining Sport’s Next Rights Tier
Creator Sports Network (CSN) has secured an exclusive creator‑led streaming partnership with the Savannah Bananas, delivering four live Banana Ball Championship League games across YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook. The deal positions creator distribution as a distinct rights tier, separate...
Creator Economy Briefing: Alix Earle Launches Skincare Brand, Unilever Appoints Influencer Agency, Ambassador Marketing Gains Traction
Today's creator‑economy briefing highlights a shift toward long‑term ambassador partnerships, the rise of influencer‑turned‑founders, and enterprise‑level investments in structured influencer programs. Brands are replacing one‑off campaigns with ongoing creator relationships to boost credibility, while Alix Earle launched her skincare line...
Disney+ Is After Local Productions for a Local Audience - Series Mania 2026 - Series Mania Forum
Angela Jain, Disney+’s new Head of Content for EMEA, used the Series Mania Forum to unveil an accelerated push of locally produced series across Europe. The streaming giant is commissioning comedies for 16‑34‑year‑olds, thrillers and documentaries, with titles such as...
WAV. Is a Creator-First Platform Launching as Artists Question Distributor Support
WAV. Distro, launched by TEN88, is a creator‑first music platform that combines digital distribution, publishing support, and hands‑on marketing while letting artists keep 100% ownership of their masters. The service emphasizes real‑human assistance, long‑term partnerships, and even advances for select...
The Economist Refines B2B Offering to Jump Start Growth
The Economist Group launched Economist Enterprise, consolidating its B2B information services and media solutions into a single brand. For the six months to Sept. 30 2025, the B2B segment generated £53.8 million (about $67 million), a 2.2% decline year‑over‑year, while rivals such as the...
Music Tech News: Feels Music Messaging • Musixmatch • Bridge Conference • More
Former Interscope EVP Tony Seyler’s Feels Music Messaging app has launched, securing licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group, allowing users to send short‑form audio and video clips that convey emotions. The platform also promises...
Explaining the Wide Gap Between Country Stars and Everyone Else
Luminate’s 2025 Year‑End Music Report applied the Gini coefficient to streaming data, showing country music as the most top‑heavy genre with a 0.79 score, followed by pop at 0.75. Electronic/Dance recorded the lowest Gini at 0.54, indicating a more even...
How The Wall Street Journal Is Reaching the Next Generation on TikTok
The Wall Street Journal surpassed one million followers on TikTok by pairing platform‑friendly formats with its hallmark journalism. The newsroom’s strategy hinges on purposeful videos, a Talent Lab that equips reporters to promote themselves, and dedicated social video producers who...
WWE & Tony Hinchcliffe Partner with Netflix on "Kill Tony: WrestleMania"
WWE and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe have teamed with Netflix to produce "Kill Tony: WrestleMania," a comedy special filmed at Dolby Live in Las Vegas on April 18 and premiering on Netflix on April 20. The event coincides with WrestleMania 42 and will air alongside...
Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draws Underwhelming TV Audience
The NFL’s flag‑football push culminated in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, a star‑laden showcase that was abruptly moved from Riyadh to Los Angeles amid geopolitical tensions. Despite Tom Brady’s comeback hype and heavy promotion on Fox, the broadcast averaged only 650,000 viewers,...
Men’s College Lacrosse Game of the Year Finally Finds a Broadcasting Home
Notre Dame (6‑0) and Richmond (8‑0) entered their April 4 showdown as the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 men’s lacrosse programs, a matchup that typically commands national TV attention. The Big Ten Network held venue rights but declined to carry the game...
The Curious Case of Warner’s Eleventh-Hour Bidder
Paramount's pending acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery faced a surprise eleventh‑hour bid from Singapore‑registered Nobelis Capital, offering $32.50 per share in cash. The proposal lacked disclosed financing or a definitive agreement, prompting Warner’s board to label it a likely non‑serious...
Elisa Batti & Isabel Soto – Portal
Italian label founder Elisa Batti and Venezuelan producer Isabel Soto debut the Segment imprint with *Portal*, a four‑track EP that leans into loopy, stripped‑down techno. The record showcases heavy low‑end thrust on tracks like “Veil of Maya” while offering fleeting...
Tubi Launches Scene Sense Contextual Targeting and Exclusive Amazon DSP Package at NewFronts
Tubi unveiled Scene Sense, a scene‑level contextual targeting engine that analyzes visual cues, tone and sentiment to serve relevant display ads when viewers pause content, alongside new carousel, trivia and poll pause‑ad formats. It also introduced Tubi Priority Access, an...
Best Animation Studios in London Working With Brands, Film, and Digital Media
London’s animation studios are thriving thanks to a dense ecosystem of advertising agencies, film producers, game developers, and design schools. Studios such as Grizzle, Animade, Jelly London, Studio AKA, Nexus Studios, Golden Wolf and BlinkInk offer a range of services from...
The Few and the Worst
The post alleges that Larry Ellison’s recent acquisition of a vast media portfolio, financed by a roughly $10 billion Treasury transaction fee, is enabling political censorship across major platforms. The author recounts being permanently banned from TikTok after multiple “content violation”...
Results Are In: NBC’s Olympic Creator Bet Won Gold — Inside the Playbook
NBCUniversal’s Olympic Creator Collective sent more than 25 digital creators to the Milan‑Cortina Winter Games, generating over 4 billion impressions across its social channels – a 437% jump from Beijing 2022. The follow‑up Project Fortius program helped ten athletes add more than...
CBS Returns to an Expanding WNBA with Biggest Broadcast TV Slate Yet
Paramount’s CBS has secured a multi‑year extension to broadcast WNBA games, expanding its slate to 20 regular‑season matchups on the CBS network and Paramount+. The deal removes CBS Sports Network from the lineup, consolidating all coverage on broadcast TV and...
Netflix Spending Spree: ‘Prestige Envy,’ Cheap Hits — and an Ellison War to Come
Netflix is accelerating its content spend to $20 billion by 2026, adding a slate of high‑profile series, films and a new VFX studio in India. The push comes as Paramount‑Warner Bros. Discovery negotiates a $111 billion merger that could create a true...
The New Rules of Music’s Growth Engine: Insights From MIDiA’s Merch & Ticket Buyer Survey
MIDiA Research reports that expanded‑rights revenue – merch, physical music and live tickets – surged 21.5% in 2025, outpacing all other music income streams. A survey of 1,000 U.S. fans shows Gen Z demanding more diverse, subtle merchandise such as...
Nielsen, Schmielsen
Nielsen postponed its February audience measurement report after major streamers complained that a recent methodology change caused a sudden drop in their reported viewership. The delay highlights the sensitivity of streaming platforms to Nielsen’s data, which serves as the industry’s...
Formats Are Becoming The Operating Systems Of IP
Television formats are shifting from simple production templates to dynamic narrative systems that function like operating systems for intellectual property. The new model leverages algorithmic discovery, creator ecosystems, and multi‑surface storytelling, allowing content to flow across long‑form episodes, short clips,...
Keith Hernandez Still Cashing Substantial ‘Seinfeld’ Residual Checks
Former Mets star Keith Hernandez still receives roughly $5,000 each year from his 1992 guest appearance on the sitcom Seinfeld. The cameo, in the episode “The Boyfriend,” has generated residual checks for more than three decades. Hernandez discussed the ongoing...
Former Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Reportedly Signs with Sports Media Agent Sandy Montag
Mike Tomlin, the former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, has signed with veteran sports‑media agent Sandy Montag, head of The Montag Group now operating under The Team. The partnership positions Tomlin for broadcast contracts as NFL networks and streaming services vie...