The Town with Matthew Belloni

Discussions include Taylor Swift's Grammy win and album announcement, the impact of TikTok on music consumption and the decline of hip hop in the Grammy's, diversity in the Grammy's and The Sphere's commercial success, exploring large venues and performance locations, and debating headliners for a music venue and discussing the Grammy's.

Taylor Swift and Drake discuss the ongoing battle between Universal Music Group and TikTok, exploring issues of licensing, royalties, and the significance of the platform as a marketing tool. The podcast also analyzes the rising popularity of TikTok alternatives and the complicated relationship between artists, labels, and TikTok. In addition, they touch on the impact of Universal Music's catalog removal on artists and the anticipation for the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Filmmaker Ed Zwick discusses the politics of studios and movie stars, including the era of high-end dramas, managing studios, the exploitation of test screenings, and handling difficult movie stars. They also explore the challenges of making unconventional movies, anecdotes about Julia Roberts and Matthew Broderick, the intense nature of the film industry, writing memoirs, and speculating on the poor reception of a movie.

Discussion on the departure of Scott Stuber from Netflix's film group, Netflix's deal with WWE for Monday Night Raw, and the increase in subscriber growth. Speculation on Netflix's movie strategy, the impact of content industry strikes, and potential success of upcoming movies at the box office.

Joe Ravitch, founder and partner at The Raine Group, discusses the secret to successful media mergers, the 2024 dealmaking landscape, potential risks for creatives in industry consolidation, appetite for tech companies to buy content companies, and Matt Belloni predicts John Stewart's return to 'The Daily Show.'

Joana Vicente, CEO of the Sundance Institute, joins Matt at the Sundance Film Festival to discuss the state of independent film, the challenges of the indie film to streaming pipeline, the future of Sundance, and predictions for the 2024 Academy Awards.

Matt and Lucas conduct the second annual box office draft, selecting blockbusters for 2024. They explore movie choices like 'Despicable Me 4', 'Deadpool 3', 'Wicked Part One', and discuss the potential success of a Joker sequel. They predict box office outcomes, mention breakout hits, and thank listeners.

James Andrew Miller joins Matt to discuss the potential departure of Lorne Michaels from SNL and who would be the best replacement. They also talk about the challenges SNL faces in the current political climate and its lack of star power. The podcast explores the impact of the crowded content universe on SNL's material quality and delves into the evolving comedy industry, including the case of a fired SNL comedian. They discuss the success and failure of sketches on SNL, plans for the 50th anniversary, and the future of the show in the face of competition from Netflix.

The podcast discusses Peacock's success in streaming the NFL playoff game, user retention strategies, and the viability of streaming-only sports. They also explore the challenges of building a streaming habit and rank different streaming services. The episode ends with a prediction about the next host of the Oscars.

Exploring the potential sale of Paramount Global and David Ellison's pitch to acquire it. Discussing Shari Redstone's engagement, financial problems, complications, and high risk. What Ellison could do with unwanted assets. Predicting the opening weekend of Mean Girls musical adaptation.