Power is shifting from studios to individuals. Platforms like Patreon and Substack allow creators to sell access directly to their super-fans. A podcaster with 10,000 dedicated listeners can earn a better living than a TV actor on a low-rated network show.
Generative AI (ChatGPT, Midjourney, Sora) will allow users to generate personalized on the fly. Why watch a generic rom-com when you can ask the AI to generate a movie where you are the lead actor, fighting a dragon, with a specific musical soundtrack? This reality is 3–5 years away.
Entertainment is no longer a solo activity. "Live tweeting" Game of Thrones or discussing the latest Marvel post-credits scene on Reddit creates a fear of missing out (FOMO). To remain part of the cultural conversation, you must consume the content immediately. If you don't watch the latest Stranger Things season in the first three days, the memes will spoil it anyway.
