How 'Sound of Freedom' Outperformed 'Mission: Impossible'

Matt is joined by Axios senior correspondent Sara Fischer to dissect the biggest deals of 2023, and what we can expect in 2024. They discuss why private equity may dominate the deal market next year, the possibility of a major merger, and predict what 2024 will hold for Paramount Global, Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast, theater chains, NBA rights, and more. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction on a potential IATSE strike in the spring. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Sara Fischer Producer: Craig Horlbeck Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7 Des 202333min

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Ashley Carman to discuss the state of the podcast industry and its struggle to reach profitability despite its growth. They talk about the murky metrics for success, the era of companies going “all in” on celebrity podcasts, the comedy podcaster boom, Spotify vs. Apple vs. YouTube, and the rise of the video podcast. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of streamer bundling. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Ashley Carman Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Des 202332min

Matt is joined by Julia Alexander—the director of strategy at Parrot Analytics and a streaming wars expert—to discuss the year's most strategic and powerful moves made by streamers to try to gain an advantage over their rivals, and which worked the best. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2024 Oscars. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Julia Alexander Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Des 202332min

Matt is joined by longtime casting director Denise Chamian to provide her perspective on some of the industry’s most pressing topics, including Hollywood’s lack of young movie stars, AI replacing actors, the effectiveness of the SAG-AFTRA strike, as well as misconceptions about the casting process and how it has changed. She also reveals a few secrets about the casting for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Elvis’, and highlights a few actors she believes are stars in the making. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction for the opening weekend of 'Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé’. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Denise Chamian Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Des 202332min

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Paramount Global’s struggle to survive in the age of streaming, whether owner Shari Redstone will be forced to sell the family business, and, if so, whom she will sell it to. Matt finishes the show by giving an update on the 2023 box office draft between him and Lucas. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Nov 202332min

Matt is joined by Vox senior correspondent and 'Recode Media' host Peter Kafka to discuss the new era of tech and Hollywood, including the long-term place of Apple and Amazon in the entertainment industry, the rise of advertising in streaming, YouTube's and TikTok’s power, the complicated relationship between big tech and sports, big tech’s foray into the media ecosystem, how it will affect the traditional broadcast industry, Elon Musk's impact on Twitter and social media, and the upcoming Elon Musk movie. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction for Disney’s ‘Wish’ and Apple’s ‘Napoleon.’ For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Peter Kafka Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

22 Nov 202332min

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss some of the unexpected winners and losers in the wake of the strikes, highlighting those who suffered from collateral damage or perhaps benefited from fortuitous timing during Hollywood's extended shutdown. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 Nov 202332min

Matt is joined by Justine Bateman—writer, director, producer, former actress, and SAG-AFTRA negotiation committee consultant on the use of AI—to discuss the protections established against the use of AI in the new SAG-AFTRA deal. She voices criticisms of the AI portion of the contract, and highlights potential loopholes that could significantly affect working actors and permanently alter the future of filmmaking. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming release of ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Justine Bateman Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17 Nov 202337min