Case Studies

Cover image for CD Baby’s ‘Stages’ can serve both passion and professionalism

CD Baby’s ‘Stages’ can serve both passion and professionalism

Tatiana Cirisano

3 Apr 2023

Music Business Strategy

CD Baby’s ‘Stages’ can serve both passion and professionalism The traditional view of the fast-growing artists direct sector as a funnel for recorded music is becoming outdated. Nearly the same percentage of these 6.4 million creators are passionate, but do not expect a full-time career (36%) as those who do (38%).

Cover image for Apple Music is winning over US 25-34s

Apple Music is winning over US 25-34s

Kriss Thakrar and Tatiana Cirisano

3 Apr 2023

Apple Spotify Apple Music

For streaming services in the US, courting the 25-34 age cohort is important because they are overrepresented as both music streaming subscribers and music aficionados, spending the most time and money on music. However, 25-34s have a slightly tenuous relationship with streaming.

Cover image for Spotify’s new podcast features mimic music discovery

Spotify’s new podcast features mimic music discovery

Annie Langston

3 Apr 2023

Audio

The economic recession has resulted in a series of layoffs in audio divisions across many major platforms. Spotify’s investments in the podcast market outweighed its competitors, and the reductions were similarly high, specifically in acquired networks, like Gimlet Media.

Cover image for Good Good Golf

Good Good Golf
Leveraging the commercial power of the creator group

Samuel Griffin and Ben Woods

3 Apr 2023

Video YouTube Product Strategy

The creators behind the YouTube channel Good Good demonstrate how a creator group can become a commercial force in social video. The channel is spearheaded by amateur golf players Tom Broders, Micah Morris, Grant Horvat, Stephen Castaneda, Garrett Clarke, and Matt Scharff, and provides a light-hearted take on the sport through videos documenting of...

Cover image for AI use cases in the entertainment industry

AI use cases in the entertainment industry
Electric Sheep, Mubert, Unreal Engine 5, Descript, Uhmbrella, and My AI

Hanna Kahlert, Ashleigh Millar, Tatiana Cirisano and Annie Langston

20 Mar 2023

Cultural trends Critical Developments

Electric Sheep | Using AI to introduce accuracy and efficiency into the VFX industry Rotoscoping, an element of visual effects (VFX) where the background of either an image or video is removed so that effects can be added, has traditionally been an intricate and time-consuming endeavour.

Cover image for The Witcher

The Witcher
Netflix’s appeal to gamer fandom

Tim Mulligan, Karol Severin, Perry Gresham, Samuel Griffin and Ben Woods

20 Mar 2023

Video Games

In January 2020, Netflix topped Wikipedia show searches following the season one launch of its fantasy scripted drama original, The Witcher . The show was based on a story universe created by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, which originated in novel form and morphed into a hugely popular game franchise with 40-million-unit sales to date.

Cover image for Artiphon’s Minibeats brings social music creation to Snapchat

Artiphon’s Minibeats brings social music creation to Snapchat

Tatiana Cirisano

1 Mar 2023

Music Product Strategy

In 2021, instrument maker Artiphon launched the Orbacam social video app, where users could shoot video, create music for it, and add perfectly synced video effects. Originally meant as a companion to the company’s Orba handheld beatmaker, the app simply placed a digital version of the Orba over a TikTok-like interface.

Cover image for KERV Interactive dives into mainstream shopping TV

KERV Interactive dives into mainstream shopping TV

Tim Mulligan

1 Mar 2023

Video Business Strategy

KERV Interactive (founded in 2017 and listed under the trading name of Grabit Interactive Media, Inc.), through its NBCU partnership and funding, is well positioned to be at the vanguard of third-way monetisation alternatives going into an era of retention and increasing digital sophistication among consumers.

Cover image for Just BeReal

Just BeReal
Why simple can be better for social (and beyond)

Hanna Kahlert

1 Mar 2023

Audience Insight Media and Marketing

The battle for consumer attention is more competitive than ever in today’s saturated entertainment economy. Free time is saturated, and ever more competitive propositions are constantly bringing in new features, new content, and new ideas for audiences to engage with and enjoy.

Cover image for Global Radio illustrates the opportunities for radio’s digital transition

Global Radio illustrates the opportunities for radio’s digital transition

Annie Langston

1 Mar 2023

Business Strategy Audio

Radio’s future growth depends on its ability to transition its content to a digital space while both maintaining traditional listeners and expanding to younger audiences. This means exploring podcasts, videos, and other types of on-demand digital content.

Cover image for How OpenAI fits into the growing need for scarcity in digital entertainment

How OpenAI fits into the growing need for scarcity in digital entertainment

Hanna Kahlert

1 Feb 2023

Media and Marketing

Digital entertainment has seen a boom in content production, with more songs, TV shows, and games released at a faster rate than ever to compete for audience’s attention. However, audiences have no available time left over to spend on entertainment, and the cost-of-living crisis is affecting their available spend as well.

Cover image for DAZN Watch Party

DAZN Watch Party

Ben Woods

1 Feb 2023

Video Product Strategy

DAZN, the live sports streaming service, is leading innovation in developing the potential of watch parties. While modest in its capability at present, DAZN is pushing beyond communal viewing to transform Watch Party into a hub where fans can also celebrate their fandom, regardless of the device.

Cover image for Apple Music taps into mainstream music audience to grow podcast videos

Apple Music taps into mainstream music audience to grow podcast videos

Annie Langston

1 Feb 2023

Business Strategy Audio

Apple Music taps into mainstream music audience to grow podcast videos Podcast videos are becoming an essential way for creators to both market their podcasts and reach new audiences. Several streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, now support video podcasts for creators.

How brand building freed Fred again.. from the song economy

Mark Mulligan and Tatiana Cirisano

1 Feb 2023

H ow brand building freed Fred again.. from the song economy The ruthlessly competitive, track-focused music streaming landscape has pressured music marketers to focus on song campaigns above all else. Meanwhile, in part driven by these same dynamics, music consumption has become increasingly passive.

Cover image for Cult of the Lamb

Cult of the Lamb

Ben Woods

4 Jan 2023

Video Games Social video

Cult of the Lamb is an action-adventure strategy game that achieved criticaland commercial success shortly after its launch in August 2022 by embracinglivestreaming engagement on Twitch. Developed by Massive Monster and published by Devolver Digital, the title takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the concept of a religious cult.

Cover image for YouTube is paving a new music discovery pathway — will it work?

YouTube is paving a new music discovery pathway — will it work?

Kriss Thakrar and Tatiana Cirisano

4 Jan 2023

Music

Song discovery ideally kicks off a fandom journey for the consumer, who then goes on to learn about the artist, stream their wider catalogue, become a fan, and buy merchandise and concert tickets. But, too often today, music discovery both starts and ends with the song.

Cover image for Spotify’s audiobook vertical brings a new format to the masses

Spotify’s audiobook vertical brings a new format to the masses

Annie Langston

4 Jan 2023

Audio

Spotify successfully integrated podcasts into its platform and has the potential to do the same for audiobooks. In September 2022, Spotify launched its official audiobook vertical with over 300,000 titles available for à-la-carte purchasing. While the Apple App Store commission has disrupted this strategy, the à-la-carte model differentiates Spot...

Cover image for Amazon Music caters to both passive and active listeners

Amazon Music caters to both passive and active listeners

Kriss Thakrar, Tatiana Cirisano and Annie Langston

30 Nov 2022

Critical Developments

Across its numerous tiers, Amazon Music has a relatively older userbase that mainly streams music passively. Amazon Music can play to these habits to differentiate itself from other streaming services, becoming a home for the more casual music listener.

Cover image for Europe-born Podimo is set to infiltrate the entire Western market

Europe-born Podimo is set to infiltrate the entire Western market

Annie Langston

30 Nov 2022

Audio

Spotify has led investments in the podcast market and is the top platform for accessing podcasts globally, with 43% penetration among podcast listeners. However, as podcasting is still a relatively niche format, there is still a window of opportunity for international platforms to compete with the major Western tech platforms on a global scale.

Cover image for Taylor Swift’s Midnights playbook for sustaining superstardom

Taylor Swift’s Midnights playbook for sustaining superstardom

Tatiana Cirisano

29 Nov 2022

Music

As an artist whose rise to prominence coincided with the rise of streaming, Taylor Swift was able to build a massive listener base in less congested times, benefitting from all the democratising impacts of streaming before it gave way to over-saturation and hyper-fragmentation.

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