Strictly Business

If there's two things Harry Sloan knows, it's special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) and the media business. He co-founded a record seven SPACs as the co-founder of Eagle Equity Partners, including the most successful such venture to date: sports-betting hub DraftKings, and is also a well-known name in Hollywood, where his highest-profile stints including chairman/CEO of MGM. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of Paramount+ and Pluto TV offers an optimistic update for the growth prospects of his streaming services as the parent company expands its overseas capabilities. Meanwhile, Ryan sticks up for sticking with Amazon Channels and touts the early success of kids programming from "Paw Patrol" to "iCarly." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 20 months into the pandemic, how is the music industry doing? The short answer? Finding silver linings everywhere it can. For the Mondo NYC conference last month, Variety assembled four people — rising singer-songwriter Brittney Spencer, WME agent Lucy Dickins, artist manager Binta Niambi Brown and Sony Music Publishing VP Kristina Hedrick — for a far-reaching and inspiring talk about how they, their businesses, their colleagues and/or their artists have adapted, and in some cases thrived.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The longtime CBS executive has reteamed with a handful former colleagues to launch Argus Capital Corp., which has about $300 million in funding so far to acquire media properties. Ianniello explains he’s on the hunt for corporate carve-outs, or assets that media giants may be ready to shed as they plow resources into new streaming platforms. Argus brings an experienced management team that aims to be a bolt-on solution for newly public entities. Ianniello hopes the focus on operating expertise will set his venture apart from other SPACs.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vogue's exclusive Met Gala red carpet live stream in September has set a template for parent company Conde Nast to repeat its success at future events, according to chief revenue officer Pam Drucker Mann. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Los Angeles Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer outlines his vision for his “mecca” of basketball with team’s new arena that is scheduled to open in Inglewood, Calif. in 2024. Ballmer enthusiastically describes the cutting-edge tech touches and focus on sustainability that went into the design. And he weighs in on the future of NBA’s television rights deals at the national and local levels.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Richman and Keya Khayatian, co-heads of United Talent Agency's media rights group, scour the world for news books, long-form journalism, podcasts and individual life rights to find source material for your next streaming obsession. The industry veterans discuss the growth in demand for life rights, the supreme power of the suburban book club and how media rights sales have help keep talent agencies afloat during the pandemic. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorney Dina LaPolt founded her own firm 20 years ago and went on to represent music stars like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, rappers 21 Savage and Cardi B and the Tupac Shakur estate. As her practice grew, so did LaPolt’s conviction for righting the music ecosystem’s wrongs. She’s tackled songwriters’ rights and access to digital royalties; she campaigned for federal COVID relief to help music creators and independent contractors; and she’s currently advocating to eliminate the use of triggering terms like “master recording” in contracts. A Variety ‘Power of Women’ honoree, the openly gay, loudly sober industry trailblazer lets ‘Strictly Business’ into her world of advocacy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Line Cinema founder and Hollywood legend Bob Shaye talks about why he joined the board of directors at Brat TV, a producer of scripted series targeting Gen Z on myriad digital platforms, along with Brat co-founder Rob Fishman, who gives an update on his company's progress.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hollywood veteran details the steps that led her to partner with Elisabeth Murdoch and producer Jane Featherstone to form the content banner Sister in 2019. Snider reflects on how her years of experience as head of Universal Pictures, DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox is helping her to build a nimble operation with financing and resources to nurture projects from writers and directors “who have something to say.”   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Lee, better known as Coach K, is cofounder of Quality Control, the multifaceted Atlanta-based label and management company that in just eight years has brought the world Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, City Girls and more, and also manages many athletes. Coach talks about how old-school “street marketing” and a cosign from his friend Drake helped launch the company, the gunshot injury that ended his sports career but set him on this path, and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prolific producer Arthur Smith discusses the explosive growth of the content marketplace and the many challenges COVID has created for production. The industry veteran, who is also chairman of Tinopolis Group U.S., explains why he loves the high-wire act of large-scale unscripted TV shows. And while he marvels at the spike in global demand, Smith misses the days when series deals were sealed on the basis of a title and a handshake. "The business has become more business-like," he observes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone explains why the dating app is embracing streaming video applications and other multimedia tools to keep its Gen Z user base engaged. He discusses the origin of its original series “Swipe Night” and how the show's choose-your-own-adventure format helps facilitate matches for Tinder users. The former CEO of CBS Interactive who launched CBS All Access in 2014 also weighs in on the state of play in Big Media's streaming wars.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The executive who sits atop Discovery’s portfolio of more than 200 international channels discusses the potential of the pending WarnerMedia-Discovery merger and the empire of entertainment, lifestyle, sports and news content to be brought together under one roof. Perrette weighs in on the rollout of Discovery Plus and how the unusual Tokyo summer Olympics performed for Discovery’s Eurosport streaming platform.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Weinstein, co-founder of Underscore Talent, a new management firm representing influencer talent, explains how companies like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter have escalated their battle in recent months to court a new generation of digital-native celebrities. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small independent TV companies are an endangered species at a time when media’s largest conglomerates are focused on the streaming wars and global expansion. In separate interviews, Paula Madison, CEO of The Africa Channel, and Bill Rouhana, chairman-CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, offer insights into why they zig when others zag and where they see opportunity ahead.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music managers Mark Gillespie, of Three Six Zero, and Michele Harrison, of Range Media Partners, discuss representing hitmakers Calvin Harris and Justin Tranter, respectively, and how their roles as advisors have changed over the years.Music managers Mark Gillespie, of Three Six Zero, and Michele Harrison, of Range Media Partners, discuss representing hitmakers Calvin Harris and Justin Tranter, respectively, and how their roles as advisors have changed over the years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Common Sense Networks CEO Eric Berger unveils Sensical, a new kid-centric app that gives parents peace of mind by offering a safe alternative to the bigger video platforms that have gotten a bad reputation for serving up algorithmically driven content that may not be in their best interest to watch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CNN Worldwide chief digital officer Andrew Morse shares the game plan for what he calls the biggest launch in the network's history since Ted Turner first brought the brand to cable TV in 1980. He addresses what to expect from its programming mix, how CNN+ will be different from the TV network and how interactivity with subscribers will be part of the content. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six months into 2021, and the profound financial impact the pandemic had on the media industry is just beginning to be truly understood. Naveen Sarma, senior director of S&P Global Ratings, has closely studied the myriad ways the sector has been shaken up. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.