The Town with Matthew Belloni

Former Ticketmaster CEO, Nathan Hubbard, joins to debate Taylor Swift's return to TikTok despite Universal Music Group's boycott. They discuss fair compensation for artists, Taylor's strategic decisions, and the impact of artists boycotting platforms like TikTok. Matt predicts box office success for 'Abigail' at the end.

John Peters, Accenture's global lead for media and entertainment, discusses Hollywood's struggle to adapt to consumer demands. They explore radical decisions for success, competition from social media, and predictions on Netflix's earnings.

Lucas Shaw from Bloomberg joins Matt to discuss the best and worst media mergers of the 21st century. They analyze the impact of tech giants acquiring smaller platforms, Disney's strategic acquisitions, and the future of Paramount Global Media Company. They also delve into the potential deal between Paramount Global and David Ellison’s Skydance Media.

IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond discusses the importance of IMAX screens in movie theaters, benefits of IMAX sales for certain movies, issues with empty multiplexes, and an opening-weekend box office prediction for 'Civil War'. The podcast delves into the impact of IMAX technology on revenue, collaboration with filmmakers, and strategic discussions with studios for film screenings.

Matt Stoller, from the American Economic Liberties Project, dives into Hollywood's consolidation and big tech's impact. They discuss antitrust concerns, Warner Bros. Discovery merger, government's role, and differences between Netflix and tech giants like Apple. The podcast sheds light on market structuring challenges and the influence of tech giants on the streaming market, focusing on Amazon's strategies and disruptive practices in the entertainment industry.

Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw joins Matt to discuss Hollywood winners and losers in 2024. They highlight Sidney Sweeney's success, analyze industry movers like David Zazloff and Jennifer Lopez, and delve into Sofia Vergara's career evolution. They also touch on Apple's film strategy and the Hollywood Power Bracket final four.

Sheila Nevins, former HBO Documentary Films president, discusses the rise of documentaries in mainstream media through streaming. Topics include the balance between quantity and quality, society's fascination with crime, and the need to redefine documentary filmmaking standards. Matt also predicts box office success for upcoming films.

WWE president Nick Khan discusses the $5 billion Netflix deal, post-Vince McMahon creative vision, The Rock's return, future sports media, NBA rights deal, and more. Insights on strategic partnerships, negotiations, WWE's international growth, sports rights deals, and entertainment industry collaborations. Speculation on potential MotoGP documentary series and celebrity motorcycle maintenance.

Bloomberg journalist Lucas Shaw joins to discuss Disney's proxy battle with Nelson Peltz, examining Peltz's criticisms of CEO Bob Iger and potential outcomes of the shareholder meeting. They delve into Disney's leadership challenges, the likelihood of Peltz gaining a board seat, and the impact on Disney's future strategies. Additionally, they analyze recent movie releases and the box office performance amidst the pandemic.

Former TMZ employee, Van Lathan, reveals the inner workings of TMZ, including their aggressive reporting style and payment for sources. They discuss how mainstream media has taken cues from TMZ. Topics include TMZ's strategies in celebrity news reporting, turnover, relationships, their dynamic with Justin Bieber, paparazzi culture evolution, and analysis of TMZ's transition.