Latest Entertainmentbusiness Podcast Episodes
Bonus Episode 10: A Conversation About Unionization with IATSE
Virtual Economy - July 08, 2024 16:42 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWith the video game industry in the midst of the worst labor crisis we've ever seen, collective action is crucial. We're joined by Chrissy Fellmeth, Kelly Larkin, and Andrew Buczacki to discuss how the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is supporting labor organization and unio...
Jason Velez sells baseball in NYC and isn't competing head to head with any of the bigger teams...
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - June 26, 2024 17:08 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsMy guest today is Jason Velez from the Staten Island Ferry Hawks. I've known Jason for a long time. So long that he has one of the OG Dave business cards. So, it was great to catch up with Jason. We hit on 3 big topics in this episode: Selling based on value Competing with bigger bra...
Episode 175: Summer Game Fest Gets Closer to E3 Vibes (News Show)
Virtual Economy - June 19, 2024 19:15 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsE3 might be dead, but its spirit is clinging to life (even if just by sheer will of the industry and the JW Marriott lobby). We discuss the trends and big learnings from the showcases and a quick visit to SGF Play Days. Also: GameStop earnings, Circana report for April 2024, the latest labor rep...
Lauren Teague talks about 'second fan fashion'
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - May 28, 2024 16:57 - 39 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsLauren Teague returns! Lauren is the CEO of FanWgn. She has created an idea that is called "Second Fan Fashion" and it is very cool. FanWgn ties together a few of Lauren's favorite things: Sports Fashion Tech Sustainability In this episode, we talk about Lauren's career path and ho...
Episode 174: The World’s Oldest Console War is Over (News Show)
Virtual Economy - May 28, 2024 16:10 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsAtari has finally driven its mortal enemy, Intellivision, and heard the lamentations of its pixels. Also: So. Many. Earnings. We’re covering Sony, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Take-Two, and Embracer. Also, a number of new studios were founded as the labor winter trudges on. You can support Virtual Ec...
Chris Pantani teaches us that brand activations still matter
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - May 21, 2024 16:37 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsMy guest today is Chris Pantani. Chris is the GM of the NY Mavericks of the Professional Bull Riders. We talk about bull riding and why there is now a professional bull riding team representing New York City. I find out that there is a long history of professional bull riding in NYC. ...
Let's celebrate the 200th episode of 'The Business of Fun'
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - May 15, 2024 13:20 - 41 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsToday is the 200th episode of 'The Business of Fun' podcast! You didn't think I would not have something special prepared, did you? I will share some lessons learned and some things I'm thinking about and paying attention to. You can come work with me in NYC on September 4th, 2024...I'v...
Episode 173: Sony Didn’t Manage Democracy, Xbox Self-Immolates (News Show)
Virtual Economy - May 10, 2024 18:21 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsSony dug a giant hole and dumped all the Helldivers 2 goodwill into the pit (while cutting off 177 countries). Microsoft lit itself on fire and burned player sentiment to the ground. Good times. Also: Take-Two layoffs target a BAFTA winner, Unity has a new CEO with a massive compensation package...
Episode 172: Embracer Group Crumbles… And Friends (News Show)
Virtual Economy - April 28, 2024 17:43 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe Embracer Group name is going away, splitting its mega-conglomerate into three in an attempt to move on from its destructive legacy. But with Lars Wingefors sticking around to lead the holding company, our expectations are tempered. Also: Meta loses billions more as it tries to become the Win...
Episode 171: Why Layoffs? Because Everyone Else is Doing It! (News Show)
Virtual Economy - April 18, 2024 14:39 - 59 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsTwo months after Take-Two said it wasn’t planning layoffs it has… well… by now you know. Also, we’re trying something new and fun with this episode. Join us for a lively discussion about keeping the industry healthy and a deep dive into what the heck differentiates III from AA! You can support...
Solene Jimenez teaches us about the culture of sales in the arts...
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - April 16, 2024 17:58 - 50 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsMy guest today is Solene Jimenez. She is Head of International Development for arenametrix. www.arenametrix.com This is Solene's first podcast appearance and we had a good time. Of course, she didn't tell me it was her first podcast until we'd finished recording. I like to make the first ...
Episode 170: Embracer Group Fire Sale Burns Labor (News Show)
Virtual Economy - March 29, 2024 20:43 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe’ve come full circle. Embracer Group just took a massive loss to get some much-needed cash in hopes of filling a seemingly bottomless hole of debt. Saber is gone. Zen is gone. 4A is gone. Gearbox is gone. Also, SAG-AFTRA may strike against video game companies, some new studios are popping up,...
Alasdair Crawley says sports business is at a crossroads...
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - March 13, 2024 18:23 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsI have a good conversation for you today with Alasdair Crawley from FanBase. We had a great time talking about sports business including: Why sports business is at a crossroads. The challenge of getting the basics right. Data v. research Balancing the short term and long term in fanba...
Dr. Bijoy John Teaches Us About Our Superpower: SLEEP!
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - March 06, 2024 15:47 - 57 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsI haven't always been a champion sleeper. Like a lot of my friends, I haven't always had a regular bedtime due to work, school, social life, whatever. In college, at the University of Alabama, I couldn't be torn from the things going on in my dorm. I was so excited to see everything...I di...
Episode 169: The AAA Video Game Industry is in Freefall (News Show)
Virtual Economy - March 03, 2024 01:19 - 49 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsTriple-A game development as we know it is unsustainable. It doesn't matter if a game succeeds or fails, the corporate machine is grinding developers up and spitting them out by the thousands. Things need to change. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virt...
Episode 168: Switch 2 Switcharoo Could Thwart 2024 Recovery Hopes (News Show)
Virtual Economy - February 23, 2024 17:56 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe console market is going through major changes as hardware prices stay high and first party needs to pivot audience strategy. Nintendo may be struggling to find a break-even for its Switch successor, prompting a later release than we anticipated. Also: Embracer Group woes continue, Hasbro los...
Brian Hess doesn't put much validity in the numbers of the proposed new Northern VA arena.
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - February 20, 2024 18:02 - 48 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsToday's episode is personal because it is about the proposed arena in Northern VA. My guest is Brian Hess from I Street Advisors. Like me, Brian lives in the area. We discuss the arena at length: The nature of the market and where attendance comes from. Public subsidies. The 50/50 ...
Episode 167: Did Microsoft Trigger the FTC’s Trap Card? (News Show)
Virtual Economy - February 14, 2024 15:58 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsMicrosoft’s layoffs have sent the FTC into a tizzy, adding fuel to the ongoing fire. Also: It’s earnings season, with EA, Microsoft, Capcom, Nintendo, Square Enix, Paradox, Take-Two, Sega, and Meta reporting. We also cover the latest in the layoff storm that continues to drown the industry and D...
Episode 166: We Were Wrong About Microsoft and Activision (News Show)
Virtual Economy - January 31, 2024 15:13 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsIn the wake of 2020’s bombshell revelations about Activision’s miserable culture and history of defending sexual abusers, we hoped that Microsoft would be a better steward for the company’s 13,000 employees. With 1,900 laid off post-acquisition, we are disappointed and saddened at how wrong we w...
Jeffrey Shaw teaches me how selling eggs explains positioning...
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - January 30, 2024 07:45 - 53 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsJeffrey Shaw, author of The Self-Employed Life, teaches me some great lessons about positioning, strategy, marketing, branding, and sales. Listen and find out how selling eggs explains all of this. I'm hosting a FREE strategy webinar on 31 January 2024 at 11 AM Eastern called 'Beyond Boom...
I teach you how to plan for 2024
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - January 29, 2024 19:08 - 16 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThis is a me episode with a recording of my 'First Wednesday with Dave' session from December where we talk about planning for 2024. I'm hosting a FREE strategy webinar on 31 January 2024 at 11 AM Eastern called 'Beyond Boom and Bust'. Join the 'Talking Tickets' Slack Channel. Send me ...
Episode 165: So… 2024, Huh? (News Show)
Virtual Economy - January 24, 2024 19:46 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsIt’s been less than one month, and the industry has already suffered more than 3,500 lost jobs. Also: The Circana report for December 2023 and the full year, a few investments, and a discussion about some challenging changes to the U.S. tax code. Oh, and a bit about that weird Palworld game. Y...
Episode 164: The Game Awards Needs to Change (Season Finale)
Virtual Economy - December 27, 2023 20:13 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsIt’s been a hard year, folks. As we say goodbye to 2023 and turn our attention to a (hopefully) brighter 2024, we’re recapping recent gaming events, November’s Circana report, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME...
What Do Brokers Really Want to See When a Ticket Goes On Sale?
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - December 18, 2023 18:41 - 55 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratings"What do scalpers really like to see when a ticket goes on-sale?" That question popped up in my inbox about a week ago. It got me thinking about the questions that people ask me when they want to know how to "stop" the secondary market or whether or not to work with the secondary market. So...
Episode 163: Embracer Group Claims Layoffs are How “We Will Win” (News Show)
Virtual Economy - December 15, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsEmbracer Group gorged itself during the pandemic when debt was cheap. Now, it’s scrambling to lay off hundreds of people to “win.” Also, Circana report for October, Epic wins against Google, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merc...
Episode 162: The Stark Contrast Between Positive Earnings and Gruesome Layoffs (News Show)
Virtual Economy - November 15, 2023 21:49 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWe’re in the thick of earnings season, and it’s hard to swallow positive financial news amid an avalanche of heartbreak labor stories. On this week’s show: Sony EA, Nintendo, Take-Two, Remedy, Sega, and Square Enix earnings. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purch...
Episode 161: Phil Spencer is Bobby Kotick’s Daddy Now (News Show)
Virtual Economy - October 30, 2023 15:51 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsWith Microsoft’s Activision acquisition closed, the Xbox leadership team has reorganized in some unexpected ways. Also: Microsoft and Capcom earnings, more layoffs, Paradox says goodbye to Harebrained Schemes, Unity boots John Riccitiello, and we have the latest Circana report on U.S. Game spend...
Episode 160: A Bad Year for Game Creators is a Bad Year for Games (News Show)
Virtual Economy - October 08, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsThe industry’s labor situation is reaching a boiling point, as Epic Games sacrifices employees on the altar of its fight against Apple and Google. Also: Unity has burnt its goodwill to the ground, voice actors prepare to strike, a leadership shake-up at PlayStation, and Microsoft’s purchase of A...
Bonus Episode 9: The State of Indie Publishing with Z from Serenity Forge
Virtual Economy - October 01, 2023 17:01 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 9 ratingsAt PAX West, we spoke with Serenity Forge founder and CEO Z about the risks, challenges, and opportunities in the indie publishing world. With brutal macroeconomic headwinds and massive consolidation, the pressure is on for small publishers. Find out how Serenity Forge is weathering the storm.
Have You Ever Worried That Your Website or Experience Isn't Accessible Enough?
Dave Wakeman's The Business of Fun Podcast - September 21, 2023 17:53 - 40 minutes ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsMy guest today, Caspian Turner, helps me answer that question and shows us how you can take some easy steps to solve the problem for yourself. I want you to be more a part of 'The Business of Fun'. What does that mean? Send me your questions about strategy: Is there an issue you are co...
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