In our now traditional "what did Maureen and Claire predict for this year?" episode, we go though what our two great prophets said was going to happen in 2025, some 12 months ago. You will be surprised how well they did. Have a listen (or re-listen) to Episode #63 if you want to hear their predictions in full. Then, gather round the wireless in front of the fire and have a listen. We're on in between The King's Speech and something or other from Ant and Dec. Happy Christmas one and all!

A fabulous Deep Dive this time on the "Creative Economy" of which we are, of course, a part! Netflix and WBD goes "beyond juicy" our Spotify Wrapped ages are wildly different and are Vertical Dramas coming of age? Our move into video (about five years after everyone else) is proving very popular for fans of Podmojis for obvious reasons.

Would you believe Spotify is nearly 20 year old? Well, believe it and all the history and strategy Claire and Maureen have to share with us. News covers big deals and big launches and our presenters struggle to gain supremacy in the Podmoji arena with weird socks, the big TikTok Shop and a quiet revolution in Hollywood.

A brilliant deep dive on Netflix this time and the news is all about WBD selling up, the potential of an AI bubble and Disney integrating with Hulu. Despite being half the world away (literally) Claire grabs whatever she can for podmojis to cover AI presenters, Taylor Sheridan and Celebrity Traitors. Will there be an outright winner?

Today is a very special episode in that we welcome a guest: Dr. Alex Connock, producer-turned-academic, now teaching AI and media at both Oxford and Exeter.

Alex was actually on The Media Beat two years ago, when we talked about his first book, Media Management and Artificial Intelligence. Since then, both AI and the media industry have moved at extraordinary speed.

He’s back with a brand-new book, Entrepreneurship in Media and Entertainment, just out from Routledge - exploring how AI, creativity, and entrepreneurship are reshaping every stage of the media business, from start-up ideas to scale-ups and exits.

Today we’re talking with Alex about what that transformation really looks like in practice: how AI is changing storytelling, production, talent, and education - and what the next generation of media entrepreneurs need to know to stay ahead.

Maureen plays an absolute blinder in this episode's Deep Dive where she give a forensic explanation as to the reasons behind why so many media companies are splitting their business up with additional crucial insights from Claire. We talk about the Paramount, Netflix, WBD machinations, new wearables and what goes on YouTube stays on YouTube for ever (featuring Oliver's first ever material contribution which is about as impressive as Ringo's contribution to The White Album). Podmojis are hard to extract this time, but the chat on Murdock, TikTok, ITV and Jimmy K is terrific!

Ever wondered what a "paperless production" was? Well, wonder no more as Claire takes us through a the silent revolution in film and TV production that happened as we enjoyed our favourite shows. In The News covers content vs creator wars, SVOD trends and the six children and five wives of the world's greatest media mogul. Maureen has a surprise for us all as she casts "Media Beat - The Movie!" in between use of fab props to take us through an advertising own goal, a cool tool and what Anna Wintour really thought of "The Devil Wears Prada".

Many of us know about the A24 studio and the four quadrants, but Claire takes us deep into its history and strategy topped of with some business brilliance from Maureen. We are one of the few podcasts who reference both T.S. Eliot and Adam Sandler whilst analysing how the predicted AI bust will play out. Threads is on the up, Netflix has gone star staring bonkers and another corporate rebrand goes wonky!