The Broadcasters Podcast

108 days into the writer's strike and a month into the actors strike, the studios via AMPTP are meeting at the negotiating table. KOP looks at the progress. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes are ongoing. The WGA strike has lasted three months and will continue indefinitely. The SAG-AFTRA strike...

Taylor Swift is one of the only music superstars in a flooded sea of acts only gathering streaming numbers and nothing more. Corporate Radio ignorance, AI Deepfakes, and a lack of destinations for new music discovery is contributing to the music industry demise that is making it difficult for any new artist destined to make it big. In today's music landscape, dominated by streaming platforms and a...

KOP is interviewed on WICC-AM 600 and 107.3 FM in Bridgeport, CT by Lou Pate. We discuss how I came up withe being King Of Podcasts, the new era of success today in pro wrestling. Plus I'm asked about the success and messaging in the billion-dollar grossing Barbie movie and Bill Maher's comments on it. Plus, Lou asks me about Taylor Swift and her very successful tour and album re-releases and also...

Lizzo Responds to Sexual Harassment and Weight-Shaming Allegations: Saying They are ‘As Unbelievable as They Sound’. Could these accusations cause the tiki torches of cancel culture to kill Lizzo's career? In response to the recent allegations made against her and her production company, Lizzo has addressed the situation with a heartfelt statement. Expressing her feelings of disappointment and dif...

The entertainment industry remains paralyzed as the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) enters its 86th day, with popular TV series suspended and Hollywood productions facing indefinite delays. The strike, which began on May 2, 2023, is the first dual strike by both writers and actors in over six decades and is centered around demands for changes to the entertainment landscape cau...

The ongoing strike between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has caused confusion among social media influencers. These influencers, who often work alongside both organizations, find themselves in an unclear position within the entertainment industry. In response to this confusion, SAG-AFTRA has issued gui...

The tech disruption of streaming and AI has created a generational watershed moment for entertainment it finally happened. For the first time since 1960, writers and actors have joined with numerous other organizations in a united front against the major Hollywood studios. The Streaming Revolution and AI: A Paradigm Shift in Entertainment In a historic move, the entertainment industry is witnessin...

Labor Unions Demand Fair Compensation and Protection for Entertainment Industry Workers. Actors are now activated to prepare to join the writers on the picket lines for the first time in decades. The entertainment industry is currently facing significant labor unrest as two prominent labor unions, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Wri...

Hollywood on Edge, Actors and Studios Brace for Word on SAG-AFTRA Contract Talks as the July 1st Deadline approaches. Meanwhile the WGA is staying steadfast for their demands with no deal in sight. As Hollywood stands on edge, actors and studios alike are bracing themselves for the results of the upcoming SAG-AFTRA contract talks. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio...

The 2023 summer box office movie season started as a thrilling time for superhero fans, with two highly anticipated films leading the way. The first was the latest installment in the Spiderman franchise, which saw the web-slinging hero facing off against a new villain with ties to his past. The film was praised for its stunning visuals and heart-pumping action sequences. Meanwhile, The Flash made...

The media job massacre of 2023 has dealt a severe blow to the industry, with nearly 20,000 jobs already lost in the first six months. The convergence of technological disruptions, changing consumer habits, consolidation, and automation has created a perfect storm, forcing media organizations to restructure and downsize. Writers Strike Union Solidarity and The Network and Streamer Scramble for New...

Radio's corporate leaders are still living in delusion as the digital disruption has destroyed the very fabric of radio even more than deregulation ever has. KOP looks at the topics of interest leading up to the upcoming RadioDays North America. iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman sings radio’s praises, says it’s as ‘strong as ever’ https://nypost.com/2023/06/01/iheartmedia-ceo-bob-pittman-sings-radios-pr...

As the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike enters its 30th day, Hollywood's labor leaders have issued a joint statement of solidarity with the Directors Guild of America (DGA) as its contract talks enter the final week. However, the WGA has warned that an agreement between the studios and the DGA will not end their strike. The WGA has emphasized that solidarity between the entertainment unions w...

The changing landscape of the music industry, driven by the rise of streaming services and shifting listener preferences, has led to a significant reduction in the airtime devoted to new music on traditional radio. While radio stations adapt their programming to meet audience demands and secure advertising revenue, emerging artists face challenges in gaining exposure through this medium. As the ba...

The radio industry has long been a powerful force in the music business, with airplay on popular stations playing a crucial role in an artist's success. However, the influence of record labels on radio airplay charts has come under scrutiny in recent years. Targeted payments and overnight spins are just two of the tactics used by record labels to boost their artists' chart positions. Mediabase, th...

There are several reasons why new music on corporate radio is dying: Consolidation of radio ownership: Over the past few decades, there has been a trend towards consolidation in the radio industry, with a few large corporations owning most of the radio stations in the country. These corporations are primarily interested in making profits, and they often rely on a small playlist of familiar songs t...

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has gone on strike due to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' refusal to address issues surrounding compensation for writers in the evolving media landscape, including the use of AI in screenwriting. The strike impacts over 800,000 direct employees and 2.4 million total supported in the industry, with $81 billion in industry wages and $186 bi...

Peso Pluma is leading the charge of Regional Mexican music into the mainstream music landscape. Just recently, Peso Pluma's popularity has prompted Becky G, Bad Bunny and Snoop Dogg to get featured in some of the many songs that have debuted on Billboard Hot 100 in recent months. This breakthrough for Peso Pluma is indicative of a larger trend of Latin artists being recognized in the larger music...

WGA Approves Strike Authorization With 97.9% Voting Yes. WGA’s members have voted to strike if a new film and TV contract with the AMPTP is not made. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has just authorized a strike, with 97.9% of its members voting in favor. This decision comes as the WGA is still in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) over a new contra...

The decline of AM Radio has been a long-standing issue in the radio industry, and the trend of it being removed from infotainment dashboards is only further exacerbating the issue. With the rise of online streaming services and podcasts, AM Radio has struggled to keep up with the times and maintain its relevance among audiences. For programmers and operators of AM Radio stations, the impact of thi...

If it's not TikTok it's AI or Fake Streams, the music industry and the record labels are taking in a lot of incoming attacks. KOP looks at how the music industry is getting destroyed by the digital disruption and is trying to survive the onslaught. The Case For — and Against — Higher Streaming Subscription Prices JPMorgan Chase analysts estimate a Spotify rate increase for U.S. individual plans wo...

Two long-time radio talents are fired without warning as Corporate Radio favors more AI Technology over even human voicetracking. KOP discusses this and how AI will serve to hurt terrestrial radio more than help Jack Harris, longtime Tampa radio personality, says he has been fired https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/2023/03/29/jack-harris-longtime-tampa-radio-personality-says-he-has-been-fired/...

A recent guest column in Billboard calls for "all music industry professionals to reflect on the ways in which our industry has perpetuated a system that benefits a select few at the expense of marginalized communities." KOP looks back at the music crossover used to serve that purpose. Why the Music Industry Must Embrace Meritocracy for True Diversity, Inclusion (Guest Column) https://www.billboar...

Spotify has unveiled a series of new podcasts, partnerships and features as part of its effort to dominate in all things audio. Meanwhile, radio faces a new reality with AI and the domination of streaming. Spotify charts podcasting future after controversies, challenges and shakeups https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-03-08/after-controversies-challenges-shakeups-spotify...

Podcasters convene to forecast how it will be evolving, while radio stations are switching to format for older demo and stretching to pick up more listeners to advertise to. KOP comments on these changes and wonders out loud why he is never invited to any podcast conference. Pivot to … Something? The Blurry Future of Podcasting Top creators and executives, gathering at the Hot Pod Summit, mulled o...