Read our latest daily deep dives, hot takes, and exciting updates about the entertainment world. Check out the latest insight from your favourite analyst, or search by coverage areas - music, entertainment and fandom, creator economy and social.

Why digital fandom has outgrown the Emmys

Cover image for Why digital fandom has outgrown the Emmys
Tim Mulligan
Emmys
Digital Survivalism
Media Fusion
With the progressive move back into in real life (IRL) following mass global Covid vaccinations, hyped-up in-person award ceremonies have returned to business as usual in 2021. This Sunday the Emmys was aired on CBS, the broadcast arm of media major ViacomCBS – which is in itself busy playing catch up with the D2C disruptors class of 2019/20, with its recently launched Paramount+ streaming subscription service.
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Axing exclusive music licenses in China will drive new local music cultures

Cover image for Axing exclusive music licenses in China will drive new local music cultures
Srishti Das
China
emerging markets
Tencent
As a result of the new guidelines set out by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), record labels are no longer allowed to issue exclusive licenses to music services. Previously, music services in China were able to secure exclusive deals with record labels which meant that these services could then sub-license to other platforms in the region for an additional licensing fee.
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Could HBO Max disrupt Europe?

Cover image for Could HBO Max disrupt Europe?
Tim Mulligan
SVOD
d2c
HBO Max
On October 26th, HBO Max will establish its European beachhead, which is launching inSweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Spain and Andorra. The D2C video service will then roll out in 2022 into Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
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Quick take: Word of mouth is no longer the single most powerful games discovery tool

Cover image for Quick take: Word of mouth is no longer the single most powerful games discovery tool
Karol Severin
games discovery
word of mouth
Social media
Do you know the saying ‘ word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool ’? Well, things are changing - or at least evolving. MIDiA’s Q2 2021 consumer survey states that 25% of consumers typically discover new games on social media feeds – the same penetration rate as consumers who stated that they discover games ‘from personal recommendations’.
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Chinese limits on gaming are more about the long-term, rather than short-term impacts

Cover image for Chinese limits on gaming are more about the long-term, rather than short-term impacts
Karol Severin
China
regulation
Audience engagement
A new regulation announced by the National Press and Publication Administration issues new rules around games engagement of under 18s. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the new rules will allow no online video games to be played during the school week, and only permits one hour of play per day on Fridays, weekends and public holidays.
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Fluid audio is here, and music is about to meet its next mp3 moment

Cover image for Fluid audio is here, and music is about to meet its next mp3 moment
Kriss Thakrar
creator tools
UGC
Gen Z
Kanye West has released the Donda Stem Player, a handheld remixing speaker that can interact with music, as a way to create a personalised experience with his new album. However, this is not just an interactive speaker for consuming Kanye’s new musical project - it is a creator tool to remix any recording, as shown by a video of the device splitting Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On into distinct parts.
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