Ben Weber

I’m thrilled to share exciting new research No Guarantees has commissioned in partnership with leading trends and generation research firm Culture Co-Op. The report explores what Gen Z and Millennials think about Broadway, examines the reasons they aren’t showing up, and suggests strategic steps the industry can take to cultivate new, engaged audiences. The research shows that Gen Z and Millennials’ lack of Broadway attendance is not due to details like a particular show’s cast, subject matter, or number of awards it has received. Instead, it’s a handful of deep misconceptions about Broadway itself, like confusion about ticket prices, the number of shows playing at any given time, access to tickets, and who Broadway is even meant for. The great news for Broadway is that while Gen Z & Millennials may not know much about individual shows or what’s happening in the theater industry, the Broadway brand remains extraordinarily strong. They are curious about us, and 91% even reported being more interested in Broadway simply by taking the survey! They’re ready to be brought into the fold. This gives all of us the ability to appeal to the existing interest of new, young audiences and develop a modern, actionable strategy to make it happen - to meet people where they really are. There’s so much to dive into so please check out the full report, which you can download at noguarantees.com. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or ideas!

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#WallStreet's reaction to #Disney's earnings is yet another example of the ills facing the media space. For many years, the focus was on blindly spending to unlock growth. That did not work and the focus then shifted to cutting costs. Now it seems like WS is now starting to reject that approach as it has not led to top-line growth. It's now clearer than ever that the industry needs new approaches to figure out to smartly and efficiently generate new areas of growth. It's not going to be easy as the industry will need to fundamentally change how it does business. But this is now seemingly the only option on the table, and I think that this change requires a changing of the guard at the top of these media companies to bring new ideas to the table and more importantly new ways of thinking. The status quo is no longer an option. https://lnkd.in/guVX_rCe https://lnkd.in/guVX_rCe

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We've shared a ton of info on our clients Chipotle Mexican Grill ongoing campaign with the fighting game community. With year 2 in full swing and Evolution Championship Series quickly approaching, we're dropping some great results from year 1. From YouGov: -- Chipotle Purchase Intent doubled among US Esports Fans, Age 18-44. After the campaign, 1-in-5 (20%) reported they intended to eat at Chipotle within the next month (1.3x higher than Nat Rep 18-44; 1.8x higher than All US 18+)  -- Consideration of Chipotle among US Esports Fans, age18-44, rose from 28% to 38% (1.2x higher than national average among US 18-44-year-olds;1.6x higher than All US 18+) -- Chipotle’s Overall Brand Impression (sentiment) score among US Esports Fans, age 18-44, rose from 29% to 41% (1.5x higher than national average among US 18-44-year-olds) The results are in, the achievement is unlocked.... Sound strategy, industry expertise, great insights, a client who thrives to find whitespace while focused on adding true value will deliver results. Shout out to all our partners RTS, PlayStation, Capcom, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. and of course our team rEvolution. EVO is right around the corner and we're ready for round 2...see you in Vegas. #gaming #esports #sportsbiz #partnerships

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“Three US lawmakers have expressed concern over Spotify‘s recent bundling practices and its potential impact on songwriter compensation. Spotify announced in March that it would reclassify its Premium tiers as ‘bundles’ by combining music and audiobooks. In 2022, a legal agreement (Phonorecords IV) allowed music streaming services in the US to pay lower royalties to publishers and songwriters for music offered as part of bundles compared to standalone music subscriptions. In a letter addressed to Shira Perlmutter, the US Register of Copyrights, Congressmen Ted Lieu (D) and Adam Schiff (D), plus Senator Marsha Blackburn (R), raised questions about whether Spotify’s new practice is in line with the spirit of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) of 2018. “American songwriters create the music we love but have long labored under a compulsory licensing system that robs them of control over their work and the ability to receive fair compensation. Six years ago, Congress passed the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to address that problem,” they wrote in the letter dated June 12. The bipartisan group of lawmakers highlighted the long-standing challenges faced by songwriters in receiving fair compensation under the compulsory licensing system, acknowledging that the MMA is a positive step towards fairer compensation for publishers and songwriters, while expressing concern that Spotify’s actions might undermine these efforts. Their concern lies in Spotify’s “unexpected decision” to reclassify its Premium subscription tier as a bundle when offering audiobooks as a free add-on to its $10.99 monthly subscription plan.” Read the full article for more: #Spotify #Streaming #Songwriters #MusicPublishing #StreamingRoyalties #Royalties #MusicTracks #MusicStreams #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz #USA #USCongress #CRB

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Always great to work with the team at C-SPAN! Tune in tonight to this very important conversation with Triple 7 Public Relations client Patrick J. Kennedy about mental health in America and his new book PROFILES IN MENTAL HEALTH COURAGE. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

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For The Philadelphia Tribune here's my #CinemaCon2024 recap

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Jerry Colonna's take on leadership is truly unique. In our conversation, we delved into how family trauma can shape leaders with empathy and grace. It's refreshing to see such a fresh perspective in the realm of leadership literature. I highly recommend exploring his insightful insights from his new book "Reunion." #leadership #empathy #familytrauma

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Which way do I go? 🔎 The meaning behind Yogi's words may surprise you. I sourced the story behind today's "Yogi-ism" from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center website. "While giving directions to his best friend Joe Garagiola to his house in Montclair, Yogi told Joe to take the fork. The fork was unique in that no matter which direction you chose, you would end up at Yogi and Carmen's house." Interesting, right!? In Yogi’s case, no matter the choice, you achieved the same result. We're rarely afforded that luxury. There's more to the story! Yogi was a risk-taker and wasn't afraid to take a fork in the road. Even though he couldn't always see what was ahead, he recognized opportunities would be available. The path forward is rarely a straight line. There's more than one way to get from point A to point B. A fork in the road is a gateway to action, not habit. "People who deliberate fully before taking a step will spend their lives on one foot." ~Chinese Proverb~ Consider the possibilities. You won't find "it" unless you first get there. 😉 Have you considered adding the value of voiceover to your marketing and advertising campaigns? How about your website? I can help you with that! 🎙 Always at your service! 🙏 #choices #voiceover #marketing #voiceoverartist #advertisingandmarketing

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"Ticket prices are just astronomical right now," said David "5-1" Norman, an industry veteran who has toured with Prince, Green Day, and Alicia Keys. Why? Artists have lost their main revenue stream. Music and album sales Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music don't paint the full picture. No one knows what a certain amount of streams equates to. It's not an accurate depiction of what an artist is actually making. So where has the artist turned to to make up for this loss in revenue? Live Events. They have lifestyles to upkeep, and albums to produce and so they've got to make it back somehow. But who bears the cost? The event promoters and the fans do. Promoters are taking on even more financial risk to front these artist requests and simply to break even they have to charge the fans extortionate amounts of money. I mean the average ticket price for a Taylor Swift concert is over $1000. It becomes a financial planning decision to watch your favorite artist live. The current model is broken. How can we change this? By ensuring that everyone wins. That's what we're doing at AAA. https://lnkd.in/gZ29wVuA

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#artsandculture leaders, I'd love to see you in Boston this fall for TRG Arts' Executive Convene Oct. 15 and 16. For one registration fee your chief executive or artistic leader can bring up to three additional team members, and 💡 if you register by July 31st, you'll save $200. 💡 Join Eric Nelson, Andrew Cotlar and me for an encore session of "Programming it Right" when we'll talk about core revenues in the performing arts and how to plan, invest and operate "right" for growth and renewability. We know the arts sector is a complicated and often confusing place to operate right now...but growth and innovation IS happening! Join us to learn, commiserate and receive practical, take-home next steps to strengthen your 24-25 season and beyond. Just fifteen more organizations can grab that discount. Will your organization be one of them? Register here: https://lnkd.in/gEgxgY2C

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Of Paramount Importance It is impossible for someone on the outside to judge the value of the various offers Paramount has gotten to acquire it, or (at this point) know the-better-than-likely outcome of their three-dimensional game of #mergersandacquisions chess. But we CAN all play along on LinkedIn... Perhaps the Apollo Global Management, Inc. offer wasn't good enough to seriously vet. Maybe it was better than the Skydance deal. There are excellent odds that the Ellison offer is the best opportunity to unlock shareholder value. Or maybe you - like me - think their CEO, Bob Bakish, should have found some other deal for these amazing assets long ago, from a big tech death star, with hundreds of billions to invest. And then there are those rooting for an Apollo+Skydance combo. However YOU are gaming this choose your own adventure business story, there's no scenario by which firing the CEO two days before your earnings call is a good idea. Is there? https://lnkd.in/eJyXJgw8

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Is Paramount's Tech Transformation Just a Pipe Dream? In the ever-evolving landscape of media, David Ellison’s announcement about transforming Paramount into a tech powerhouse stirred quite the conversation. Including by me: https://lnkd.in/eBsi2xbi But as we dive deeper, several challenges emerge, casting shadows of doubt over this ambitious pivot. #1. Financial Feasibility With Paramount grappling with substantial debt and pressing financial obligations, notably hefty NFL payments, the costs of attracting top tech talent become a significant concern. Can Paramount realistically afford this tech overhaul amidst economic uncertainties and a struggling stock? The talent war isn't won on ambitions alone, especially when competitors like Google offer more stable havens. #2. Creator vs. Coder Paramount’s tech ambition, while necessary, seems at odds with maintaining the creator-friendly environment Ellison dually promised. In an era when interest rates have climbed, balancing tech innovation with creative freedom is a tightrope walk. Remember, even Netflix, once a haven for creators with its blank checks during #ZIRP, is tightening its purse strings. How can Paramount navigate these waters without the cushion of a tech giant's capital or rising stock prices? 3. Building vs. Buying Tech Infrastructure David Ellison’s plan for Paramount involves a substantial commitment to developing in-house tech capabilities, focusing on cloud services, AI, user interfaces, recommendation algorithms, and ad-serving technologies. This approach aims to differentiate Paramount from competitors and enhance user experience. However, the tech sector’s history suggests leveraging established third-party platforms could be more cost-effective and reliable. Giants like Disney have successfully integrated platforms like BamTech, while HBO initially utilized external technology before transitioning. AMC Networks similarly relies on Brightcove for streaming technologies. The pivotal question for Ellison is whether the potential benefits of custom-built solutions justify the investment and risk, especially when patching together proven third-party solutions might yield quicker and more economical results. #InEssence... These challenges are monumental, yet not insurmountable. As we watch Paramount’s narrative unfold, one thing is clear: transitioning into a tech entity is more than just a strategic pivot—it’s a gamble on the future of entertainment itself. Thoughts? #Paramount #StreamingWars #MediaTech

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Net-Net Last week, I posted about how Netflix jumping on the austerity train was a sign that the era in Media of "cut to profit" and "slash to earn" was going to continue for some time. https://lnkd.in/ebvCNcDf Some commented in the comments that "cutting 15 jobs isn't an example of a larger trend." Today: "Back in 2019, if a filmmaker signed a deal with Netflix, it meant that he or she would be well paid and receive complete creative freedom. Those days are a thing of the past. In other words, Netflix’s age of austerity is well underway." https://lnkd.in/e7anvBGW Their massive first-mover advantage has allowed them to become the first streamer to ever be profitable and to declare victory in the #streamingwars. Yet, since they announced that they'd be taking ads, Netflix has joined the ranks of the Traditional Media - acting more and more like it with each earnings call. These latest announcements demonstrate they are moving even more to the "safe center" and away from the innovative edge. This will be great for near term balance sheets, but ultimately it mean the death of innovation. In five years or less, if these trends continue, Netflix will look a lot like Disney does now: Meh. Even worse, having sparked a mini-golden era of film and docs, then abandoning it even more quickly, Netflix has done tremendous damage to filmmaking and to its own content imprimatur. #movies

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Some mistakes are easily avoidable. Give this a read to glean some insight into a few that I have made personally when I was first getting started as a production accountant.

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If you know 1. how many Substacks #newsletters there are, and 2. how smart Entertainment Strategy Guy is in this space, you’d know precisely how honored I am to be on his newsletter list. You can find out WHY he likes the newsletter here: https://eshap.substack.com #creatoreconomy

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TODAY IN BAD REPORTING This piece in The New York Times about a “small bump” in TV series buying is just plain bad. Gift link/no paywall: https://lnkd.in/e7XBxbP2 They have all the right facts, but John Koblin buries the truly important ledes under a mountain of misdirection. Yes, TWO PLAYERS - Netflix & Amazon - have increased their series orders recently. Woot? BUT, HUGE CAVEATS: This is ONLY compared to strike times in 2023/2022. MOST of the orders are international productions. And, I cannot stress this enough: “The whole industry volume is still down considerably from the highs of just a couple of years ago.” The gatekeeper content economy is not yet done contracting and reconfiguring. Not only has money been cut from the scripted content ecosystem, a good deal of it will NEVER come back. These are the facts. Part of this is due to the new austerity and focus on streaming profits over streaming scale. Part of this is due to funds being permanently MOVED from scripted content into Sports. And part will be due to the elimination of whole sets of buyers via mergers and acquisitions. The writer blames the strike as the catalyst for the shift, thus hinting that an industry-wide return to normal could be in the offing. This is because he does not look at the entire landscape, but rather just at the scripted cul de sac. IMHO, that’s truly irresponsible. Yes, the industry WILL make MORE scripted content than during the strike. Also, I was taller in third grade than in kindergarten. But, in the larger context, these are NOT useful metrics. I am still short in the context of all humans. And we will still make WAY less scripted content than we did at the peak of #PeakTV - for the foreseeable future. I do NOT want to be only a harbinger of bad news. But when I look at misguided “trade reporting” like this, I do feel responsible for translating it into reality. Sorry. Not sorry.

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There’s a romanticism to the notion that “not all who wander are lost.” The essence of this sentiment truly comes alive in the heart of NYC, a city I've called home for decades and where I often find myself wandering. I lovingly call NYC the "Island of Misfit Toys," a haven for artists, visionaries, and bold adventurers. It's a magical land where creatives and visionaries from all walks of life converge to push the boundaries of what's possible. Drawn by the promise of endless possibilities and the chance to carve out our own unique path. For me, getting lost in the hustle and bustle of NYC is an invitation to revisit parts of myself long forgotten, and stir up parts of my soul yet to be awakened. It's an opportunity to dream, to draw inspiration, and occasionally, to feel a tinge of fear. Yet every emotion serves as a blank canvas for something I seek to uncover within. For me, losing oneself isn't synonymous with aimlessness. In fact, aimlessness can be dangerous. Wandering without guidance (inner wisdom) can lead us to places we did not intend to go. However, wandering with purpose and diligently following the guidance of our hearts can open doors to untold treasures. It becomes an invitation to life's perpetual dance of synchronicities and boundless opportunities, allowing us to be carried away in a whirlwind of exploration and revelation. For those navigating the bustling streets of life, remember this: you're not adrift but fully immersed in the rich fabric of existence. And sometimes, getting lost is the very first step toward finding oneself. Keep Shining ⭐ Starr Films #filmmaker #writer #womenenterpreneurs

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In response to a question from a wonderful friend, I want to clarify ( I tried to make this point in my initial comment last night noting that the comments and “ Likes” to 8 pm and that can be extended to those today are all from firms ( whether seven sisters or not) on my “ good values “ side of the ledger. In addition, I have received many private messages from people with great and sad comments on their experiences on these issues. Thank you for those. You are people of principle and candour. In my experience, some firms are consistently outstanding and caring and others frankly are not regardless of the strength of their business. I think that the “ bad actors” and “ bad thinkers” are outliers but it is very troubling when they are leaders and people of influence. That is where a culture fails. It is difficult to fix a failed culture as leaders tend to favour similar folks to succeed them. If you imply that the General Counsel in your city are wise to disregard diversity ( ie white men only) what kind of example are you setting in your firm? Why would a young person or any person of good values join that outfit?

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