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Strictly Business

iHeartPodcastsvariety.com
Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.
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Episodes

Daily Variety -- 'Primate,' 'No Other Choice' Help January Box Office; What CES and the Golden Globes Had in Common

On today’s episode, Variety 's Rebecca Rubin breaks down the weekend box office and encouraging starts for Paramount’s “Primate” and Neon’s “No Other Choice.” And host Cynthia Littleton offers reporter's notebook observations after a week that started with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and ended with the Golden Globe Awards swirl in Hollywood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 12, 202616 min

Daily Variety -- How Misinformation Has Complicated L.A.'s Recovery From 2025's Firestorm

On today’s episode, as Los Angeles marks the one-year anniversary of the devastating Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires, NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff details the cathartic process of writing his new book, “Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires and America’s New Age of Disaster.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 07, 202616 min

Israeli Entertainment Industry Confronts Its Crisis at New Festival

"Strictly Business" co-host Andrew Wallenstein traveled to Israel last month to take part in Jerusalem Sessions, a first-time festival where local TV and film pros discussed how to contend with the dark cloud that has been cast over their industry since Oct. 7, 2023. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 02, 202615 min

Vaudeville, Burlesque, Legit Theaters and Saloons: What Entertainment Was Like in 1905

On today’s episode, showbiz historians David Monod and Peter Rader describe the entertainment marketplace as it existed in 1905, the year Variety began publishing in New York. The pair have great insights into how the past has informed the present in the world that Variety has covered for 12 decades and counting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 19, 202528 min

Daily Variety -- Why YouTube's Deal for Oscar TV Rights is Neal Mohan's Master Stroke; Connor Storrie on His Big Break in 'Heated Rivalry'

On today’s episode, Variety ’s Clayton Davis and Michael Schneider unpack Hollywood’s latest big surprise – the Oscar telecast’s move to YouTube starting in 2029. And Marc Malkin gets the details from "Heated Rivalry" star Connor Storrie about how his big break happened and what he advised his mother about watching the HBO Max hockey drama. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 18, 202515 min

Daily Variety – Inside Variety’s 120th Anniversary Issue: How We Tackled 12 Decades of Hollywood’s Highs and Lows

On today’s episode, we dive into the creation of Variety’s 120th anniversary issue with deputy editor Trish Deitch and design director Ted Keller. The two discuss how we tackled 12 decades of showbiz history – and why the discovery of a long-forgotten photo of Liberace and Michael Jackson sparked joy in the newsroom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 17, 202514 min

Daily Variety – Sundance 2026 Lineup Blends New Discoveries and Nostalgia; How The Game Awards Blend Kudos and Ballyhoo

On today’s episode, Variety’s Peter Debruge and Matt Donnelly break down the Sundance lineup and what to expect at the festival’s nostalgic final outing in Park City, Utah. And Jennifer Maas previews The Game Awards to explain how the event has grown into the Oscars for video games by blending kudos and ballyhoo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 11, 202518 min

Daily Variety – Cinema United Chief Michael O’Leary on the Threat to Moviegoing Posed by Netflix Buying Warner Bros.: ‘We Cannot Survive Only on Blockbusters’

On today’s episode, Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Cinema United, discusses the state of moviegoing and the reaction among exhibitors to the Netflix-Warner Bros. Discovery news. He unpacks why movie theater owners are so worried about Netflix taking the keys to Hollywood’s biggest producer of theatrical films. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 10, 202515 min

Daily Variety – David Ellison Tries to Pry Warner Bros. and HBO From Netflix; ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ Impresses at Box Office

On today’s episode, Paramount Skydance goes hostile for Warner Bros. Discovery. Will David Ellison bust up WBD’s engagement to Netflix? And Variety's Brent Lang breaks down the weekend box office as “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” adds another win for video game adaptations on the big screen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 08, 202513 min

'Apt.' Co-Writer Theron Thomas on the Competitive Business of Songwriting

'Apt.' co-writer Theron Thomas discusses the ins and outs of being one of the music industry's most consistently successful songwriters. He reminisces on his early days making music in his native St. Thomas, and he traces his career trajectory to the present day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 05, 202540 min

Daily Variety – Exploring How Spirituality and People of Faith are Portrayed in Pop Culture; Richard Gere on his Dalai Lama Doc ‘Wisdom of Happiness’

On today’s episode, we hear from Brooke Zaugg, executive director of Faith & Media Initiative, on the coalition’s work to influence portrayals of spirituality and people of faith in media and pop culture. And Variety’s Marc Malkin talks with Richard Gere about his new documentary on the Dalai Lama, “Wisdom of Happiness.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 04, 202516 min

Daily Variety -- The Hitmakers Parade: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and More; Will Warner Bros. Discovery Try for Round 3 of Bids?

On today’s episode, Variety ’s Jem Aswad details our annual Hitmakers issue, featuring cover star Sabrina Carpenter. He details the year-long effort that goes into assembling the survey of the year’s top 25 tunes. And Todd Spangler gives us an update on the state of bidding for Warner Bros. Discovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 03, 202518 min

Daily Variety -- Microdramas Go Mainstream with TelevisaUnivision and JCPenney; How Record Store Day Fosters Fandom and Community

On today’s episode, Variety’s Brian Steinberg details a deal between TelevisaUnivision and JCPenney to produce microdramas and microdrama branded content. And Chris Willman discusses the unique pleasures of standing in line with fellow music lovers on Record Store Day, Black Friday Edition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 02, 202517 min

Daily Variety – ‘Zootopia 2’ Muscle Sets Box Office Up for a Strong Finish; Jeremy Allen White Turns His Attention Back to ‘The Bear’

On today’s episode, Variety's Rebecca Rubin unpacks the Thanksgiving feast at the box office with “Zootopia 2” and “Wicked: For Good” lighting up screens around the world. And Marc Malkin sits down with Jeremy Allen White as the actor turns his attention back to filming “The Bear.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 01, 202516 min

Daily Variety – Marlo Thomas on the St. Jude Story and Advancing Her Father’s Mission to Save Children’s Lives

On a special Thanksgiving Day edition, the legendary Marlo Thomas revisits the remarkable story of how – and why -- her father, entertainer Danny Thomas, launched St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn . And we take a Vintage Variety look back at how St. Jude's origins played out in our pages. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Nov 27, 202516 min

Daily Variety -- Revisiting Martin Scorsese’s ‘Casino’ With Owen Gleiberman; Turmoil on ‘Tulsa King’

On today’s episode, we’ll hear from Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman about his rediscovery of an under-appreciated Martin Scorsese classic, 1995’s “Casino. ” And Joe Otterson unpacks his reporting on the turmoil behind the scenes on Sylvester Stallone’s “Tulsa King” series as the Taylor Sheridan drama shoots Season 4 in Atlanta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Nov 20, 202518 min

Daily Variety – Cover Story: Producers Stand United to Fight Money Problems and Credit Disrespect; Jonathan Wang and Laura Lewis Unpack the Issues

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Matt Donnelly unpacks his reporting on Producers United and its quest to address the dilemmas and the disrespect that contemporary producers battle. Donnelly is joined by Producers United members Jonathan Wang and Laura Lewis who put a human face on the issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 19, 202518 min
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