Strictly Business

On a bonus episode of Variety's Strictly Business podcast, Variety reporter Ethan Shanfeld describes the scene and the reaction after Sean Combs was acquitted on the most serious charges in his federal sex trafficking, racketeering and prostitution case that has made headlines for the past two months.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The financing of film and TV production has changed dramatically compared with how it was in previous decades. And no one knows that better than Daisy Stall, EVP & group head of entertainment finance at California Bank & Trust. Drawing on three decades of experience in this area , she outlines how traditional funding models have been disrupted by streaming services and broader changes in content consumption.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The newly appointed leader of one of Hollywood’s largest talent agencies sketches out his vision of the fast-changing entertainment landscape and what it means for the talent represented by his firm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scopely's senior vice president of publishing Eric Wood breaks down how the mobile gaming company has reached staggering success with "Monopoly Go" and plans for new acquisition "Pokemon Go."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Variety hosts a conversation during the Cannes Lions festival with Michelle McGuire, principle and chief commercial officer of Converge by Deloitte, and Ruba Borno, VP, global specialists and partners for Amazon’s AWS. The two discuss how their companies are harnessing AI tools and data analytics to guide sports marketing expenditures for blue-chip brands. The pair reflect on how their experiences working together underscore that even the biggest corporate players need partners to help drive the AI productivity revolution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The president of Bell Media is a native New Yorker and veteran TV executive who took the reins of one of Canada’s largest media conglomerates in 2023. He’s determined to raise the company’s profile as player in global content and platforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder and CEO of the production banner that delivers high-volume unscripted hits including "Dr. Pimple Popper" and "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" explains how he rose from humble beginnings to become a business owner.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marketing veterans Angelique Hernandez and Jarell Thompson discuss their innovative venture Havas Play, which connects brands with online gaming communities and social media creators. From the talent management perspective, ARC Collective CEO Shab Azma explains how creators and expert influencers are making a living through brand deals, ecommerce and instructional courses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strictly Business host Andrew Wallenstein offers a commentary on the new HBO movie “Mountainhead,” from “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong, comparing the two productions and speaking to the film’s satirical take on AI and the moguls deploying the technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 'The Minecraft Movie" in striking distance of the billion-dollar mark at the global box office, there's no better time to check in on the state of the videogame industry, with an emphasis on its intersection with Hollywood. Kaare Eriksen, author of a recent Variety Intelligence Report on these subjects, tackles everything from the shadow Trump-era tactics could cast over Nintendo's Switch 2 console to the shift of "Grand Theft Auto 6" to 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.