Reports: Alphabet

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Cover image for MIDiA Research 2024-2031 global social forecasts

MIDiA Research 2024-2031 global social forecasts
New frontiers and strong growth ahead

Hanna Kahlert and Mark Qi

14 Nov 2024

YouTube Facebook Instagram

More than ever, social platforms are the de facto way that consumers interact not only with entertainment but with the internet itself. As internet access expands in emerging markets and social platforms continue to eat up digital entertainment consumption in developed ones, further growth is inevitable because the market has: The ability to grow u...

Cover image for Entertainment and the recession

Entertainment and the recession
How it will be impacted and how it should respond

Mark Mulligan

25 Sep 2022

Spotify Amazon Netflix

The world is facing a period of change and disruption that is unprecedented in modern times. With so many interconnected dynamics across consumer spending, economic cycles, the climate, and even geo-politics, consumer behaviours and spending will undoubtedly be impacted.

Cover image for Hybrid shock

Hybrid shock
How ads will change SVOD

Tim Mulligan

31 Aug 2022

Amazon Apple TV Netflix

The combined effects of market saturation for subscription video on demand (SVOD) alongside a growing cost-of-living crisis are forcing pureplay SVOD services to modify their ad-free propositions. Disney-owned Hulu has demonstrated the viability of an ad-supported SVOD basic plan, which now offers a blueprint for Disney+ and Netflix.

Cover image for The attention recession

The attention recession
Post-peak behaviour

Mark Mulligan

22 Jun 2022

Spotify YouTube Netflix

The global pandemic created a temporary boost to the attention economy, with all forms of entertainment benefiting. As life began to return to normal, this newfound time quickly started to erode, causing growing pains for many entertainment companies.

Cover image for Spotify Q1 2021 earnings

Spotify Q1 2021 earnings
Shifting headwinds

Mark Mulligan

27 May 2021

Spotify YouTube Deezer

The first quarter of the year is usually a slow one for Spotify, but Q1 2021 saw a few metrics slowing more than in previous years. There were lots of solid performance metrics in Spotify’s results and a slew of new product announcements, but there were also signs of a coming slowdown driven in large part by wider industry headwinds.

Cover image for Spotify Q4 2020 earnings

Spotify Q4 2020 earnings
ARPU pays the price for growth

Mark Mulligan

28 Feb 2021

Subscriptions Streaming Streaming Music

In 2020 Spotify accelerated the growth of its total user base, with emerging markets playing a key role. However, revenue increases became decoupled from user growth across all categories, resulting in ARPU deflation. Companies and brands mentioned in...

Cover image for Spotify Q3 2020 Earnings

Spotify Q3 2020 Earnings
The Shift to Free

Mark Mulligan

27 Nov 2020

Subscriptions Streaming Streaming Music

With three quarters of 2020 gone, Spotify has prospered during the most challenging of times, with consistent growth across most metrics. Q3 2020 saw a slight deviation from the script though, with ad-supported in the driving seat, especially in emerging markets.

Cover image for State of the YouTube Music Economy 3.0

State of the YouTube Music Economy 3.0
End of the Beginning

Mark Mulligan

30 Oct 2020

Spotify YouTube YouTube

This is the third bi-annual report of its kind, providing the most comprehensive view available of the YouTube music economy. It presents data for revenues, royalty payments, streams, subscribers, user behaviour and user demographics. We explore success factors, cultural trends, monetisation frameworks and contextualise music’s performance agains...

Cover image for Post-Pandemic Programming

Post-Pandemic Programming
Surviving and Thriving in the Recession

Mark Mulligan, Tim Mulligan, Karol Severin, Alistair Taylor, Keith Jopling and Hanna Kahlert

9 Sep 2020

Apple Apple live

COVID-19 caused dislocation and disruption to the global entertainment business. Now, the recession and the prospect of further pandemic peaks have created an unprecedented outlook for entertainment companies. Many of the shifts that occurred during lockdown will define the new market dynamics.

Cover image for Spotify Q2 2020 Earnings

Spotify Q2 2020 Earnings
In the Shadow of COVID

Mark Mulligan

18 Aug 2020

Subscriptions Streaming Streaming Music

Spotify’s share price grew strongly in June 2020, with the markets responding positively to its podcast investments. However, while that increase was sustained throughout July, by mid-August the share price was heading back down to late-June levels.

Cover image for Spotify Q1 2020 Earnings

Spotify Q1 2020 Earnings
First Signs of Pre-Recession Weakness

Mark Mulligan

29 May 2020

Spotify Alphabet Business Strategy

2020 was a solid quarter for Spotify but showed early signs of COVID-19 impact across premium and especially ad supported. With a global recession looming, these may be the first signs of vulnerability in a challenged economic climate. Companies and brands...

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Recovery Economics
Music, Games, Live Streams and the Future of Concerts

Mark Mulligan, Karol Severin and Keith Jopling

11 May 2020

live music live Artists

In April 2020 Travis Scott’s Fortnite event pulled in 27 million players. While this was happening, the global artist community was scrambling to plug the income and engagement gap caused by COVID-19’s cessation of live music, by turning to live streaming.

Cover image for Tech Major Market Shares 2019

Tech Major Market Shares 2019
Amazon Powers Ahead

Mark Mulligan, Tim Mulligan, Karol Severin and Alistair Taylor

9 Apr 2020

Apple iTunes store Spotify

The tech majors are power players in the global digital content marketplace through a combination of their own content services, ad monetisation and control of audiences via devices, search and social. While advertising and services revenues are still a minority of total tech major revenues, the share is substantial, and revenues are growing fast.

Cover image for COVID-19

COVID-19
Entertainment and Leisure Industry Impact Assessment

Mark Mulligan

20 Mar 2020

Apple Spotify Artists

The spread of COVID-19, and the responses of industry and governments alike, is unprecedented. It is, however, the restrictions on movement of people along with the response of consumers and investors that is causing the biggest disruption and will have the most impact on entertainment businesses.

Cover image for The Games Streaming Subscription Revolution

The Games Streaming Subscription Revolution
Meet the Players

Karol Severin

26 Jun 2019

Streaming Apple Spotify

Streaming is rewriting the games market rulebook. The games subscription landscape is undergoing foundational changes driven by a growing list of new market entrants including tech majors, telcos, leading games developers and publishers. The rise of games streaming opens doors to device- and platform-agnostic solutions all across the attention econ...

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Global Video Forecast 2018–2025

Tim Mulligan

6 Dec 2018

YouTube Amazon Streaming video

2018–2025 will represent an epoch-defining era for video as streaming supplants analogue as the main technology for delivering content to TV audiences. In 2018 streaming video subscriptions already reached parity with pay-TV subscriptions in leading markets.

Cover image for MIDiA Research Predictions 2019

MIDiA Research Predictions 2019

Alistair Taylor, Georgia Meyer, Mark Mulligan, Tim Mulligan and Zach Fuller

8 Nov 2018

Apple Spotify YouTube

In this report MIDiA Research analysts present their predictions for what will be the big trends in digital media and tech, across music, video, media, brands, marketing, games and sports in 2019. Companies and brands mentioned in this report: ABC, Alibaba, Alphabet, Amazon, Amazon Prime Video, Apple, Apple Music, AT&T, BBC, BT, BT Sports, BT T...

Cover image for Paid News Digital Subscriptions

Paid News Digital Subscriptions
Bubble or Breakthrough?

Zach Fuller

22 Aug 2018

Subscriptions Google Facebook

Still feeling imbued with the often cited ‘Trump bump’, paid news media subscriptions continued their healthy growth trajectory throughout 2017 and into the first quarter of 2018. The market, excepting China and India, grew largely in symmetry with other digital behaviours, as premium news brands continued to make their case as a credible alter...

Cover image for State of the YouTube Music Economy 2.0

State of the YouTube Music Economy 2.0
A Turning Point for All Parties

Mark Mulligan

14 Aug 2018

Streaming Streaming Music Spotify

This report is now into its second edition, updating the most comprehensive YouTube music dataset ever compiled in order to present all sides of the argument in an objective and impartial manner. The report provides an exhaustive view of the market for revenues, ad rates, stream rates, users, streams and subscribers.

Cover image for Tech Majors Market Shares Q2 2018

Tech Majors Market Shares Q2 2018
A Tale of Mixed Fortunes

Alistair Taylor, Karol Severin, Tim Mulligan and Zach Fuller

10 Aug 2018

Apple Spotify YouTube

Q2 2018 delivered contrasting milestones for the tech majors with Apple becoming the first company to have a trillion-dollar market capitalisation while Facebook simultaneously saw the single biggest one-day loss in market capitalisation in the history of US stock exchanges.

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