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.

Podcasts Q2 2020: Spotify takes an early lead

Cover image for Podcasts Q2 2020: Spotify takes an early lead
Mark Mulligan
MIDiA has just published its latest Podcast report, P odcasts Q2 2020: Spotify Takes an Early Lead . In it we present data from MIDiA’s quarterly survey that presents a comprehensive view of podcast user behaviour, who podcast listeners are, how it stacks up against radio and music streaming listening and which platforms listeners are going to for their podcasts.
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Live streaming and the role of music artist empowerment in the digital era

Cover image for Live streaming and the role of music artist empowerment in the digital era
Hanna Kahlert
Music streaming
live streaming
coronavirus
As the coronavirus lockdowns have forced venues to close and people indoors, artists have been unevenly impacted across the music industry. While many bigger studios were forced to cease operations, and some artists unable to release or record music – often relying on previous recordings they could still send to post-production – smaller independent artists took advantage of being home-bound.
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More consumers intend to buy PS5 than Xbox Series X, but both companies will be content with their trajectory

Cover image for More consumers intend to buy PS5 than Xbox Series X, but both companies will be content with their trajectory
Karol Severin
Xbox
PlayStation
games consoles
With both PS5 and Xbox Series X having sold out their pre-order stock, the winter holiday race is heating up. Following Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media, we wrote that the acquisition is unlikely to have a short-term impact on console sales, and rather play a larger role in the conversion of existing and new users to Game Pass.
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HomePod Mini: Apple’s pandemic-era product

Cover image for HomePod Mini: Apple’s pandemic-era product
Mark Mulligan
Music
Apple’s Tuesday product announcement showcased its 5G iPhones, but also included the launch of the new $99 HomePod Mini. Though it might have looked like a supporting act for the launch, its strategic importance should not be underestimated – especially in the context of how Apple competes with Amazon, the company that is arguably becoming Apple’s most important competitor among the Western Tech Majors (Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook).
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GB News: An idea ahead of – or behind, its time?

Cover image for GB News: An idea ahead of – or behind, its time?
Tim Mulligan
The long unwinding of impartial news delivery in the UK continues apace with the imminent launch of GB News – the UK’s answer to Fox News. The Chairman of the new venture is Andrew Neil, who rose to prominence as an editor in Rupert Murdoch’s News International organisation as the editor of The Sunday Times from 1983 to 1994, and then spent a subsequent 25 years at the BBC.
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Microsoft’s Zenimax acquisition is about the future of Games Pass more than console sales

Cover image for Microsoft’s Zenimax acquisition is about the future of Games Pass more than console sales
Karol Severin
Games
games consoles
Zenimax
With the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Microsoft is gaining an important content asset for its portfolio – Bethesda’s games. And while the timing of the announcement certainly won’t make Sony too happy as it is about to launch PS5, the key benefits of this acquisition are tied to the future of Xbox Game Pass, rather than to who will sell more consoles this holiday season.
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