International
Fight for U.K. Freelance Workers: Coalition for Change Share Long-Term Strategy
The Coalition for Change, a U.K. freelance collective established in 2020, has unveiled a comprehensive industry strategy to enhance long-term support for freelance workers. Their plan involves integrating the freelancers' charter into every stage of TV productions, with upcoming revisions based on input from newer member groups, all geared towards improving working conditions.
Film
Making a Box Office Hit: USC Annenberg Shares Latest Research
The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative presents its latest research brief, exploring the relationship between a movie's lead character's demographics, production budgets, marketing investments, and box office results. While high-grossing 2021 and 2022 live-action films featuring white male protagonists often received more financial backing and broader theatrical releases, the research reveals that the gender and / or race of the protagonist is not statistically linked to box office performance.
Streaming
Service Satisfaction: New Report Shows People’s Favorite Streaming Subscriptions
According to Whip Media's 2023 Streaming Satisfaction Report, which surveyed 2,011 U.S. consumers in July, Max emerged as the highest-rated subscription service. However, its satisfaction rating dipped by 6% from 2022 to 2023. Satisfaction was evaluated based on content quality, variety, product value, and indispensability – indicating whether users would unsubscribe if limited to one service.
Film Festival
Forging Ahead: Busan Film Festival Is Back on Track
Despite recent management changes and financial challenges, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) successfully launched in Korea. The festival featured notable guests, a diverse film lineup, and special programs highlighting Indonesian and Korean diasporic cinema.
Music
Unprecedented Growth: Latin Music Hits Peak in U.S.
Latin music in the United States is surging in popularity, boasting a 15% consumption increase since the first half of 2022. Spanish has now become the second most-listened-to language in U.S. music. In 2022, Latin music revenue hit a record high of $1.1 billion, reaching $627 million in the first half of the year. Streaming dominates Latin music revenue, representing 98%, while a Luminate report revealed that 73% of Hispanic listeners discover new music through WhatsApp.
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