The Fold

The biggest phenomenon in pop culture released her latest album a week ago. Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl smashed records wherever it went, but was also greeted by an unfamiliar reaction: indifference. Not just by critics, but by her fans too. Duncan Greive is joined by The Spinoff’s Alex Casey and Lyric Waiwiri-Smith – two lifelong Swift fans who also felt the bubble pop this week – to discuss an album that promised much but felt like a letdown to many. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a traditional "direct" medium to a data-driven powerhouse, out-of-home media has undergone a true evolution. Over a 17-year period, the out-of-home space has gone from commanding a mere 3% of industry ad revenue to approximately 18%, expanding to fill the void left by fragmenting media channels like linear television. Duncan Greive is joined by Kurt Malcolm, Head of Trading and Platforms at JCDecaux NZ, and Richard Thompson, Founder of D3, to discuss how innovations like knOOH - a cross-industry collaboration to measure audience - have contributed to the continued rise of out-of-home in Aotearoa. This is the final episode of our partnership with JC Decaux. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Critic Te Arohi is the student magazine of the University of Otago, and turns 100 this year, making it the oldest student media in the country, as well as one of its most awarded and impactful. This week, Duncan is joined by the current editor and one of its recent former editors to discuss the evolution of the magazine and how student media, which naturally has the youngest adult demographic in the country, keeps up its mission, despite still relying on the oldest distribution strategy of them all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan Greive is joined by Victoria Parsons, insights and strategy director at JCDecaux NZ, and Peter Pynter, prinicpal consultant at Neuro-Insight to talk through JCDecaux’s investment in neuro research. They unpack what science tells us about advertising, and how marketers can make sure their messages cut through the noise in these increasingly advertising-saturated times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Rawhiti-Connell, Head of Audience at The Spinoff, and Robbie Nicol, host of Now You Know and comedy writer, discuss their innovative social-first news explainer series aimed at Gen Z. They reveal how treating young people as informed news consumers has garnered over 2.5 million views. The duo explores the art of blending serious journalism with humor, the unique characteristics of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and data-driven strategies for engaging viewers. Their insights provide a roadmap for connecting authentically with the next generation.

Glen Kyne rejoins The Fold to smash through six of the biggest stories in media, all in six minutes or less (at least in theory). Kyne and Duncan Greive discuss the much larger shareholding Jim Grenon has in NZME, continuing drama for RNZ, the end of the NZFC-NZOA merger, a potential breakup of Mediaworks, a standoff between Stuff the the Police – and the new global media behemoth being built by the Ellisons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anna Rawhiti-Connell joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss two violent deaths, one driven by the internet, the other digested by it. They discuss how each shows in different yet profound ways how treating the internet as a separate sphere of life is increasingly impossible – rendering the libertarianism of one incompatible with the laws and mores of the other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glen Kyne returns to The Fold to analyse the annual or half-yearly results from TVNZ, Sky and NZME. TVNZ surprised with an unexpectedly healthy profit, NZME emerged from a bruising board battle and Sky (finally) got its rugby deal. Kyne has it all covered – and picks a clear winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Tindall and System1 have assembled some of the most massive and comprehensive databases of advertising effectiveness, running the gamut from creative to medium. Tindall joins Duncan Greive on The Fold, in partnership with JCDecaux, to discuss the story all that research tells. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sophie Moloney has been CEO of Sky NZ for five years. For much of that time she’s been dealing with downsides – a failed acquisition of Mediaworks, Spark Sports gifting their rights to TVNZ and prolonged satellite issues. But lately, things have been looking up. They successfully brought NZ Cricket rights back, scooped up Three’s assets for $1, and just last week lengthened their rugby deal under very buyer-friendly terms. She joins Duncan Greive on the Fold to dig into all those issues and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices