Hanna Kahlert

Hanna is one of our expert analysts, helping drive MIDiA’s research into the future of digital entertainment. Her key areas of interest are cross-entertainment audience behaviour, the creator economy, and social platforms.

Quick take: What the Apple event’s creator focus means for lean-in entertainment

Cover image for Quick take: What the Apple event’s creator focus means for lean-in entertainment
Hanna Kahlert
The October 18th Apple event –for all its usual showmanship – did not have anything hugely innovative to unveil. New colours of the Apple HomePod, a new tier of AirPods, and the return of MagSafe charging, distinctive input ports, and actual keys instead of a touchpad on the upgraded MacBook Pros were the main highlights (aside from the new M1 chip, which was unveiled at the last event and has since merely been upgraded and put into more devices).
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The social reckoning is nigh: The Haugen testimony and Facebook blackout hint at imminent regulatory changes

Cover image for The social reckoning is nigh: The Haugen testimony and Facebook blackout hint at imminent regulatory changes
Hanna Kahlert
The race between social media (and broader tech) innovation and governmental regulation has been a bit of a hare and the tortoise situation for the past decade-plus. However, the digital-first transition as a result of; COVID-19 lockdowns; several election and voting processes being impacted by social media misinformation; and viral vaccine scepticism currently threatening our return to ‘ normal ’ is finally pushing regulation to catch-up.
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The four key cultural trends transforming digital entertainment in 2021 and beyond

Cover image for The four key cultural trends transforming digital entertainment in 2021 and beyond
Hanna Kahlert
The effect of streaming on entertainment is not new, but as we move into the era of mainstream vaccinations, the shifts in streaming-driven consumer behaviour over the last year and a half will drive fundamental changes. From the rise of virtual events to the fall of the box office opening weekend, underpinned by the swift commodification of content pushing consumers towards lean-in behaviours, this is the post-pandemic new normal.
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Facebook just got into social music; the industry should take note

Cover image for Facebook just got into social music; the industry should take note
Hanna Kahlert
Facebook has just rolled out a new option to share clips of music videos to its Stories , which will be fully available to users by August 16th. The move has two main sets of implications. On the music side, we (should) have known that social music will be the next stage of innovation for the industry essentially since TikTok started rocketing users to stardom overnight, as meanwhile young people – digital natives who tend to be hyper-social – started to pick up instruments at unprecedented rates .
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Fandom’s Icarus phenomenon: The hype cycle of the attention economy

Cover image for Fandom’s Icarus phenomenon: The hype cycle of the attention economy
Hanna Kahlert
Fandom is now entrenched as the success determinator of the saturated attention economy. With so much entertainment competing at all times, it is sentiment which draws audiences back for more. Rather than purely “I like this” – there is, after all, so much to like – fandom is more than the substantive quality of productions or storytelling.
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Music is no longer about consumption, but participation (and women are leading the charge)

Cover image for Music is no longer about consumption, but participation (and women are leading the charge)
Hanna Kahlert
The mainstream shift to digital-first life in the last year and a half has affected video content production, games sales, and social media habits. It has also (notably) exacerbated the music industry shift to independent artists and music streaming revenue woes – both of which are now raising existential questions as to the future culture of music.
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