Anstandig on the Business of Content

With nearly 50% of the US population using TikTok monthly, what will happen if proposed legislation to ban it at state and federal levels puts an end to it delivering a continuous stream of comedy, music, viewpoints, advice, and more? In this episode, Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig delivers an overview of the issues behind the ban talks and how content creators and marketers who are currently dependent on TikTok can diversify their offerings — an important item even if the bans don’t come to pass.

In the year 2030, there will be two types of companies, those that have incorporated artificial intelligence into their operating strategies, and those that are extinct. In this episode, Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig discusses AI’s role in the future of broadcasting, and the launch of Futuri’s RadioGPT™, the world’s first localized radio content solution powered entirely by artificial intelligence. Listen to his take and learn why he doesn’t believe AI will replace people — but he DOES believe that people who use AI will replace other people.

Music playlists have become a modern way of expressing one's personality and environment in the digital world. From mixtapes to streaming services, we still haven't realized their full potential - who knows what heights playlist curation will reach! In this episode, Daniel Anstandig takes a deeper look at today’s playlists and how they are becoming more personalized than ever with technologies like artificial intelligence and user behavior analytics. He also explores how the future of playlists will include many platform options and innovative new ways to collaborate with other listeners. We are still in the beginning of this transformation of playlists, and we will see audiences and revenues grow substantially for the platforms that offer the most personalized and accurate curation techniques. GET READY TO LEARN: ● The evolution of playlists. ● Various platforms and their curation techniques. ● Why Spotify often leads the pack. ● How platforms are introducing more collaboration features. ● The ways AI is used for playlist curation. KEY POINTS: ● Our playlists are becoming highly personalized to our behavior and interests. ● There will continue to be many platform options in the future. ● Spotify has aggressively championed playlist features more than other platforms. ● Collaboration features are a big component of future playlists.

Today we’re in what many are calling a “digital renaissance.” This year has shown that even in times of struggle—as thousands of job cuts signal that even the most successful tech companies are restructuring—we’re only going to rely on tech even more in the years to come. The technology developments we’ve seen throughout 2022 make one thing clear as we head into 2023 and beyond: tech will advance the human race significantly in the coming decades and in ways we have never seen before. Our lives are going to become more streamlined with the digital world, and that means that tech isn’t just limited to the tech industry now—it’s every industry. GET READY TO LEARN: ● Why massive tech layoffs don’t mean that tech is declining—just changing. ● Which major corporations are investing in emerging tech. ● What tech products we’re going to see more of. ● What advertisers need to know about the coming changes. KEY POINTS: ● Hiring for roles related to emerging tech will grow, despite all of the layoffs in other departments. ● Companies in other industries will hire more tech roles in the future, especially in areas like the metaverse and Web3. ● Data will continue to become more expensive, and in response to that, advertisers are going to have to become better acquainted to alternative digital advertising methods.

The digital age has transformed how we consume music; with that, it’s transformed how audiences discover new music. Today services like Spotify and Apple Music offer curated suggestions based on your personal music taste. As bespoke as streaming platforms are today, they’re only a sample of what is to come for music discovery in the future. In the future, new music could meet you where you already are—from exploring a virtual world in the metaverse to the peaks of a digital bike ride in an at-home, virtual exercise class. Record labels are exploring all of how audiences can be introduced to music in the future, and the result will be a more integrated listening experience. GET READY TO LEARN: ● How you’ll discover new music in the coming years. ● What tech and music partnerships mean for the entertainment industry. ● How music discovery changed throughout the years, and how that has influenced its future. ● All about emerging tech that will expose audiences to new music. KEY POINTS: ● Music has always adapted to changes in technology and consumer demand. ● As the music industry seeks to avoid the mistakes it made in the early digital age, audiences will see more exposure to new music. ● Record companies are eager to integrate with new technology. ● The coming music landscape is more beneficial than ever for artists.

It is estimated that the continent’s potential internet economy in Africa could reach $180 billion by 2025 and $712 billion by 2050. With more global users coming online, broadcasters moving into the online space have the potential to reach an even larger audience by supporting globalized models such as NFT subscriptions with cryptocurrency. Connectivity throughout Africa is improving, thanks to a technology called wireless mesh networks that enable decentralized access to the internet. In...

Streaming is now more popular than cable. Recent Nielsen data shows that streaming attracts 34.8% of viewers, while cable had 34.4% in July of this year. The broadcasting and media industries have been preparing for this shift for over a decade. With the arrival of streaming in recent years, consumers have migrated away from cable to a more tailored experience on streaming networks of their choice to cut monthly costs. So, where does that leave the future of cable tv? Many cable networks...

In this episode, Daniel presents the latest insights from Futuri’s ongoing Future of Audience and Revenue series. This new information is designed to help broadcasters identify and unlock growth opportunities to keep them relevant and competitive in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. This episode features new data from a survey of more than 1,200 American consumers aged 18 to 64, conducted by Futuri research partner SmithGeiger. GET READY TO LEARN: - The surprising content that more than 1,200 survey respondents say they want more of from your media brand. - What Gen Zs, Millennials, Gen X’ers, and Boomers plan to do more of — and less of — in the coming year, and how you can use that information to your benefit. - The eight things media brands need to do to experience high growth. To access the video from this webinar, along with a wealth of supplemental materials, visit FuturiMedia.com/Growth2022.

What if the radio was invented after the internet? That’s the question we asked when we started Futuri, and we’re exploring the answer in this podcast. As radio’s advertising revenue continues to stagnate, streaming and podcasting, including on-demand broadcast audio (ODBA), are seeing a rise. The answer isn’t to reinvent the wheel; Radio stations already have the tools they need to succeed on on-demand platforms. They just need to find ways to migrate onto those platforms cost-effectively. In today’s episode, we will discuss the new radio generation. From ODBA to opportunities to fill news deserts in remote parts of the world, radio stations are in a unique position where they’re at an advantage in the on-demand audio world—it’s just a matter of how to implement those changes. GET READY TO LEARN: ● All about the current audio landscape. ● Strategies for moving onto ODBA platforms. ● The potential for filling gaps in news deserts. ● How to use POST to streamline the transition to ODBA without investing in new departments. KEY POINTS: ● Radio will continue to struggle if it does not find ways to migrate onto ODBA platforms. ● ODBA industries like music and podcast are seeing revenue increases. ● Audiences consume more content than ever, just not on traditional radio. ● Radio can solve issues with news deserts by hiring local talent and distributing ODBA content.

Like other industries, the music industry is being transformed as artificial intelligence (AI) finds more ways to enhance human creativity. AI is being implemented across the artistic realm of music, bringing us AI-digital characters, AI-generated sound, personalized streaming, and more. In this episode, Daniel Anstandig takes a deeper look into the music industry and how the rise of AI is impacting it. Various tools and projects enable AI-generated music, and you will encounter several examples throughout this episode. These same tools are also helping turn non-musicians into sound curators, making it an incredibly exciting time to be an aspiring artist. The transformation of the music industry by AI does not mean the entire human experience of music will be automated. Instead, it will continue to personalize and improve the experience for both fans and creators alike! GET READY TO LEARN: ● Who was the digital rapper FN Meka? ● Various examples of AI-generated music. ● AI tools and projects like Magenta, AIVA, and LANDR. ● How non-musicians use AI to become sound curators. ● The impact AI is having on our streaming services. KEY POINTS: ● AI is accessible to aspiring musicians of all levels. ● Some AI-generated music is indistinguishable from human-generated music. ● Many AI tools and projects are open-source. ● AI helps streaming platforms curate personalized playlists.

We live in a world where news stories break and disappear from our screens within the blink of an eye. This new environment means it is impossible to be the first to break news, and people now expect their news to be delivered in real-time. In this episode, Daniel Anstandig explores the power of social media in today’s news cycle, and how artificial intelligence (AI) empowers the media industry with a “sixth-sense” to identify the stories that move the mark with their audiences. Media professionals must now sift through incredible amounts of information in a short amount of time like never before, which is why AI is critical for the future of news and a must for those looking to stay ahead. GET READY TO LEARN: ● How AI is impacting news-gathering in the media industry. ● The impact of social media on today’s news cycle. ● The ways AI can be used to develop stories aimed at audiences. ● AI’s impact on non-traditional news sectors like sports. ● How Futuri’s TopicPulse keeps your content ahead of the conversation. KEY POINTS: ● The focus is no longer on being the first to a news story. ● Social media turns anyone into a reporter. ● AI can scan thousands of sources to develop stories. ● Tools like TopicPulse are the future of news-gathering.

Social media regulation is a popular topic these days, but with little progress on laws that protect users from misinformation and no real answer to the content moderation dichotomy, where are we headed? In this episode, Daniel Anstandig outlines the future of data policies and breaks down the problems with content moderation and Section 230—the internet law that laid the foundation for how social media functions today. It’s a grim topic, but there are solutions in the pipeline that could...

Our colorful world is full of images, films, ads, and data forcing our brains to process an incredible amount of information in a short time. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are now using this new visual culture to change our understanding of images. In this episode, Daniel Anstandig explores how AI is enabling the creation of incredible artistic works from text, enhanced medical imaging, photo manipulation and detection, augmented reality glasses for hands-on workers, and more!...

Local TV broadcasters have the potential to fall behind as the globe shifts to its new digital future. After COVID-19 upended our daily habits and propelled our dependency on connected devices, podcasting is rapidly gaining audience — yet there is a noticeable lack of podcasts focused on local daily news. But that doesn’t mean local TV broadcasters should fear becoming obsolete. The digital world provides more opportunity than ever, and businesses that accommodate a changing consumer landscape often come out on top. As podcasting audience and revenue grow, it could be a saving grace for local TV broadcasters. GET READY TO LEARN: ● How consumer habits are changing in a work-from-home environment. ● How major television broadcasting networks are adjusting to these changes. ● What hurdles — and opportunities — exist for local TV broadcasters who want to get into podcasting. ● How local TV broadcasters can adopt podcasting in a turnkey way. KEY POINTS: ● Consumer habits are changing rapidly. ● Podcasting has grown significantly in recent years, while cord cutting is growing. ● Broadcasters are well-positioned to fill the daily local news void that exists in podcasting. ● Tools like Futuri’s POST can help stations use their broadcast content to quickly and easily develop a podcast presence.

The metaverse will bring with it new opportunities for creators, but new challenges as well. From the development of digital venues inside the metaverse to opportunities for podcasters to use NFTs as merchandise, the metaverse is set to bring change to the podcasting world. So what should podcasters consider as the metaverse grows? In this episode, Daniel Anstandig discusses opportunities that the metaverse will bring for podcasters. For an industry that is primarily audio, the metaverse will bring new opportunities for live events and connection for podcast fans. GET READY TO LEARN: ● How is the metaverse growing? ● What kinds of opportunities will come as the metaverse grows? ● How podcasts fit into the metaverse experience. ● Virtual merchandise opportunities. KEY POINTS: ● The metaverse will be a key player in the coming years as more brands see the financial opportunity within it. ● Metaverse event venues are already being built, and will create a demand for both performers and creatives to design them. ● Podcasters can use this opportunity to forge new connections with digital artists to develop collaborative opportunities in the future. ● Metaverse podcasting can create new revenue streams for podcasters, and enable new ways to market their projects.

Paywalled journalism and content has been around since newspapers were first printed. In the digital age those news outlets are not only competing with each other, but with individual content creators and information that circulates on free platforms like social media. Today, as consumers cut costs on subscriptions, paywalls may be more of a challenge than ever. So how do media companies accommodate those changes? In this episode, Daniel Anstandig discusses several approaches to paywalling...

It's easier than ever for anyone to create, recruit and engage their own audience. In fact, content creation is the fastest-growing small business category with a projected worth of 100 billion dollars in the next two years. In this episode, Daniel shares his perspective about the advantages and opportunities that the exponential growth of independent content creators presents to broadcasters who think of them as a resource rather than competition. From the incubation of creative ideas and...

We’ve all heard about deepfakes being used as a nefarious political tool, but we often glance over how these artificial characters can be used for GOOD. There is one industry that is ushering in a new era of entertainment with deepfake technology — Hollywood! Did you know that Hollywood is using deepfakes to bring back old characters or de-age actors so they can play a younger version of themselves? In this episode, Daniel Anstandig explores how major studios like Lucasfilm are using deepfakes to create digital versions of our most beloved characters, as well as the ethical implications that must be addressed. It has never been a more exciting time for movie lovers and creative minds alike! GET READY TO LEARN: ● What are deepfakes? ● How deepfakes are being used in Hollywood. ● How Lucasfilm created a deepfake Luke Skywalker. ● How deepfakes can lead to a new generation of creators. ● The ethical implications of deepfakes in Hollywood. KEY POINTS: ● What makes up a deepfake. ● How Disney used deepfakes in the Star Wars franchise. ● YouTuber turns into a Lucasfilm employee. ● The ethical dilemma of deepfakes in Hollywood.

In the final installment of the three-part series on Robots, Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig wonders if robots can, or ever will, have a soul. As robotics continues to advance, this is a tricky question that has caused science and spirituality to converge in unprecedented ways. What exactly is a soul? Where does it reside in our bodies? And if we don’t know, how can we bestow it onto something we create? Perhaps putting our own souls into robots is the closest we’ll get: Anti-aging is a huge...

In the second part of this three-part series on Robots, Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig looks at the bodies artificial intelligence is inhabiting. While most of our sci-fi assumes that robots will be built to look human, in real life, they’re anything but. The most ubiquitous robots are service bots built for e-commerce – like the over 200,000 robots Amazon has working in their warehouses – or cleaning, like Roombas. No one would say they look anything like people, but they get the job done; so...