Showbiz Sandbox

Working within strict health and safety guidelines the producers of the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards telecast were uncertain how the show would come together or even when it would take place. David Wild knows this first hand. He was the lead writer and one of the producers on this year’s show. Wild joins us to detail all the challenges of pulling off music’s biggest night amidst a global pandemic. Meanwhile, nods for outstanding achievements in motion pictures were announced en masse over the past week with the BAFTAs, Cesars, Directors Guild, American Society of Cinematographers and many more leading up to, finally, this year’s Oscar nominations. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including a trip to this year’s Berlin Film Festival, how Drake is dominating the music charts and Disney+ continues its staggering growth. Latest ‘Evangelion’ Anime Passes $30 Million in First Week at Japan Box Office https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/latest-evangelion-anime-passes-30-million-in-first-week-at-japan-box-office-1234930753/ ‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ Takes $5.5M Second Weekend B.O. As Exhibition Slowly Repairs https://deadline.com/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-weekend-box-office-los-angeles-movie-theaters-reopening-1234713807/ Time’s Up Issues Recommendations for HFPA to Address Diversity, Ethical Issues: “All Existing Members Must Resign” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/times-up-releases-recommendations-for-hfpa-to-address-diversity-ethical-issues Hollywood Publicists Advise Clients Not to Work With HFPA Until Group Implements Diversity Changes https://variety.com/2021/film/news/golden-globe-hfpa-hollywood-publicists-1234930321/ Chris Harrison Won’t Host ‘The Bachelorette’ Following Racism Controversy https://deadline.com/2021/03/chris-harrison-host-the-bachelorette-2021-racism-controversy-1234713758/ BAFTA Film Awards 2021: Hugely Diverse Nominations List Unveiled https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56319617 DGA Nominations: Emerald Fennell and Chloe Zhao Make the Cut, Three POC in First-Time Feature https://variety.com/2021/awards/awards/directors-guild-film-nominees-nomadland-chloe-zhao-1234925448/ ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Minari,’ ‘Mank’ and More Land American Cinema Editors Nominations https://variety.com/2021/artisans/awards/american-cinema-editors-nominations-2021-1234928214/ ‘Langdon’ Moves to Peacock With Series Order

Email newsletters are the new black. Much like podcasts, every mainstream media outlet seems to be launching one. Ryan Faughnder, an entertainment business reporter with the Los Angeles Times, joins us to discuss the launch of The Wide Shot. Each week Faughnder takes an in-depth dive into a major Hollywood news story along with highlights of other key industry updates. Meanwhile, there was more good news for “Nomadland” when the Critics Choice Awards were handed out, though the film hit a snag regarding its release in China. The Grammy Awards are next week and Michael Giltz tells us about his own favorite 2020 albums. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Producers Guild Award nominees, why the Dr. Seuss estate is pulling some of the author’s early books and how SoundCloud plans to change payments going to artists. Golden Globes Ratings Fall To All-Time Low For NBC In Final Numbers https://deadline.com/2021/03/golden-globes-ratings-fall-nbc-hfpa-tina-fey-amy-poehler-1234704025/ Sign up for the L.A. Times’ The Wide Shot newsletter https://www.latimes.com/newsletters/sign-up-for-wide-shot ‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ Lacks Fire With $8.6M Debut As Pic Hits Disney+ & NYC Reopens https://deadline.com/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-opening-weekend-box-office-new-york-city-disney-1234708406/ ‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ Bows To $26M WW, Soft In China & Dinged By Shortage Of Latin American Screens https://deadline.com/2021/03/raya-and-the-last-dragon-cinepolis-minari-chaos-walking-tom-and-jerry-hi-mom-china-global-international-box-office-1234708603/ Alamo Drafthouse Files for Chapter 11, Announces Sale to Altamont Capital, Fortress Investment https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alamo-drafthouse-bankruptcy-chapter-11-sale-1234920558/ AMC Chief Adam Aron’s Compensation Tops $20 Million Despite Coronavirus Slowdown https://variety.com/2021/film/news/amc-ceo-adam-aron-compensation-pay-1234923121/ Michael Giltz’s Top Albums Of 2020 https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-best-albums-of-2020.html Critics Choice Awards: ‘Nomadland’, ‘The Crown’ Among Top Honorees https://deadline.com/2021/03/critics-choice-awards-2021-complete-winners-list-1234708683/ 2021 Annie Award Nominations: ‘Soul,’ ‘Wolfwalkers’ and Netflix Lead https://variety.com/2021/film/awards/netflix-soul-wolfwalkers-annie-award-nominations-1234920416/

A week before the Golden Globes, Stacy Perman and Josh Rottenberg of the Los Angeles Times wrote investigative pieces detailing conflicts of interest and a lack of diversity within the Hollywood Foreign Press Association; the tight knit and tight-lipped group of 87 international journalists who nominate and choose the winners each year. Perman joins us to discuss her work on the story, which was picked up by every major media outlet, and the immediate impact it had on this year’s Globe’s ceremony. Whether it will be enough to change the behavior and makeup of the HFPA remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Viacom announced a slate of programming for their new streaming service, Paramount+. Along with 2,500 movies, 30,000 episodes of television and live sporting events, the company will be rebooting hit series such as “Fraiser” with their original cast. The company also revealed that blockbuster films such as “Mission:Impossible 7” and “A Quiet Place II” will debut on Paramount+ just 45 days after their theatrical release. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Art Directors Guild Award nominees, why kill fees might be coming to international film sales and recorded music grosses passed $12 billion in North America during 2020. Warner Bros’ ‘Tom & Jerry’ Opening Higher In Monday Actuals; Still Second-Best Debut During Pandemic https://deadline.com/2021/03/tom-jerry-weekend-box-office-opening-pandemic-1234702484/ ‘Tom & Jerry’ Pounces On $33M WW Weekend In Expanded Rollout; China’s New Year Pics Still Dominant As February Sets $1.9B Record https://deadline.com/2021/02/tom-and-jerry-hi-mom-china-all-time-record-month-global-international-box-office-1234702733/ ViacomCBS Overhauls Film Strategy With New Theatrical Windows, Epix Pact https://variety.com/2021/film/news/mission-impossible-7-paranormal-activity-pet-sematary-paramount-plus-windows-1234914113/ ‘Mank’ and ‘Tenet’ Among 25th Annual Art Directors Guild Nominations https://variety.com/2021/artisans/awards/art-directors-guild-nominations-mank-tenet-1234915129/ Golden Globes: Complete Winners List https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-winners-list-updating-live ‘Criminal Minds’ Ascends to Top of Nielsen Streaming List https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/criminal-minds-top-nielsen-streaming-list Can Australia Save Journalism From the Internet? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/opinion/australia-social-media-law.html Australia Passes Law Making Google and Facebook Pay for News

Spotify continues to be the most popular music streaming service in the world growing 24% over the past year to 155 million paid subscribers. However as the subscriber count rises, so too does the amount Spotify must pay in royalties. This might be why the company has been focusing on exclusive original content such as podcasts for which they don’t have to share revenue. Meanwhile, the box office continues to recover from the pandemic, at least in China which set new records over the Lunar New Year holiday, proving that moviegoers actually will return to the cinemas when given the opportunity. Hollywood is rejoicing, even if North America and Europe is still six months away from getting back to normal. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the BBC’s new streaming service, Roku’s surprise profit and this year’s Writers Guild Award nominees. Chinese New Year Box Office Hits $1.2B, Sets Record High Over Holiday Period https://deadline.com/2021/02/chinese-new-year-2021-box-office-record-detective-chinatown-3-hi-mom-covid-1234695261/ More Hollywood Studios Start to Conceal Box Office Grosses https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/more-hollywood-studios-start-to-conceal-box-office-grosses England to Begin Easing Lockdown From March 8, Cinemas to Reopen in May https://variety.com/2021/politics/global/england-lockdown-easing-march-8-1234912085/ WGA Awards 2021 Nominations Revealed: ‘Palm Springs,’ ‘Borat 2,’ ‘Sound of Metal,’ and More https://www.indiewire.com/2021/02/wga-awards-nominations-nomadland-mank-oscars-1234617133/ Roku Beats Q4 Earnings Estimates With Record Revenue, Swings to Quarterly Profit https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/roku-q4-2020-beats-estimates-record-revenue-1234910714/ BBC Select Streaming Service Debuts in North America https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/bbc-select-streaming-service-debuts-in-north-america Daft Punk Break Up After 28 Years With Eight-Minute ‘Epilogue’ Video https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/9529272/daft-punk-break-up/ Time’s Up Slams Notion Of Brett Ratner Comeback: “We Have Not – And Will Not – Forget” https://deadline.com/2021/02/times-up-slams-notion-of-brett-ratner-comeback-we-have-not-and-will-not-forget-1234697791/ Spotify to Launch HiFi Option Later This Year, Paid Out $5 Billion in Royalties in 2020 https://variety.com/2021/music/news/spotify-hifi-5-billion-royalties-1234912311/ Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO Signs Spotify Podcast Deal

Whether it’s sexual misconduct, misogynistic behavior or social media missteps, the careers of numerous entertainment industry figures have recently been upended after allegations of their moral misbehavior surfaced. The repercussions are impacting every part of the industry, from the upper echelons of the French film industry to the rose ceremony on “The Bachelor.” Agencies, studios and record companies are now left to decide whether to jettison stars that have become tainted. Meanwhile, one year after China closed movie theaters to contend with a growing coronavirus epidemic, the country is showing the world how to revive the cinema business. Apparently all it takes is a few blockbusters to get audiences back into the very theaters many had predicted would never reopen. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including how the cast of the “Umbrella Academy” got a raise, Disney continues to add subscribers to its streaming service and why Dave Chapelle’s old show is back on Netflix. ‘Croods 2’ Shoots to No. 1 in 12th Outing, Beats ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-croods-2-shoots-to-no-1-in-12th-outing-beats-judas-and-the-black-messiah China Box Office: ‘Detective Chinatown 3’ Opens With Enormous $393M Haul https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-detective-chinatown-3-opens-with-enormous-393m-haul Shanghai’s Old Cinemas Tell of a Power Reversal Between China and Hollywood https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-02-04/china-hollywood-shanghai-cinemas-movies Disney Plus Pops to 95 Million Paid Subscribers https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/disney-plus-pops-to-95-million-paid-subscribers-1234906356/ Bruce Springsteen’s Super Bowl Jeep Ad Removed From YouTube Following November DWI Arrest https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bruce-springsteen-drunk-driving-arrest-suspicion-new-jersey-1234905288/ Disney Closing Blue Sky Studios, Fox’s Once-Dominant Animation House Behind ‘Ice Age’ Franchise https://deadline.com/2021/02/blue-sky-studios-closing-disney-ice-age-franchise-animation-1234690310/ Why China Banned the BBC, and Why It Matters https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/16/china-blocks-bbc-world-news-after-uk-revokes-license-of-cgtn.html Inside the Battle Between the BBC and China https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/14/media/bbc-china-battle/index.html ‘Umbrella Academy’ Cast Scores Big Pay Raise Ahead of Season 3 https://variety.

With media reports constantly declaring that cinema admissions have been steadily declining for the past two decades, we set out to determine if such proclamations are actually true. Has moviegoing kept pace with population growth or fallen off? With some help from our listeners we do the math to answer the question once and for all. Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America is taking a victory lap after they reached a deal with William Morris Endeavor, the last of the major Hollywood talent agencies yet to sign a new franchise agreement. This means that television packaging fees and ownership of affiliated production companies will be winding down at agencies over the next two years. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why TikTok will start paying for music, Nielsen revamps its streaming charts and this year’s SAG Award nominations. ‘The Little Things’ Super Bowl Weekend B.O. On Par With Liam Neeson Pics During Pandemic https://deadline.com/2021/02/the-little-things-super-bowl-weekend-2021-box-office-denzel-washington-jared-leto-1234689213/ China Box Office: ‘Soul’ Holds Its Own as Lunar New Year Pre-Sales Soar https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/china-box-office-pixar-soul-chinese-new-year-pre-sales-1234902852/ Feud Between Hollywood Agents and TV Writers Comes to an End https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/05/business/media/hollywood-writers-agencies-deal.html T.J. Osborne Comes Out as Gay https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/tj-osborne-comes-out-gay-1123160/ GameStop Isn’t a Popular Uprising https://washingtonmonthly.com/2021/02/03/gamestop-isnt-a-popular-uprising/ 2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List https://variety.com/2021/awards/news/2021-sag-nominations-list-nominees-screen-actors-guild-awards-1234897816/ AARP Movies for Grownups Awards: ‘Trial of the Chicago 7,’ ‘Da 5 Bloods’ Lead Nominations https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aarp-movies-for-grownups-awards-trial-of-the-chicago-7-da-5-bloods-lead-nominations Jeff Zucker Says He’ll Stay At CNN Through End Of Year https://deadline.com/2021/02/jeff-zucker-cnn-warner-media-1234687250/ TikTok and Universal Music Group Sign Global Licensing Deal https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/tiktok-and-universal-music-group-sign-global-licensing-deal/ Christopher Plummer, Whose Résumé Spanned Shakespeare to ‘The Sound of Music,’ Dies at 91

How do you hold a film in the midst of an infectious health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic? Just ask the Sundance Film Festival who managed to pull off a virtual film festival that felt quite similar to the real deal right down to the blockbuster acquisition deals for this year’s most popular titles. There was even a virtual bar for attendees to hang out and network with one another. We’ll fill you in on all the movies from this year’s festival that you’ll be hearing about throughout 2021. Meanwhile, last year’s noteworthy movies and television shows are heading into a delayed awards season with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announcing their Golden Globe Nominees. If the Globes are any indication, which is not always the case, then streaming services may dominate this year’s round of awards. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the AMC stock price surge, Warner Music goes solo and we may finally have seen the end of Peak TV. Denzel Washington & Rami Malek Thriller ‘The Little Things’ Counts $4.8M Debut https://deadline.com/2021/01/the-little-things-weekend-box-office-denzel-washington-hbo-max-1234684258/ China Box Office Earns $33 Million in Weekend Without new Releases https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/china-box-office-weekend-without-new-releases-1234897033/ Sundance 2021 Winners: ‘CODA’ Wins Four Awards, Including Grand Jury Prize https://www.indiewire.com/2021/02/sundance-film-festival-2021-winners-list-1234614184/ Weinstein Sexual Misconduct Settlement Confirmed by Bankruptcy Judge https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/weinstein-sexual-misconduct-settlement-confirmed-by-bankruptcy-judge Weinstein Co. Bankruptcy Attorneys to Receive Millions More Than Victims https://variety.com/2021/film/news/weinstein-co-bankruptcy-payout-26-million-1234895958/ Nick Cannon Daytime Talk Show Revived After Controversy Over Anti-Semitic Comments https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/nick-cannon-talk-show-masked-singer-debmar-1234894356/ Country Radio Quickly Removing Morgan Wallen From Playlists After Racial Slur https://variety.com/2021/music/news/morgan-wallen-country-radio-removed-racial-slur-1234899010/ CBS Opens Probe Into Racist, Sexist Behavior By Local TV Execs https://deadline.com/2021/01/cbs-sexist-racist-probe-george-cheeks-bob-bakish-viacomcbs-1234683888/ ‘Game of Thrones’ Animated Series in Early Development at HBO Max https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/game-of-thrones-animated-series-hbo-max-12348...

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc throughout the film industry. With most movie theatres around the world currently closed due to COVID, Hollywood studios have delayed almost all of their major releases into the latter half of this year. There is even talk that the Cannes Film Festival will move from May to sometime in July. Unlike cinemas, streaming media companies are currently thriving, with Netflix surpassing 200 million subscribers worldwide. Despite all of the competitors entering the marketplace, the company set a record high stock price after announcing they won’t need to borrow any additional money to fund new content. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the new “High School Musical” generates a chart-topper, Viacom changes up its streaming strategy and Spotify ventures into audiobooks. China Box Office: ‘Big Red Envelope’ Opens With $8 Million Weekend https://variety.com/2021/film/asia/china-box-office-weekend-big-red-envelope-1234891189/ Can a Brash Executive in Kansas Save Movie Theaters? https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/business/media/adam-aron-movie-theaters-amc.html AMC Raises $917 Million to Weather ‘Dark Coronavirus-Impacted Winter’ https://variety.com/2021/biz/global/amc-raises-debt-financing-1234891278/ Hollywood Prepares to Delay Another Slew of Blockbusters https://variety.com/2021/film/news/movie-release-dates-coronavirus-pandemic-1234881304/ Here Are All the Movies Delayed Because of the Coronavirus — With Some New Release Dates https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/here-are-all-the-movies-and-tv-shows-affected-by-coronavirus.html Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drivers License’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9512983/olivia-rodrigo-drivers-license-number-one-hot-100-debut/ Fox News Purges Journalists From its Roster https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-launches-purge-to-get-rid-of-real-journalists?ref=home Paramount Plus to Launch March 4 in U.S. and Latin America https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/paramount-plus-streaming-debut-march-4-viacomcbs-1234887452/ Netflix Beats Q4 Subscriber And Revenue Forecasts, Sees Cash-Rich Future https://deadline.com/2021/01/netflix-beats-q4-subscriber-forecasts-sees-cash-rich-future-1234676299/ Netflix Tops 200 Million Subscribers Amid Pandemic https://www.

For the first time in history, or at least since Nielsen started its U.S. weekly streaming chart, a non-Netflix show claimed the top spot. For the week ending December 20th “The Mandalorian” was the number one steamed show in the nation, with over 1.33 billion total minutes viewed by Disney+ subscribers. As more streaming services come online with their own original programming, Netflix’s domination of the Nielsen chart may ultimately fade. Speaking of ratings, a new leader among cable news networks has emerged since last year’s presidential election. For the first time since 2000, CNN and MSNBC beat out Fox News. Do these ratings reflect the unprecedented political crises we’ve been facing or a sea change in viewership? Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including country star Morgan Wallen’s new streaming record, Disneyland ditches annual passes and Shakira sells the publishing rights to her music. Open Road’s Liam Neeson Pic ‘The Marksman’ Takes $3.7M At MLK Weekend Box Office https://deadline.com/2021/01/open-roads-liam-neeson-pic-the-marksman-takes-3-7m-at-mlk-weekend-box-office-1234675393/ India’s ‘Master’ Has A Blast In Global Debut; ‘Soul’ Now China’s No. 3 Pixar Pic – International Box Office https://deadline.com/2021/01/master-vijay-thalapathy-india-wonder-woman-1984-soul-china-global-international-box-office-1234675396/ DGA Sides With Writers Guild In Its Dispute With WME Over Endeavor Content https://deadline.com/2021/01/dga-sides-with-writers-guild-in-its-dispute-with-wme-over-endeavor-content-1234672501/ Netflix Says 2021 Slate Will Bring “A New Movie Every Week” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/netflix-says-2021-slate-will-bring-a-new-movie-every-week Hipgnosis Buys 100% of Sharkira’s Publishing Catalog https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hipgnosis-acquires-shakiras-publishing-catalog-spanning-145-songs/ Shakira Is the Latest Star to Sell the Rights to Her Songs https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-55645178 Kennedy Center to Honor Dick Van Dyke and Others at Scaled-Down Events https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/arts/kennedy-center-honors-pandemic.html Disneyland Is Scrapping Its Annual Pass Program https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-01-14/disney-annual-pass-disneyland Sony Unveils New Subsidiary: Sony Immersive Music Studios https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.

Thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and amped up political unrest, viewership of cable news networks has reached record levels. Now that the presidential election is over in the United States, some are making changes to both their anchor and programming lineups. Maybe the biggest move is Fox News, which is moving an opinion show to their early evening rotation. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. is subtly pushing back against critics of its workplace environment on DC titles, despite top talent like Gal Godot and Jason Mamoa weighing in with concerns. Walter Hamada, the head of DC Films, seems to be taking most of the heat. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the return of “Sex and the City,” Kevin Hart heads to Netflix and the Grammy Awards get postponed. ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Nears $100M Offshore; China’s ‘Little Red Flower’ Leads Weekend – International Box Office https://deadline.com/2021/01/soul-wonder-woman-1984-demon-slayer-gintama-china-japan-global-international-box-office-1234670485/ Plagiarizing Director’s Film Pulled From China’s Silver Screens https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006673/plagiarizing-directors-film-pulled-from-chinas-silver-screens ‘Mean Girls’ Broadway Musical Announces Permanent Closure Due To Covid Shutdown https://deadline.com/2021/01/mean-girls-broadway-tina-fey-closing-musical-covid19-shutdown-1234666902/ ‘The Office’ Leads Nielsen Streaming Chart Ahead of Netflix Departure https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/the-office-leads-nielsen-streaming-chart-ahead-of-netflix-departure ‘Sex and the City’ Revival Confirmed at HBO Max https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/sex-and-the-city-reboot-hbo-max-1234882219/ ‘A Promised Land’ Was 2020’s Bestselling Book https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/85283-a-promised-land-was-2020-s-bestselling-book.html Kevin Hart Signs Film and First-Look Deal with Netflix https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kevin-hart-signs-film-and-first-look-deal-with-netflix-exclusive Taylor Swift Has the Top-Selling Album of the Year in U.S. for Historic Fifth Time https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9509005/taylor-swift-top-selling-album-year-fifth-time-folklore/ CNN Expands Jake Tapper’s Duties and Weekday Show https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/cnn-expands-jake-tapper-dana-bash-abby-phillip-1234882499/

The Pixar film “Ratatouille” is enjoying new life. The tale of a rat who becomes a gourmet Parisian chef has gone from one of Pixar’s animated blockbusters, to a TikTok meme taken on by a collaborative community to an actual honest to goodness online musical, complete with Broadway stars. But with so many people from all over the world working on the production, who owns the rights? Meanwhile, in the ongoing dispute between William Morris Endeavor and the Writers Guild, the agency keeps insisting they’ve got a deal on a new code of conduct but the WGA keeps saying, not so fast. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including how Amazon’s podcast maneuver, Quibi may have found a new home and why “The Great Gatsby” is now in the public domain. Streaming Into The Void Podcast http://streamingvoid.com/ How The Box Office Will Power Back In 2021 Despite Covid Woes & Streaming Obsessions https://deadline.com/2020/12/movie-theaters-2021-outlook-poised-for-rebound-covid-black-widow-1234661930/ TikTokkers Are Writing Ratatouille, the Musical. But Who Owns the Copyright? https://theconversation.com/tiktokkers-are-writing-ratatouille-the-musical-but-who-owns-the-copyright-151294 How the Ratatouille Musical Went From TikTok Sensation to All-Star Broadway Production https://time.com/5925560/ratatouille-tiktok-musical/ How the Ratatouille Musical Went From TikTok Sensation to All-Star Broadway Production https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/theater/ratatouille-tiktok-musical.html Amazon to Acquire Podcast Studio Wondery https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/amazon-acquires-wondery-1234876677/ Amazon, NFL Get Decent Audience for League’s Streaming-Only Debut https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amazon-nfl-get-decent-audience-for-leagues-streaming-only-debut January 1, 2021 is Public Domain Day: Works From 1925 Are Open To all! https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2021/ Hulu Inks ViacomCBS Deal to Add 14 Cable Networks to Live TV Package https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/hulu-live-tv-viacomcbs-cable-networks-deal-1234878131/ WGA Rejects WME’s Proposed Deal; Says Agency “Yet To Grapple” With Its “Conflicts Of Interest” https://deadline.com/2020/12/wga-rejects-wme-deal-agency-grapple-conflicts-of-interest-1234662648/ Judge Refuses WME’s Bid to End Writers’ Boycott https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wme-writers-guild-didnt-meet-and-engage-to-get-a-deal-done Lin Qi,

Just in time for the holidays, the United States Congress finally passed a COVID relief bill which will help independent concert halls, live theatres and movie theaters with some $15 billion in grants and loans. Shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic, many of these venues would probably close for good without financial assistance. Meanwhile, Creative Artists Agency and the Writers Guild have now officially buried the hatchet, reaching a deal on a new franchise agreement. William Morris Endeavor is now the only talent agency that hasn’t agreed to the WGA’s terms. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why the video game Cyberpunk 2077 has been trying to work the bugs out with its release, Mariah Carey returns to the top of the music charts with her Christmas hit and film critics associations from New York to Los Angeles name the years best movies. ‘Monster Hunter’ Takes In $2.2M Before ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Shakes Up Theatrical Window https://deadline.com/2020/12/monster-hunter-wonder-woman-1984-croods-2-weekend-box-office-1234659802/ Box Office: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Sputters in China, Grosses $38.5 Million Overseas https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/box-office-wonder-woman-1984-china-grosses-1234867283/ LA Film Critics Awards: Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ Wins Best Picture, ‘Nomadland’ Is Runner-Up https://www.indiewire.com/2020/12/la-film-critics-announce-2020-award-winners-list-1234605778/ New York Film Critics Circle Names ‘First Cow’ Best Movie of 2020 https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-12-19/first-cow-named-2020s-best-film-by-new-york-film-critics China Tightens Censorship After Monster Hunter Debacle https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-tightens-censorship-after-monster-hunt-scandal-delays-release-of-hit-anime-demon-slayer-exclusive Russo Brothers Received Close to $50 Million From Saudi Bank https://variety.com/2020/film/news/russo-bros-agbo-saudi-arabia-investment-avengers-endgame-1234866387/ New Video Game CyberPunk 2077 Dies Hard https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/18/technology/cyberpunk-2077-refund.html Taylor Swift Tops Billboard Charts With Eighth #1 Album https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503234/taylor-swift-evermore-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart/ Trending in China: Japanese Viewers’ Complaints About Sexist Manga Cartoon Go Viral in China http://china...

Everyone in the entertainment industry has suffered the disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, including those who create and publish independent comic books. Kyle Higgins knows a thing or two about that. He’s known for his work on the Batman franchise for DC and the Power Rangers franchise for Boom Studios, not to mention his own ground-breaking work on originals like C.O.W.L. We talk to Higgins about his latest creation, “Radiant Black” as well as the challenges of creating comics during a pandemic. He gives us a unique peak into the world of conceiving, creating and publishing independent comic books. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including the fallout from Warner Bros. sending all their movies to HBO Max, all the big announcements from Disney’s investor day and the latest additions to the National Film Registry. Kyle Higgins’ Radiant Black https://radiant.black/ Michael’s Holiday Music Playlists, Favorite Christmas Albums and More https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2020/11/christmas-music-mindspace-discussion.html Taylor Swift Dropping Second Surprise Album: ‘We Just Couldn’t Stop Writing Songs’ https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9497263/taylor-swift-dropping-second-surprise-album-evermore/ 2020 Box Office: Domestic Revenue Falls to 40-Year Low https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2020-box-office-domestic-revenue-falls-to-40-year-plus-low ‘Demon Slayer’ Tops $310M Overseas https://deadline.com/2020/12/demon-slayer-record-croods-new-age-china-global-japan-international-box-office-1234655693/ China Box Office: ‘Bath Buddy’ Makes Splash With $28 Million Opening, Despite Plagiarism Charge https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/china-box-office-bath-buddy-makes-splash-despite-plagiarism-accusation-1234852802/ She Stalked Her Daughter’s Killers Across Mexico, One By One https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/world/americas/miriam-rodriguez-san-fernando.html AMC Entertainment Raises $100M But Warns Cash May Be Gone In January, Slams Warner Bros. https://deadline.com/2020/12/amc-ent-cash-may-be-gone-in-january-warner-1234654916/ ‘Star Wars:’ 5 Takeaways from Disney’s New Plans https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-5-takeaways-from-disneys-new-plans Why Warner Bros. Is Max-imizing Its 2021 Movie Slate

The film industry is facing an existential crisis due to the COVID pandemic; film productions are struggling to continue, cinema chains have become burdened with debt and studios are sending their blockbuster releases directly to streaming services. In fact, last week Warner Bros. announced that its entire 2021 slate of movies would be released both in theatres and on their streaming service HBO Max, at least in the United States. Brooks Barnes, a reporter for the New York Times, recently wrote a feature story detailing the death of Hollywood…again. Literally the headline used the word obituary. Barnes joins us to discuss the unprecedented challenges and disruption the industry is facing and helps us understand their overall ramifications. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including why Disney is putting the Fox film library back in its vault, Bob Dylan sells the publishing rights to all of his songs and an all-Spanish album tops the Billboard charts for the first time in its 64 year history. Hollywood’s Obituary, the Sequel. Now Streaming. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/28/business/media/hollywood-coronavirus-streaming.html Michael’s Holiday Music Playlists, Favorite Christmas Albums and More https://popsurfing.blogspot.com/2020/11/christmas-music-mindspace-discussion.html Geoff Boucher’s Mindspace Podcast https://www.heavymetal.com/mindspace/ Jefferson May’s “A Christmas Carol” https://www.achristmascarollive.com China Box Office: ‘Monster Hunter’ Opens Fifth Despite Being Pulled From Theaters https://variety.com/2020/film/news/monster-hunter-china-box-office-1234848295/ Universal Continues To Dominate Paltry Pandemic Post-Thanksgiving B.O. https://deadline.com/2020/12/universal-continues-to-dominate-paltry-pandemic-post-thanksgiving-b-o-as-town-reels-from-warner-hbo-max-windows-bombshell-1234651156/ The “Queen’s Gambit” Stays Atop Nielsen Streaming Chart https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/the-queens-gambit-stays-atop-nielsen-streaming-chart South Korean Government Eases Rule On Mandatory Military Service https://deadline.com/2020/12/bts-lives-as-south-korean-government-eases-rule-for-mandatory-military-service-1234636950/ Disney Is Quietly Placing Classic Fox Movies Into Its Vault, and That’s Worrying https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/disney-is-quietly-placing-classic-fox-movies-into-its-vault.html Publishers Would Back a Reinvented BookExpo

Though 2020 saw DC Films launch a Harley Quinn vehicle and Marvel finally released an X-Men spin-off “The New Mutants,” neither film set the world on fire. As “Wonder Woman 1984” heads to a hybrid streaming and theatrical release, it’s the final gasp of almost an entire year without any big comic book movies. We ask veteran entertainment journalist Geoff Boucher whether we needed a break from all the cinematic heroics. As someone who has hosted countless CinemaCon panels, Boucher explains whether, after an endless stream of blockbuster Marvel and DC films, a year without a major comic book movie is such a bad thing. Of course we also cover some of the week’s top entertainment headlines including this year’s Grammy Award nominations, Conan O’Brien is ending his late night talk show and why Quentin Tarantino’s next release may be headed straight to libraries. Geoff Boucher’s Mindspace https://www.heavymetal.com/mindspace/ ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Sets Global Release Dates https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/wonder-woman-release-dates-1234839350/ Box Office: ‘The Croods 2’ Leads Sluggish Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/box-office-croods-2-opening-weekend-coronavirus-1234841734/ ‘The Croods: A New Age’ Dawns With $21M Offshore; ‘Demon Slayer’ Sails Past ‘Titanic’ To Become 2nd Biggest Film Ever In Japan – International Box Office https://deadline.com/2020/11/the-croods-a-new-age-opening-weekend-demon-slayer-japan-tenet-china-global-international-box-office-1234622859/ Roberto Benigni’s New ‘Pinocchio’ Movie Going Wide This Holiday Season https://deadline.com/2020/11/pinocchio-roberto-benigni-christmas-day-theatrical-release-1234625141/ Universal Signs Deal with Canada’s Largest Cinema Chain to Shorten Theatrical Window https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/20/universal-inks-deal-with-cineplex-to-shorten-theatrical-window.html Universal Notches Canada’s Cineplex With Dynamic Theatrical Window PVOD Pact Following AMC, Cinemark https://deadline.com/2020/11/universal-cineplex-amc-cinemark-theatrical-window-pvod-1234619367/ Cinemark & Netflix Testing ‘Christmas Chronicles 2′ As Town Ponders Whether Big Circuits Will Book Rival Streamers’ Pics Post-‘WW84’/HBO Max Deal https://deadline.com/2020/11/wonder-woman-1984-netflix-cinemark-christmas-chornicles-2-hbo-max-1234618909/ AMC Networks Cuts 10% Of U.S. Workers In Streaming-Focused Reorganization https://deadline.com/2020/11/amc-networks-cuts-10-of-u-s-workers-in-stream...