Taylor Swift and the changing tide of artist power

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

16 Feb 2021

Music

Media and Marketing

Cultural Trends

In the latest episode of a long-running feud between Taylor Swift and Big Machine Records, the western princess turned pop icon is releasing the first of her original re-recorded albums under her own ownership....

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Three trends that will shape the rest of 2021, and beyond

Blog post by Mark Mulligan

15 Feb 2021

the immersive web

entertainment internets

Insurgents

Late last year, MIDiA published its latest predictions report (clients can read the entire report here). The central theme was the Immersive Web, which we summarised as follows: “The immersive web is...

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Is sci-fi about to have its Game of Thrones moment?

Blog post by Tim Mulligan

11 Feb 2021

streaming

Television

SVOD

We are only just into the second month of 2021, and already the TV engagement landscape environment is starting to transform into something distinctly different from 2020. The sci-fi genre, long seen as...

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To the moon: The GameStop stock story reveals a dynamic shift in consumption culture

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

3 Feb 2021

Media and Marketing

content consumption

consumer trends

“Mortgage-backed securities, sub-prime loans, tranches… It’s pretty confusing right? Does it make you feel bored, or stupid? Well, it’s supposed to. Wall Street loves to use confusing terms to...

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Netflix as blockbuster behemoth?

Blog post by Tim Mulligan

19 Jan 2021

netflix

Netflix Q4 Results

SVOD

Today Netflix announces its Q4 2020 results. Widely recognised as one of the standout business winners of 2020, Netflix avoided any D2C ‘Big Bang ’disruption by seeing its dominant streaming video...

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Is this the beginning of the end for Instagram?

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

19 Jan 2021

Media and Marketing

Cultural Trends

It has been a rocky month for social media – and a not-so-promising beginning to a new year. Years of debate have raged over the role of platforms like Facebook and Twitter in the content they host,...

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Line change for the NHL: COVID-enforced innovation arrives as ‘D-Day’ commences

Blog post by Alistair Taylor

7 Jan 2021

D-Day

Year 0

Sporting rights

With 2021 commencing, the start of ‘ D-day’ or ‘ Year 0’ for sporting rights is upon us, as the major domestic sports rights start coming up for renewal. Nowhere is ‘D-day’ for sporting rights...

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Facebook faces anti-trust lawsuits, sounding a warning to big tech

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

16 Dec 2020

ads

data

facebook

Last Wednesday, 48 US State attorneys general and the US Federal Trade Commission filed lawsuits against Facebook, echoing the hearings before Congress earlier this year in declaring that the company’s...

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Why Condé Nast believes Netflix is the new Vogue and Vanity Fair

Blog post by Tim Mulligan

2 Dec 2020

netflix

Condé Nast

Vogue

The digital revolution has not been kind on the print magazine industry. In the pre-digital world media power resided on access to coverage on the front pages of style and culture arbiters such as Vogue...

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Why the sports broadcast model is now under threat

Blog post by Alistair Taylor

6 Nov 2020

Sinclair Broadcast Group

Sinclair

sports broadcast

The Sinclair Broadcast Group reported its Q3 2020 results earlier this week, which highlighted the detrimental impact sporting investments had on its balance sheet. A 37% year-on-year (YoY) increase in...

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Live streaming and the role of music artist empowerment in the digital era

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

19 Oct 2020

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...

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From blockbuster-breaker to niche premium experience – cinema gets a makeover

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

12 Oct 2020

cinema

Video

Cultural Trends

Lockdown has been catastrophic for live entertainment, forcing the closure of venues from movie theatres to concert halls to local music stages. This has forced creators and venues alike to adapt their...

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Independent artist creativity and innovation in the age of COVID-19

Blog post by Mark Mulligan

30 Sep 2020

Music

independent artists

indie artists

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the music industry upside down in many ways but among the direct artists community there have also been signs of resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. For...

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Zombies and vaporwave: Consumer vibes in 2020

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

12 Sep 2020

Vapourware

synth wave

lofi

News has become culturally vital in 2020. In a year of global health, social and economic disruption, it now possesses a relevant edge to compete vigorously for consumer attention in a saturated content...

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Facebook’s “Reels” bid to move into TikTok gap will fail

Blog post by Hanna Kahlert

17 Aug 2020

Mobile content

Media

social video

The rollout of Instagram Reels comes cleverly timed, sweeping in the wake of the announced TikTok ban to claim the many app users who will be searching for a new proposition on which to spend their attention....

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