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Showbiz Sandbox

J. Sperling Reich & Michael Giltz

74 episodes

9 months ago

Industry pros J. Sperling Reich and Michael Giltz provide insightful analysis, humorous viewpoints and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features panel discussions with renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business.

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All content for Showbiz Sandbox is the property of J. Sperling Reich & Michael Giltz and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Industry pros J. Sperling Reich and Michael Giltz provide insightful analysis, humorous viewpoints and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features panel discussions with renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business.

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Episodes (20/74)

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 659: Hollywood Continues To Turn Itself Inside Out

In the midst of the summer entertainment news doldrums, as Hollywood laments a fading (for now) box office, along comes Pixar with “Inside Out 2.” The sequel earned nearly $300 million in its opening weekend proving, once again, that all the industry really needs for audiences to head back to movie theaters is… well, movies.
Meanwhile, after nixing an acquisition at the eleventh hour, Shari Redstone continues to keep Wall Street, the industry and potential suitors in suspense over whether she’ll sell Paramount Global.
This will be the last episode of Showbiz Sandbox for the foreseeable future as we take an indefinite hiatus. Don’t unsubscribe as we’ll likely be back from time to time when news, festivals and events warrant. Thanks for listening for the past 15 years.

‘Inside Out 2’ So Feeling It With $724M WW – International Box Office
https://deadline.com/2024/06/inside-out-2-global-international-box-office-second-week-records-1235978854/
‘Inside Out 2’ Soars to Record $100M Second Weekend in U.S., Hits $724M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/inside-out-2-box-office-soars-to-record-100m-weekend-1235930446/
Why Southeast Asia Is Crying Over This Movie
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/23/world/asia/make-millions-before-grandma-dies-crying.html
The Outsiders, Stereophonic Win Top Honors at 2024 Tony Awards; Maleah Joi Moon, Jonathan Groff, Sarah Paulson Among Winners
https://playbill.com/article/tony-awards-winners-2024
Michael Giltz’s Books Coverage for Parade
https://parade.com/books/best-reads/author/michael-giltz
Spotify to Pay Songwriters About $150 Million Less Next Year With Premium, Duo, Family Plan Changes
https://www.billboard.com/business/streaming/spotify-songwriters-less-mechanical-royalties-audiobooks-bundle-1235673829/
Disney Set to Invest Up to $17B in Florida Parks Now That Fight With DeSantis Appointees Has Ende
https://apnews.com/article/disney-world-desantis-board-5th-park-6901cca6c953c5316c2c92cd93341212

1 year ago

44 minutes 50 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 658: Searching for Winners at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

The general consensus among attendees was that, unlike last year, the 2024 Cannes Film Festival was not one of its strongest editions. Few of the selections made a huge impact and, indeed, there were a few titles that left festival goers scratching their heads. Yet, it seemed more indicative of a general malaise affecting the entire film industry rather than the Cannes itself.
Indeed, some of those award prizes in Cannes are sure to make their way into the cultural conversation in the months ahead, including Palme d’Or winner “Anora,” from director Sean Baker and Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez.” However, entries from Francis Ford Coppola, Kevin Costner and David Cronenberg mostly underwhelmed audiences and critics.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the bundling of streaming services, the SXSW festival heads to London and the Department of Justice officially sues Live Nation for antitrust.

Mary Frances Giltz 1929-2024
https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2024/05/mary-frances-giltz-obituary.html
Mary Frances Giltz – Her Story (1929-2024)
https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2024/05/mary-frances-giltz-her-story-1929-2024.html
‘Furiosa’ Opening Action Muted With $59M Global Debut; Why Didn’t It Strong-Arm The Marketplace?
https://deadline.com/2024/05/furiosa-a-mad-max-saga-global-international-box-office-1235941482/
Box Office Meltdown: ‘Furiosa’ Edges Past ‘Garfield’ to Win Memorial Day With Worst No. 1 Opening in Three Decades
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/furiosa-box-office-garfield-worst-memorial-day-1235909084/
Sundance Selects 15 Cities To Make Bids For Festival’s Potential Move
https://deadline.com/2024/05/sundance-festival-move-city-bids-1235927707/
New Jersey Approves Massive Studio Complex In Bayonne As State Pushes To Attract Production
https://deadline.com/2024/05/new-jersey-greenlights-giant-studio-complex-attract-production-1235908606/
‘Jeopardy!’ Expands to Streaming With Pop Culture Edition on Amazon
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jeopardy-streaming-amazon-prime-video-1235898290/
Scarlett Johansson Says OpenAI Tried to Ink a Voice Deal, Was Rebuffed, Then Mimicked Voice Anyway
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/openai-pulls-chatgpt-voice-sounds-like-scarlett-johansson-1235904085/
Kendrick Lamar Lands Two Top 10 Songs With Drake Diss ‘Not Like Us’ at Number One
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-number-one-not-like-us...

1 year ago

1 hour 33 minutes 2 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 657: New Streaming Business Models Require New Measurement Tools

Streaming services seem to have settled on engagement as the metric by which to measure the success of a series or movie or even the platform itself. However, the industry has yet to decide a method for how to measure and report such figures in a consistent way. Some services publish random viewership figures citing how many subscribers sampled specific programming without describing how that figure is calculated.
This is becoming a big problem now that labor unions depend on reliable data to make sure studios, networks and streamers are keeping their end of the bargain when it comes to sharing profits for big hits.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Tony nominations for Broadway shows, television producer Dan Schneider sues the filmmakers behind the “Quiet On Set” Documentary, and Madonna performs in Rio de Janeiro for more than 1.5 million fans.

‘The Fall Guy’ Expands To $65M WW, ‘Garfield’ Pounces On $22M In Early Offshore Bow
https://deadline.com/2024/05/the-fall-guy-garfield-movie-global-international-box-office-1235904755/
‘The Fall Guy’ Lands With $28.5M, ‘Phantom Menace’ Tops ‘Challengers’ for No. 2
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-fall-guy-phantom-menace-1235890470/
Madonna Brings Massive Free Concert to Rio, Capping Celebration Tour
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/arts/music/madonna-free-celebration-concert-rio-brazil.html
Dan Schneider Sues ‘Quiet on Set’ Producers for Defamation, Calls Nickelodeon Abuse Docuseries a ‘Hit Job’
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/dan-schneider-sues-quiet-on-set-producers-defamation-1235988962/
Universal Music and TikTok Strike New Licensing Deal – Including ‘Improved Remuneration’ for UMG Artists and Songwriters
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-music-and-tiktok-strike-new-licensing-deal/
TikTok May Be Banned in the US. Here’s What Happened When India Did It
https://apnews.com/article/india-tiktok-ban-us-china-9ae5223bce78c56e5d22a1f2e86510f0
The Ghosts of India’s TikTok: What Happens When a Social Media App Is Banned
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240426-the-ghosts-of-indias-tiktok-social-media-ban
Live Nation Revenue Soars 21% in Record First Quarter
https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/live-nation-revenue-soars-21-percent-record-first-quarter-1235672006/
Live Nation Says It’s Not “Legally Permissible” to Break Up the Company As DOJ Lawsuit Looms
https://www.hollywoodreporter.

1 year ago

1 hour 7 minutes 18 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 656: Yes, People Still Buy Books

Two recent opinion pieces stirred up some heated debate in the book publishing business. One insists no one buys books anymore. The other says the proliferation of book roundup lists is a bunch of nonsense. One is very wrong, even when it’s right. The other is right, but for the wrong reasons. Michael is our book guy and in fact does book roundups every week! So let’s put him on the hot seat.
Meanwhile, Nielsen recently overcame some technological hurdles and got cooperation from several new sources of streaming data. The result? A number of shows popped onto the streaming charts for the first time or with renewed force. The big beneficiary is Hulu, with Peacock a distant second.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault conviction was overturned by a New York court, Taylor Swift’s latest album breaks all sorts of streaming records and an update on a potential acquisition of Paramount Global.

Skadoosh!: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Crosses $500M WW; ‘Challengers’ Widens Offshore Net; ‘The Fall Guy’ Starts Overseas Action
https://deadline.com/2024/04/kung-fu-panda-4-milestone-the-fall-guy-challengers-godzilla-x-kong-dune-roundup-punishment-global-international-box-office-1235897903/
Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Hits Target With $15M Opening for No. 1 Finish
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/zendaya-box-office-challengers-opening-1235885369/
Michael Giltz’s Books Coverage for Parade
https://parade.com/books/best-reads/author/michael-giltz
Parade’s Best New Releases April 30-May 6
https://parade.com/books/best-reads/best-new-book-releases-this-week-2024-april-30-may-6
Paramount Considers Removing CEO Bob Bakish as Turmoil Over Sale Talks Deepens
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/paramount-considers-removing-ceo-bob-bakish-as-turmoil-over-sale-talks-deepens-a48b0ec5
Writers Guild Of Canada “Overwhelmingly” Votes To Authorize Strike Action, CMPA Says “Labor Dispute Would Be Extremely Damaging” To Industry
https://deadline.com/2024/04/writers-guild-canada-vite-authorize-strike-action-cmpa-1235894681/
Taylor Swift Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-debut-number-one-billboard-200-chart/
For First Time in Decades, Vinyl Record Sales Surpass CDs and DVDs in Brazil
https://apnews.com/video/brazil-music-anitta-d3cde6d835814a969f82793890c6605a
The Elysian: No One Buys Books
h...

1 year ago

1 hour 6 minutes 20 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 655: Netflix Stops Sweating (and Reporting) Subscriber Growth

Netflix first quarter earnings report showed growth in all areas from subscribers, to revenue and income. But with Netflix clearly dominating competitors and entering a mature market, the streaming giant will no longer provide subscriber figures on a regular basis. Instead, Netflix will concentrate on profit and the amount of time each of their 270 million subscribers spend viewing programming on their platform.
Meanwhile, the long gestating sale of Paramount Global got a lot more interesting last week when Sony entered the picture with its own bid for the media conglomerate. Unfortunately, indie production house Participant Media was unable to find a buyer and abruptly shuttered.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Taylor Swift breaks her own sales records with the release of her album “The Tortured Poets Department” and the Sundance Film Festival may be in search of a new home.

All The Records Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Has Broken (So Far)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/04/22/all-the-records-taylor-swifts-the-tortured-poets-department-has-broken-so-far/
‘Godzilla X Kong’ Storming Towards $500M WW As ‘Dune: Part Two’ Closes In On $700M
https://deadline.com/2024/04/godzilla-x-kong-dune-japan-china-global-international-box-office-1235891070/
‘Civil War’ Draws Blood to Beat ‘Abigail’ and Stay No. 1 With $11M Second Weekend
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/civil-war-box-office-drawing-blood-abigail-1235878317/
Justice Department to File Antitrust Suit Against Live Nation
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/live-nation-justice-department-antitrust-lawsuit-ab98c268
Sundance Without Park City? Festival Exploring Options for 2027 and Beyond
https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/sundance-film-festival-exploring-options-other-host-cities-2027-1234974957/
Hugh Grant Settles Privacy Case Against Sun Publisher
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68834392
NMPA Accuses Spotify of ‘Attacking Songwriters’ as Streaming Service Changes How It Pays Out Mechanical Royalties in the US
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/nmpa-accuses-spotify-of-attacking-songwriters-as-it-changes-how-it-pays-mechanical-royalties-in-the-us/
Netflix’s New Film Strategy: More About the Audience, Less About Auteurs
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/14/business/media/netflix-movies-dan-lin.html
Netflix Adds 9.3M Subscribers In Quarter, Growing Its Lead in Streaming
Show more...

1 year ago

52 minutes 42 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 654: CinemaCon Promotes A Bright Future for Movie Theatres

CinemaCon, the annual gathering of cinema operators in Las Vegas, was filled with anxiety this year thanks to a lack of wide releases due to the recent labor strikes. However, most Hollywood studios showed up with a few movie stars to hawk an increasing number of big titles due later in the year and into 2025. As well, technology companies introduced some exciting new advances in projection and image quality. In all, the conference pointed toward better days ahead for movie theaters.
In even better news, it looks as if the many behind-the-scenes craft people who work on films and television shows may not go on strike like the writers and actors did last year. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) appears to be having very positive negotiations with Alliance of Motion Picture Television Producers on a new contract.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including how Disney won its shareholder battle, the winners of this year’s Writers Guild Awards and CBS whips up a new streaming news service.

‘Godzilla X Kong’ Roars Past $436M WW; ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Tops $450M; Latest ‘Detective Conan’ Huge In Japan
https://deadline.com/2024/04/godzilla-x-kong-kung-fu-panda-4-detective-conan-china-japan-global-international-box-office-1235885714/
‘Civil War’: Red States and Blue States Set Aside Their Differences for Alex Garland’s Movie
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/civil-war-red-states-and-blue-states-1235875216/
IATSE Has “Cautious Optimism” About General Negotiations With Studios As Union Aims To Finalize Craft-Specific Issues This Week
https://deadline.com/2024/04/iatse-general-negotiations-cautious-optimism-studios-craft-specific-issues-done-1235886109/
American Federation of Musicians Ratifies New Deal With Studios
https://deadline.com/2024/04/american-federation-of-musicians-ratifies-deal-studios-1235873942/
CBS News Plans Streaming Overhaul With New ‘Whip-Around’ Program
https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/cbs-news-streaming-overhaul-whip-around-1235965338/
Vince McMahon Sells $311 Million In Stock to TKO and Endeavor In Buyback
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-04-08/vince-mcmahon-sells-back-311-million-in-tko-stock-to-endeavor
Book Summaries and Other Knock Off Books Proliferate
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/07/we-may-lose-ability-to-think-critically-at-all-the-book-summary-apps-accused-of-damaging-authors-sales
‘We May Lose Ability to Think Critically at All’: The Book-Summary Apps Accused of Damaging Authors’ Sales
Show more...

1 year ago

1 hour 24 minutes 40 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 653: Godzilla and Kong, Once Again, Prove Movie Theaters Aren’t Dead

The monstrous global box office opening of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” may have been a surprise to film critics or anyone paying attention to industry tracking in advance of its release, but it surely proves that if you put movies in movie theaters, audiences will show up. Especially if those theaters offer premium auditoriums like IMAX. Even “Oppenheimer” opened well in Japan over this past weekend, becoming filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s biggest debut.
Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Company and the State of Florida have made overtures toward settling their recent legal disputes. As we predicted, despite the battle in the court of public opinion, it will all come to nothing.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Paramount Global’s ongoing financial woes, the discovery of some new Marvin Gaye music and how vinyl records are outselling compact discs.

‘Godzilla X Kong’ Reigns With $194M Worldwide Bow; ‘Dune 2’ Rises To $626M & ‘Oppenheimer’ Opens In Japan
https://deadline.com/2024/03/godzilla-x-kong-the-new-empire-china-global-international-box-office-1235871670/
‘Godzilla x Kong: New Empire’ Roars to Monstrous $80M Box Office Opening, $194M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/godzilla-x-kong-new-empire-huge-box-office-opening-1235863501/
BBC Doc Looks At J-Pop Scandal, Says Near 1000 Men Came Forward to Discuss Abuse
https://deadline.com/2024/03/johnny-kitagawa-johnny-and-associates-abuse-1235869618/
Paramount Debt Is Cut to Junk on Worsening Outlook for TV
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-27/paramount-debt-is-cut-to-junk-on-deteriorating-outlook-for-tv
Collection of Unreleased Marvin Gaye Songs Found in Belgium
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/31/collection-of-unreleased-marvin-gaye-songs-found-in-belgium
Vinyl Records Outsold CDs for the Second Year Running
https://www.popsci.com/technology/vinyl-sales-cds-2023/
Only 1 of the Top 20 Best-Selling Albums Globally Last Year Wasn’t by a K-Pop Act
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/seventeen-taylor-swift-top-20-best-selling-albums-globally-in-2023/
NBC News Ousts Ronna McDaniel After Staff Uproar, CAA Drops Ex-RNC Chair
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/nbc-news-ronna-mcdaniel-contributor-1235860170/
Disney Ends Its Fight With DeSantis Over Resort Development
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/business/disney-desantis-florida-lawsuit.html

1 year ago

1 hour 6 minutes 58 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 652: Comscore, Nielsen and the Battle Over TV Ratings

The way audiences watch television has changed radically over the past ten years, bet it when, where or how. Nielsen, long the king of TV ratings, is facing competition from upstarts like Comscore. With viewership on mobile and over-the-top devices not always being measured, advertisers are beginning to include social media awareness into account when determining the success of their marketing campaigns.
Meanwhile filmmaker Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar acceptance speech for the movie “Zone of Interest,” in which he referenced the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel, has generated a lot of debate with nearly 1,000 industry professionals signing a petition denouncing his statements.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s IRA Awards, a controversial hire at NBC News and IMAX heads to the Paris Summer Olympics.

‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Nears $300M Global; ‘Dune 2’ Closing In On $600M; ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Traps $16M+ In Phase 1 Overseas Bow
https://deadline.com/2024/03/ghostbusters-frozen-empire-dune-part-two-kung-fu-panda-4-china-global-international-box-office-1235866885/
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Scares Up Okay $45M Box Office Opening After All
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ghostbusters-frozen-empire-box-office-opening-1235858952/
NBC Television Network’s Live Coverage of 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony to Make IMAX Debut
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/nbc-television-networks-live-coverage-of-2024-paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-to-make-imax-debut/
Jonathan Glazer Open Letter Gets More Than 500 Additional Signatures Overnight
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jonathan-glazer-open-letter-oscars-speech-additional-signatures-1235855540/
The 49th Ira Film Awards: Only a “Monster” Would Ignore These Movies
http://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-49th-ira-film-awards-only-monster.html
IRA’s List of the Top 100 Films Of The Silent Era
http://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-iras-name-100-best-silent-films-of.html
‘The Elephant in the Room’: NBC’s McDaniel Hiring Sparks On-Air Criticism From One of Its Own
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/24/ronna-mcdaniel-roils-nbc-i-think-our-bosses-owe-you-an-apology-00148719
Ex-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel: Biden won 2020 Election ‘Fair and Square’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/25/republican-national-committee-chair-ronna-mcdaniel-biden-2020-election
NBC News Faces Growing Pressure as Its Journalists Rebel Against Ronna McDaniel
https:/...

1 year ago

1 hour 11 minutes 38 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 651: The Next Hit Song May Be Written and Performed by AI

In what Rolling Stone magazine has dubbed ChatGPT for music, a new service called Suno is trying to democratic music by using artificial intelligence to allow anyone to create a hit song. With no need to learn how to play an instrument or sing, the latest advances in generative AI are creating tunes with a few text prompts that are indistinguishable from those created by trained musicians.
The creators of Suno aren’t saying what content was used to train their AI. That is probably why the European Union is passing legislation to regulate the use of AI, requiring developers to provide a list of copyrighted material used to train their technology.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Neil Young’s music is back on Spotify, Iranian filmmaker Ashgar Farhadi wins his plagiarism case and Roman Polanski is headed back to court.

‘Dune: Part Two’ Nears $500M Global, Dusting 2021 Movie; ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Punches In At $177M As Rollout Expands
https://deadline.com/2024/03/dune-part-two-milestone-kung-fu-panda-china-global-international-box-office-1235860696
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Dethrones ‘Dune 2,’ Mark Wahlberg’s ‘Arthur the King’ Lacks Bite
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-kung-fu-panda-4-dune-part-two-lead-weekend-1235854014/
A New Publisher Promises Authors ‘the Lion’s Share of the Profit’
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/books/publisher-authors-equity.html
Asghar Farhadi Fully Cleared of ‘A Hero’ Plagiarism Allegations by Iranian Court
https://variety.com/2024/film/global/asghar-farhadi-cleared-iranian-court-plagiarism-a-hero-1235940549/
Neil Young Says His Music Is Returning to Spotify
https://www.billboard.com/business/streaming/neil-young-music-returning-spotify-1235631717/
A ChatGPT for Music Is Here. Inside Suno, the Startup Changing Everything
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/suno-ai-chatgpt-for-music-1234982307/
European Union Passes ‘World First’ AI Legislation That Would Safeguard Copyrighted Music
https://www.billboard.com/business/business-news/european-union-ai-legislation-laws-copyrighted-music-passes-1235631846/
Karaoke Inventor Shigeichi Negishi Dies at 100
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/15/1238840404/karaoke-inventor-shigeichi-negishi-dead
Byron Janis, One of the Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Dies at 95
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/byron-janis-dead-pianist-1235854358/
Dan Wakefield, Multifaceted Writer on a Spiritual Journey, Dies at 91

1 year ago

1 hour 10 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 650: “Oppenheimer” Gives Christopher Nolan His Oscar Moment

As expected, “Oppenheimer” dominated the 96th Academy Awards winning seven categories including Best Actor, Best Picture and, for Christopher Nolan, Best Director. “Barbie” only picked up a single trophy for Best Original Song. Anne Thompson, Indiewire’s Editor-at-Large attended this year’s Oscar ceremony and joins us to describe what it was like to be in the room where it happened.
Meanwhile, a recent Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action based college admissions has led to a reverse discrimination lawsuit against CBS by a script coordinator of the show “SEAL Team.” The outcome could determine whether it becomes the first of many more such legal actions.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including how the BBC is going all in on the streaming service BritBox, the launch of a new author driven publishing house and Kanye West’s latest album tops the charts despite not being on streaming services.

‘Rust’ Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rust-armorer-hannah-gutierrez-reed-guilty-manslaughter-rcna142136
‘Dune: Part Two’ Rises To $367.5M Global; ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Kicks Off With $80.5M WW As Early Overseas Play Begins
https://deadline.com/2024/03/dune-part-two-kung-fu-panda-4-china-global-international-box-office-1235852214/
‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ Lands Victorious $58.3M U.S. Opening; ‘Dune 2’ Nears $370M Worldwide
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/kung-fu-panda-4-box-office-near-record-opening-1235846564/
Oscars 2024: Final Predictions in 23 Categories
https://www.indiewire.com/awards/predictions/2024-final-oscar-predictions-anne-thompson-1234960948/
Who Came Out Ahead at the Oscars, from ‘Oppenheimer’ to Jimmy Kimmel and Ryan Gosling
https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/oscars-2024-who-came-out-ahead-oppenheimer-jimmy-kimmel-ryan-gosling-1234963438/
Electronic Arts Cancels Upcoming ‘Star Wars’ Game, Plans to Cut More Than 650 Jobs
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/video-game-giant-ea-layoffs-1235839026/
ITV Sells Stake in Britbox International to BBC Studios for £255M
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/01/itv-sells-stake-britbox-international-bbc-studios-itvx
Three Publishing Veterans Form a New House, Authors Equity
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94507-three-publishing-veterans-form-a-new-house-authors-equity.

1 year ago

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 649: Hollywood’s Superhero Movie Problem

The superhero movie is facing its biggest enemy yet – audience indifference. “Madame Web” is just the latest superhero flick to open to poor reviews and/or bad box office. Entertainment journalist Geoff Boucher, who has covered the comic book world for over two decades and is a bigwig at ComicCon, discusses the declining popularity of superhero films and his belief that there are better times ahead for the genre.
Meanwhile, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing their own existential threats, especially when it comes to their declining ad revenue, soft earnings and overwhelming debt.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Beyoncé making history on the country music charts, revenues soar for concert promoter Live Nation thanks to some big tours and artificial intelligence upends the expansion of Tyler Perry’s studio.

‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Still On A High At $121M WW, ‘Anyone But You’ Romps To $200M Global & ’Poor Things’ Nears $100M; Korea’s ‘Exhuma’ Has Scary Good Opening
https://deadline.com/2024/02/bob-marley-one-love-anyone-but-you-poor-things-exhuma-global-international-box-office-1235837454/
Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ Jams Past $120M Globally, ‘Madame Web’ and ‘Drive-Away Dolls’ Spin Out
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bob-marley-one-love-box-office-drive-away-dolls-madame-web-1235834503/
Atlantic Theater Workers Vote Overwhelmingly to Join IATSE
https://iatse.net/a-growing-movement-off-broadway-atlantic-theater-workers-vote-overwhelmingly-to-join-iatse/
Is Hollywood Sleepwalking Toward Strike Three?
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hollywood-strikes-crew-people-better-deal-1235830684/
Hollywood Musicians Reach Tentative Deal With Major Studios in ‘Watershed Moment for Artists’
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-02-23/afm-amptp-deal-reached-hollywood-musicians
Sam Mendes, Sony & Apple Corps Set Four Beatles Theatrical Movies On Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison & Ringo Starr
https://deadline.com/2024/02/beatles-movies-sam-mendes-paul-mccartney-john-lennon-george-harrison-ringo-starr-1235831317/
Live Nation Had Another Record Year as Its Business Went Global & Fans Continued Flocking to Shows
https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/live-nation-earnings-record-revenue-artist-tours-fan-demand-high-1235612747/
Warner Bros. Discovery Shares Drop 10% as Company Misses Estimates, Warns of 2024 Cash Flow Headwinds
https://www.cnbc.

1 year ago

1 hour 28 minutes 3 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 648: Judging This Year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced their 2024 nominees, including some musical acts previously shortlisted for inclusion. Musician and music writer Sal Nunziato joins host Michael Giltz to argue over which of these acts should be included in the Hall of Fame and why. Plus they give us a rundown of their favorite albums from the past year.
Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer” solidified itself as the obvious and only leader during this year’s awards season by winning seven BAFTA awards, including Best Film. At this point, the movie seems destined to top the upcoming Academy Awards.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the math behind this year’s movie release schedule, how Microsoft is spreading some Xbox love and ESPN is going long on college football.

Sal Nunziato’s
https://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/
Sal Nunziato’s Discogs
https://www.discogs.com/seller/Oscarmadisoy/profile
‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Embraces $80M Global Bow; ‘Madame Web’ Musters $52M WW – International Box Office
https://deadline.com/2024/02/bob-marley-one-love-madame-web-opening-weekend-global-international-box-office-1235829751/
Bob Marley ‘One Love’ Jams to Massive $52M Opening, ‘Madame Web’ Wipes Out at $26M
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bob-marley-one-love-madame-web-box-ofifice-1235828725/
Inside Sony’s ‘Madame Web’ Collapse: Forget About a New Franchise
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/madame-web-bomb-killed-sony-franchise-1235829471/
Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr Scoop BAFTA Film Awards
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68332541
Off-Broadway’s Backstage Workers Are Unionizing; Atlantic Theater Company Workers Vote to Join IATSE
https://www.playbill.com/article/off-broadways-backstage-workers-are-unionizing-atlantic-theater-company-workers-vote-to-join-iatse
Disneyland’s Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy Want to Join A Union
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/13/business/disneyland-union-organizing-effort/index.html
HBO’s True Detective Hits Series High In Viewership
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/true-detective-night-country-ratings-series-highs-1235823863/
Leaked Emails Reveal Hugo Awards Ineligibility Details
https://locusmag.com/2024/02/leaked-emails-reveal-hugo-awards-ineligibility-details/
Xbox to Take Four Exclusive Video Games to PS5 and Switch, ‘Starfield’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’ Not Among Titles
Show more...

1 year ago

1 hour 40 minutes 59 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 647: Disney Teams Up For Sports Streaming Service

Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox are teaming up to deliver a new subscription streaming service that will combine all of their sports programming on a non-exclusive basis. It will have 14 channels including ESPN, ABC, FS1, Fox, TNT and TBS. The surprise announcement has generated more questions than answers, especially over whether any antitrust laws are being broken.
Meanwhile, awards season chugs along with the Directors Guild of America handing out its top prize to Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer.” Plus, the Oscars add a new category for casting directors.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Universal Music pulled all of its music from TikTok, Disney invests in “Fortnite” developer Epic Games and Paramount starts pulling content off its streaming service.

‘YOLO’ Thrives In Chinese New Year Bow; ‘Wonka’ Nears $600M Worldwide
https://deadline.com/2024/02/yolo-chinese-new-year-movies-wonka-worldwide-international-box-office-1235822097/
Box Office: Worst Super Bowl Weekend in Decades Outside of COVID, ‘Argylle’ Ekes Out $6.5M Lead
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/argylle-box-office-worst-super-bowl-weekend-1235821901/
Relationship Drama ‘Rewind’ Becomes First Filipino Movie To Take $16M At Global Box Office
https://deadline.com/2024/01/rewind-philippines-global-box-office-record-1235808494/
Ed Mintz Dies: CinemaScore Founder & Pioneer In Moviegoing Polling Was 83
https://deadline.com/2024/02/ed-mintz-dead-cinemascore-founder-1235820895/
Warner Music to Lay Off 10% of Staff in Effort to ‘Double Down on Core Business’
https://variety.com/2024/music/news/warner-music-to-lay-off-10-percent-staff-1235901563/
IATSE Negotiating Committee ‘Not Interested’ in Extending Talks Past July 31 Deadline
https://www.indiewire.com/news/business/iatse-will-not-extend-negotiations-strike-1234952637/
“They Should Fear Us”: Teamsters & IATSE Link Arms For March Contract Talks With Studios
“They Should Fear Us”: Teamsters & IATSE Link Arms For March Contract Talks With Studios

Will UMG’s TikTok Licensing Standoff Lead to Music’s Equivalent of the Hollywood Strikes?
https://www.billboard.com/business/tech/tiktok-universal-music-fight-affect-music-industry-1235593862/
Meta Hits Record Revenue of $40.1 Billion in Q4, as Facebook and Other Apps Now Reach Nearly 4 Billion People Monthly
https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/meta-q4-2023-earnings-record-revenue-monthly-users-1235894587/
Amazon Advertising Revenue Hits $14.

1 year ago

1 hour 27 minutes 2 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 646: A Slimmed Down Sundance Still Shines

This year’s Sundance Film Festival reflected the current state of the contracting industry itself, offering fewer films at fewer venues for fewer in-person attendees. Yet, as festivals like Sundance work toward rekindling post-pandemic financial support, this year’s official selections were just as noteworthy as those that have appeared throughout its 40 year history. We’ll give you a rundown of the titles too look out for over the next year and fill you in on all the Sundance winners.
Speaking of winners, this year’s Oscar nominations were announced and they included a few titles from last year’s Sundance and Cannes film festivals. The only thing missing for most were nominations for “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig and its star Margot Robbie.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Jon Stewart’s return to “The Daily Show,” the influential music website Pitchfork suffers layoffs and Netflix continues dominate the streaming landscape with a stellar quarterly earnings report.

India’s ‘Fighter’ Flies To $25M Global Bow; ’Aquaman 2’, ‘Migration’, ‘Beekeeper’ Hit New WW Milestones
https://deadline.com/2024/01/fighter-opening-weekend-deepika-padukone-aquaman-2-migration-beekeeper-milestones-global-international-box-office-1235807010/
‘Mean Girls’ Dances Past ‘The Beekeeper’ to Win Slow Weekend With $6.9M
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/beekeeper-box-office-victory-mean-girls-1235809035/
India Box Office Hits Record $1.47B In 2023 But Admissions Remain Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
https://deadline.com/2024/01/india-box-office-record-2023-jawan-animal-pathaan-1235801535/
Sundance 2024 Sales So Far
https://www.indiewire.com/news/festivals/sundance-2024-film-festival-acquistions-1234940243/
Oscar Nominations 2024: ‘Oppenheimer’ Dominates With 13 Nods, ‘Poor Things’ Follows With 11
https://variety.com/2024/film/awards/oscar-nominations-2024-list-1235877798/
Microsoft Lays Off 1,900 Employees After Acquiring Activision Blizzard
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/microsoft-lays-off-employees-activision-blizzard-1235806788
Condé Nast Is Folding Pitchfork Into GQ, With Layoffs
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/17/business/media/music-magazine-pitchfork-merger-gq.html
International Producers Organisations Call for Streamer Regulation
https://www.screendaily.com/news/international-producers-organisations-call-for-streamer-regulation/5189540.article
Layoffs Imperil Sports Illustrated as Owner, Publisher Battle Over Money
Show more...

1 year ago

1 hour 34 minutes 31 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 645: Amazon Prime Video Set To Dominate Advertising Market

Unlike most major streaming services, which allow new subscribers to choose between a more expensive ad-free plan and a cheaper ad-supported tier, Amazon has taken an opt-out approach with Prime. When Prime Video begins streaming ads in late-January one of the biggest streaming services in the world with at least 150 million subscribers, will immediately become a major player in television advertising. Especially since most of its customers will decide not to pay extra to avoid ads.
Meanwhile the Emmys got slotted into January due to last year’s actors and writers strikes forcing the awards ceremony to compete with football playoffs and presidential election campaigns. Will anyone be paying attention to see who wins prizes for television series that aired two years ago? Or with guild awards nominations piling in has everyone already moved onto the Oscars.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the deal Tom Cruise landed to make movies at Warner Bros., Harry Potter’s best selling video game and another former cable news anchor launches a program on X (née Twitter).

2024 Golden Globes Reaches Viewership of 9.4 Million — Highest Ratings In Years
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/golden-globes-succession-oppenheimer-2024-ratings/
Henry Kissinger Cause of Death Revealed
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/henry-kissinger-cause-of-death-congenital-heart-failure-1234946127/
‘Wonka’ Hits Sweet Milestone As Musical Tops $500M WW; ‘Beekeeper’ Buzzes To $37M Global Bow, ‘Mean Girls’ Clicks With $35M
https://deadline.com/2024/01/wonka-milestone-beekeeper-mean-girls-global-international-box-office-1235789848/
‘Mean Girls’ Singing to $33.2M Opening, ‘Beekeeper’ Buzzes to $19M
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mean-girls-opens-box-office-beekeeper-1235787238/
IMAX Soars to Banner Year in 2023 With $1.06 Billion in Global Box Office
https://celluloidjunkie.com/wire/imax-soars-to-banner-year-in-2023-with-1-06-billion-in-global-box-office/
Highest-Grossing Documentary Film at the Global Box Office
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/78695-highest-box-office-film-gross-for-a-documentary-film
Don Lemon Announces Comeback, New Show on X
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/09/don-lemon-new-show-twitter-00134540
Taylor Swift Made Up 1.7% of Total U.S. Music Market in 2023, According to Luminate’s Year-End Report
https://variety.com/2024/music/news/taylor-swift-percent-total-us-music-market-2023-luminate-1235867482/
What Tom Cruise’s New Deal Really Means
Show more...

1 year ago

1 hour 8 minutes 1 second

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 644: The Golden Globes Lose Their Luster

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association held its first Golden Globes awards ceremony under a new and supposedly improved organization under new ownership. Organizers scrambled to find both a network to broadcast this year’s show, not to mention a host. In the end, the winners weren’t surprising with “Oppenheimer” and “Succession” each taking home five, but the show itself was incredibly bland.
Realistically, neither the Golden Globes or groups like the National Society of Film Critics are good predictors of which films will be favorites at this year’s Academy Awards.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including the best selling books of 2023, a major radio station operator files for bankruptcy and Prince’s “Purple Rain” heads to Broadway.

125 Best Romance Books Of All Time
https://parade.com/books/best-romance-books-of-all-time
‘Wonka’ On Way To $500M WW, ‘Wish’ Tops $200M; ‘Taylor Swift: Eras Tour’ Overtakes ‘This Is It’
https://deadline.com/2024/01/wonka-aquaman-2-wish-taylor-swift-eras-tour-global-international-box-office-1235698776/
Box Office: ‘Night Swim’ Opens to $12M, ‘Wonka’ Leads Overall as Post-Holiday Doldrums Begin
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/night-swim-box-office-wonka-1235780767/
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Will Go On Without Nigel Lythgoe Amid Sexual Assault Allegations
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-05/nigel-lythgoe-sytycd-sexual-assault-so-you-think-you-can-dance
These Are the Bestselling (New) Books of 2023
https://lithub.com/these-are-the-bestselling-new-books-of-2023/
Radio Giant Audacy — Owner of KROQ and KCBS — Files for Bankruptcy
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/audacy-kroq-wfan-files-bankruptcy-1235781045/
Prince Movie Classic ‘Purple Rain’ Becoming a Stage Musical
https://variety.com/2024/legit/news/prince-movie-purple-rain-stage-musical-branden-jacobs-jenkins-1235863878/
David Soul, ‘Starsky & Hutch’ Star, Dies at 80
https://variety.com/2024/tv/obituaries-people-news/david-soul-dead-starsky-hutch-1235862532/
Glynis Johns, Tony Winner for ‘A Little Night Music,’ Dies at 100
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/theater/glynis-johns-dead.html
MGMT’s “Mother Nature.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzIO5ahGE8

1 year ago

51 minutes 37 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 643: Linear Television Viewership Sinks to New Lows

Two annual ratings roundups of television viewing in the United States show that audiences for traditional broadcast and linear cable are in serious decline. The list of the 100 most watched broadcast episodes is mostly sports. And the top ranked channels reveal cable isn’t even really trying to program their networks anymore.
Meanwhile, the domestic box office managed to surpass $9 billion for the first time since the COVID pandemic, with Universal Pictures taking over for Disney as the top earner.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Gérard Depardieu stirs up more controversy, Taylor Swift sets more sales chart records and Paramount Global is looking for a buyer.

Warner Bros Titles Deliver $700M Worldwide In December As ‘Wonka’ Nears $400M & ‘Aquaman 2’ Tops $260M; Universal & Paramount Pics Hit Milestones During Holidays
https://deadline.com/2023/12/wonka-aquaman-2-warner-bros-global-international-box-office-milestones-1235683983/
Box Office: ‘Wonka’ Leads New Year’s Waltz as ‘Aquaman 2’ Continues to Sink
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wonka-box-office-aquaman-new-years-1235776921/
2023 Box Office: Domestic Revenue Clears $9B in Post-Pandemic First (Thanks, Barbenheimer)
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barbenheimer-box-office-2023-revenue-bonanza-1235777081/
Universal Overtakes Disney as Highest-Grossing Studio at 2023 Box Office
https://variety.com/2024/film/box-office/universal-overtakes-disney-highest-grossing-studio-box-office-1235859823/
Why Hollywood’s China Syndrome Is Both Meltdown and Opportunity
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/hollywood-china-meltdown-opportunity-1235848495/
Paula Abdul Is Suing Nigel Lythgoe for Sexual Assault
https://www.vulture.com/2024/01/paula-abdul-sues-nigel-lythgoe-sexual-assault.html
56 French Stars Defend actor Gerard Depardieu Despite Sexual Misconduct Allegations
https://apnews.com/article/france-gerard-depardieu-stars-sexual-misconduct-women-c4c91653dedc35be2a7b3d1892e9c6bc
The Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft Over A.I. Use of Copyrighted Work
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/27/business/media/new-york-times-open-ai-microsoft-lawsuit.html
The New York Times Brings Receipts in Lawsuit Against OpenAI
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/new-york-times-brings-receipts-copyright-lawsuit-openai-1235775781/

1 year ago

1 hour 14 minutes 47 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 642: What Netflix Subscribers Really Watch

Last week Netflix released a huge data dump detailing the viewership of all its programming for the first six months of 2023. The streaming giant is calling it a victory for transparency. While it’s a long way from the granular detail the industry has long sought, it does reveal that almost nobody watches 25% of the 18,000 on the serverice. We discuss other findings the metrics reveal and why Netflix is suddenly so open about releasing data.
Meanwhile, the guilds have started to weigh in with their picks for the top films of this year and providing us with a list of documentaries you should catch up on.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Mayim Bialik is out as host of “Jeapordy,” the 25 films added to this year’s National Film Registry and the (legal and professional) verdict on actor Jonathan Majors.

Me, The Manhattan Transfer, and My Broken Hip
https://kareem.substack.com/p/me-the-manhattan-transfer-and-my
‘Wonka’ Sweetens Pot To $150M+ Global Amid Expanded Rollout
https://deadline.com/2023/12/wonka-international-box-office-timothee-chalamet-songbirds-and-snakes-1235670777/
Timothee Chalamet’s ‘Wonka’ Charms With $39M U.S. Debut, Dances to $151.4M Globally
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/timothee-chalamet-wonka-box-office-previews-1235757669/
See You in 2025? Box Office May Take $2B Hit Next Year Amid Delays
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-forecast-2024-2025-movies-1235757052/
Mayim Bialik Will No Longer Host ‘Jeopardy!’ Show
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2023/12/16/jeopardy-host-mayim-bialik/
‘Lord of the Rings’: Amazon and Tolkien Estate Win Copyright Lawsuit Over TV Show, Copycat Book
https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/lord-of-the-rings-amazon-tolkien-estate-copyright-lawsuit-1235843726/
What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report
https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report
Netflix’s Big Data Dump Shows Just OK TV Is Here to Stay
https://www.wired.com/story/netflix-viewership-data-foretells-bland-streaming-future/
Streaming Giants Weigh Costs of Big Licensed TV and Movie Libraries
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/netflix-amazon-prime-libraries-1235757142/
Michael Blakemore, a Single-Season Double Tony Winner for Directing, Dies at 95
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/theater/michael-blakemore-dead.

1 year ago

1 hour 5 minutes 32 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 641: Red Sea Film Festival Highlights Emerging Film Market

In its third year the Red Sea International Film Festival continues to build on its reputation for programming some of the most engaging and important movies being made in the Middle East. Held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, RSIFF has gone a step further by financially backing productions from the region, which until five years ago didn’t even have movie theaters.
Meanwhile, the awards season is revving up with numerous film critics societies weighing on their top movies from the past year. Plus the Golden Globes announced their nominations for next year’s ceremony.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including how a 65-year-old Christmas song becomes only the third holiday tune to top the Billboard charts, bundling comes to streaming services and Disney’s Bob Iger says the ABC television network is not for sale.

‘Wonka’ Sweet With $43M Overseas Debut; ’Migration’ Swoops Into First Markets; IMAX Tops $1B Global For 2023
https://deadline.com/2023/12/wonka-timothee-chalamet-migration-opening-international-box-office-1235660589/
Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Soars to Record $12.8M U.S. Opening
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/boy-and-the-heron-box-office-opening-1235732076/
Golden Globes 2024: Full Nominations List
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/golden-globes-nominations-list-nominees-2024-1235831576/
New Old-Fashioned No. 1: Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ Tops Hot 100, 65 Years After Its Release
https://www.billboard.com/lists/brenda-lee-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-number-one-hot-100/
Amazon Prime Video Confirms ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ Will Be Renewed For Season 4
https://deadline.com/2023/11/clarkson-farm-season-4-confirmed-amazon-prime-video-1235643866/
Netflix and Apple Open Door to Bundling With Streaming Rivals
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/new-streaming-bundles-netflix-apple-verizon-1235709564/
Music Streamer Spotify To Cut Workforce By 17%
https://deadline.com/2023/12/spotify-cutting-workforce-lay-offs-music-daniel-ek-1235650430/
PlayStation Will Delete Purchased Discovery Shows
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/technology/sony-playstation-discovery-shows-removal.html
3 Observations on… the Sale of BMI (and Google’s Entrance Into Music Rights Management)
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/3-observations-on-the-sale-of-bmi-and-googles-entrance-into-music-rights-management/

1 year ago

1 hour 22 minutes 6 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Showbiz Sandbox 640: Hollywood Has Always Been Addicted To Sequels

If moviegoers have grown tired of endless sequels and franchise reboots, as some will have you believe, then Hollywood studios may be in big trouble. In 2024, a new sequel will be released every other week, including another Godzilla movie, Dune 2, a new Ghostbusters, a new Kung Fu Panda, another Mad Max film, Deadpool 3, Inside Out 2, the next Planet of the Apes movie and a new Despicable Me. Yet, Hollywood’s love affair with sequels is as old as the film business itself.
Meanwhile, in the music industry, comedian Bo Burnham hit a landmark on the Billboard charts, the performing rights organization BMI ditches its nonprofit status, and musical duo Daryl Hall and John Oates are suing each other.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment headlines including Disney’s horrible year continues with its latest animated film, Taylor Swift gives herself a birthday present and spending on productions for streaming services hits an all time high in Europe.

‘Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’ Draws Its Biggest TV Audience Ever
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-record-ratings-1235677181/
‘Napoleon’ Conquers With $79M Global Bow; ‘Wish’ Debuts To $49M WW
https://deadline.com/2023/11/napoleon-wish-opening-weekend-global-international-box-office-1235637258/
‘Hunger Games’ Prequel and ‘Napoleon’ Conquer Thanksgiving as ‘Wish’ Wobbles
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hunger-games-napoleon-box-office-wish-1235678839/
China Box Office: Annual Total Passes $7 Billion
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/china-box-office-across-the-furious-sea-weekend-win-1235809469/
Sadiq Khan Rejects Plans for MSG Sphere in East London
https://www.dezeen.com/2023/11/20/sadiq-khan-rejects-plans-for-msg-sphere-in-east-london/
New SAG-AFTRA Advance Residual Payment Procedure Rattles Talent Reps
https://deadline.com/2023/11/sag-aftra-advance-residual-payment-talent-agency-confusion-1235633245/
Bo Burnham’s ‘Inside (The Songs)’ Breaks Record for Most Weeks Spent at No. 1 on Comedy Albums Chart
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/bo-burnham-inside-the-songs-breaks-record-comedy-albums-chart-1235500489/
BMI Moves to For-Profit Business Model, Eyeing Growth and New Initiatives
https://www.billboard.com/pro/bmi-for-profit-business-model-expansion-investment/
BTS Members Jung Kook, RM, Jimin and V to Begin Military Service in December
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/nov/23/bts-military-service-enlistment-members-jung-kook-rm-jimin-v-enlist
AS1ONE,

1 year ago

1 hour 4 minutes 39 seconds

Showbiz Sandbox

Industry pros J. Sperling Reich and Michael Giltz provide insightful analysis, humorous viewpoints and insider opinions on the latest entertainment news headlines. The weekly podcast features panel discussions with renowned industry guests, as well as phone calls and emails from listeners who voice their own opinions on the child’s play of the entertainment business.