It’s a Renaissance and a Revolution.™ Audiences’ streaming entertainment consumption continues to explode, with more of the U.S. audience having a streaming subscription (69%) than a pay TV subscription (65%) for the first time, according to Deloitte’s 13th Edition of their Digital Media Trends Survey. In fact, 43 percent of U.S. audiences are piecing together their entertainment experience by having more than one entertainment subscription, with an average of three.
In addition to watching a lot of video, U.S. audiences are finding time to listen to music and play video games. Penetration of music streaming rose to 41 percent, a 58 percent increase over last year. Younger audiences in particular put music in the “must-have” category, with close to 60 percent of Gen Z and millennial audiences subscribing to a music streaming service. Thirty percent of U.S. audiences subscribe to a gaming service, and 41 percent play games daily or weekly, with more than one-half of Gen Z and millennial audiences subscribing and playing daily or weekly. Thirty-two percent of U.S. audiences also watch eSports on a weekly basis.
U.S. audiences are on the constant hunt for new and original entertainment, with 57 percent (71% among millennials) citing this as the reason they choose a particular streaming service. Forty-four percent cited “no ads” as a top reason for subscribing to a new paid streaming site. Millennials are streaming no ad paid services nearly one half of the time (46%), and free, ad-supported video sites like YouTube or Sony Crackle nearly one-third (29%) of the time, splitting the remainder of their entertainment time equally between pay TV services, live TV streaming services, and rental/video on demand. Live TV is a big draw with 29 percent of U.S. audiences paying for live TV streaming service, and up to 41 percent having access.
Entertainment is not broken – only the revenue model is.
In other words, these statistics from Deloitte show the entertainment industry is booming! There have never been SO many choices with over 300 streaming options available! Entertainment is not broken – only the revenue model is. While streaming has only increased the demand for entertainment, making a living as an entertainment content creator has become increasingly difficult. We’ve all likely seen the numerous articles by rock star musicians laying it out. The fact that they are making pennies on their tracks is so discouraging because we enjoy their music so much. And then, thinking about all of the creators involved with each of those tracks from songwriters to producers to engineers to the other musicians – how many ways can you divide a penny? This idea expands out to all entertainment content creators that we as audiences can stream – movies, TV shows, writers, dancers, comedians, gamers, magicians, lifestyle advice personalities, athletes, visual artists – it is an endless list — and, yes, DJs!
As a radio show host, for instance, I was very excited to move my Java Jazz® Radio Show from terrestrial public radio to online. I felt so grateful to public radio, which I’ve been involved with for so many years, and continue to support. I was blessed with the best time slot ever, doing my show as a volunteer every Saturday night, loving the connection with my local and global audience. But I had always wanted to take on the challenge of sharing my show online – for a living. So when I hit a scheduling wall, I jumped.
I wasn’t excited about having to pay $79 a month to keep ads off my show so my listeners could enjoy Java Jazz® free and uninterrupted, though. But, alas, I am. In fact, bootstrapping the labor of love that is my Java Jazz® show is becoming quite expensive between the production, audio, and online pieces that it takes to put it out for my listeners.
I also want to throw free Java Jazz® Dance Parties here locally in Aspen, Colorado with catered food and dances matching the music I love to play from around the world.
How can I actually make a living, retaining complete creative control, doing what I love, sharing the music and entertainment that I love with the world, free without interruption?
How can I actually make a living, retaining complete creative control, doing what I love, sharing the music and entertainment that I love with the world, free without interruption?
The solution is a Renaissance and a Revolution.™
This question is what prompted my mission with The Creator Athlete, LLC and this site. The solution is a Renaissance and a Revolution.™ It is ancient and cutting edge all at the same time. It is a return to the sponsorship revenue model that supported talent from the beginning of time – the Renaissance.
It is moving the sponsorship revenue model forward in a fresh, new way to embrace the amazing avenues available to us today for retaining creative control while creating a free, uninterrupted, direct relationship between talent and their audiences worldwide – the Revolution.
Athletes have succeeded in not only keeping the Olympics alive from ancient times but also the sponsorship revenue model.
I am on a mission to figure out how to secure an exclusive global brand sponsor and decided I’d share this journey with other talent along the way. Since I am dusting this avenue off while also paving new ground, I intend to interview those who are in the know with what currently exists in the sponsorship realm. Athletes have succeeded in not only keeping the Olympics alive from ancient times but also the sponsorship revenue model. So I intend to interview as many movers and shakers in that arena as I can.
Charities have also kept the sponsorship revenue model alive, so I’ll be shaking that tree as well. Then, there are some mega musicians that are figuring sponsorship out, so I’ll be begging them for interviews. I’ll also be very interested in your two cents along the way, so register free to share! Ready. Set. Go.
The Creator Athlete LLC. Eliyora Entertainment LLC. Ever Entertainment LLC. © Paradunai LLC. All international rights reserved. All trademarks property of Paradunai LLC. All personas, concepts, articles, and podcasts created and performed by Sherese Chrétien.
