The David McWilliams Podcast Content, Culture & the Bottom Line: How Finance is Killing the Avant-Garde
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Jul 1, 2025 Are we witnessing the death of innovation in culture? The conversation dives into how financialization and technology are shaping arts today, favoring profit over originality. Statistics reveal a shocking decline in original films and music as nostalgia dominates. The discussion tackles the rise of AI and its threat to authenticity, drawing parallels to past fabricated personas. Ultimately, the hosts question who truly owns culture in an era where algorithms dictate creativity. The need for genuine artistic expression has never been more critical.
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Decline of Original Movie Scripts
- Cultural innovation is declining, with original movie scripts dropping from 40% to less than 10% of top films in 20 years.
- Hollywood's top-grossing movies in 2023 are dominated by sequels, spin-offs, and franchises, limiting new creative content.
Franchise Dominance in Hollywood
- 83% of Hollywood revenue now comes from franchises, underscoring a reliance on established properties.
- This trend reflects a risk-averse industry focused on proven commercial success rather than innovation.
Music Streaming Favors Old Catalog
- Music consumption favors older catalog songs, with only 27% of streamed tracks being new.
- This shift highlights a cultural consumption pattern that favors nostalgia over new artistic works.
