The AvA Connection

🐝 Looping You In (10 things you need to know)

1) Patrick Whitesell, who previously served as the executive chairman of WME, starts a joint venture with Universal Music Group. There was a lot of business jargon in his official statement with not many specifics around financials or a business plan, but it’s a seismic move as one of the most powerful figures in Entertainment has teamed up with the world’s largest music company.

2) A24 hires youngest director in their history. 19 year old Kane Parsons will be brought on to build out his highly successful YouTube series titled ‘The Backrooms,’ which has amassed over 190 million views since debuting in 2022. I’m not even sure I could read at 19. More on Kane’s story here.

3) LGBTQ+ representation in film is at a 3 year low. GLAAD’s recent report breaks down the numbers:

• 100 films out of 350 (or 28.5 percent) were considered to be inclusive in 2022.

• That number then decreased to 70 out of 256 films (or 27.3 percent) for 2023.

• Most recently the decline continued to 59 films out of 250 (or 23.6 percent) in 2024.

4) Live Nation plans $1 billion venue investment over next 18 months. This will include 18 new or renovated venues across the US both in small and bigger markets. Maybe this is where the ticket fees are going? (Someone please tell me I don’t actually know what they do with them)

5) The next headliner at Sphere? The Wizard of Oz (with some AI mixed in). For all of those saying Sphere has carved out a niche of having legacy acts, well I guess this helps your argument.

6) SAG-AFTRA actors end 300+ day video game strike. The labor union (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) secured a tentative deal with the major video game companies. The sticking point? Protections surrounding generative A.I. obviously, which the gaming companies came to their best and final offer.

7) Disney and Universal team up to sue Midjourney, AI photo-generation company. This marks the first major legal showdown between Hollywood studios and an AI company. Read more.

8) BTS IS BACK (well not really but closer than yesterday!) Two more members of the the K-Pop “supergroup,” Jimin and Jungkook, were the latest and final bandmates to be discharged from South Korea’s mandatory military service. The last thing you want happening on your first night back, is an obsessed fan trying to break into your home right? That’s exactly what happened to Jungkook.

9) Judge tosses Justin Baldoni’s defamation case against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. In a more under the radar move, the judge ruled that Marvel won’t have to turn over “proprietary and highly confidential” documents about the development of Reynolds’ Nicepool character. Read more.

10) Meta is forming a new AI lab focused on “Superintelligence,” an AI system designed to surpass human intelligences. It’s no secret that OpenAI continues to eat their AI lunch, and Zuckerberg has become frustrated enough to overhaul the layout of their office, make 50 AI-related hires and place them directly next to him. Oh and they also plan to spend $65 billion on AI infrastructure this year. WE JUST WANT A CHRONOLOGICAL INSTAGRAM FEED PLEASE.

🏃 Going BTS: Mythical

We got a behind the scenes look into the internet's most-watched and longest-running daily show: Good Mythical Morning.

Fun fact: Mythical, who now has over 76 million subscribers and 27 billion lifetime views across their YouTube channels, operates out of their own 17,000-square-foot studio in Burbank, CA, which comes complete with writers rooms, test kitchens, and an entire prop department.

🏃 Industry Moves

1. BMI extends President & CEO Mike O’Neil’s contract until 2029. Of course we love to see the drama of someone going from 3-Letter Agency to 3-Letter Agency, but stability is nice to see too.

2. Merge Records Co-Founder Laura Ballance leaves company after Secretly Group buys 50% stake. Her thoughts on why she’s leaving are refreshingly honest. “It was never my goal to start a record label when I was 21 and run it for the rest of my life. I have been doing this for 36 years now. Life is short.”

📞 The Call Log: Drew Kirsch, Award Winning Filmmaker & Music Video Director

Drew Kirsch is a self-taught filmmaker who dropped out of college at 21 to move to Los Angeles. After being denied by UCLA’s film school, he quickly climbed his way up the ladder in the music video world, eventually winning 2 MTV’s Video of the Year award with Taylor Swift. He has also worked with John Legend, Rufus du Sol, Charlie Puth, Khloe Kardashian, Jack Harlow, Glass Animals, Jungkook of BTS & many, I mean many, more.

Drew joined us on our new interview series, The Call Log, which is a <30 minute weekly conversation perfect for your commute.

AvA: What was it like working with Taylor Swift? 

Kirsch: It’s amazing working with someone who's incredibly good at what they do and incredibly kind. I couldn't say enough good things about working with her specifically and just getting to collaborate with someone who shares a similar POV. Once you're aligned with an artist, and you're both headed towards the same direction, it makes it really fun to share ideas and take on challenges. How are we gonna build this house? How are we going to move a camera through it? You just throw yourself in the fire and figure it out. 

AvA: What’s one piece of advice for someone wanting to break into the industry?

Kirsch: Think outside the box. I don't mean that just from a creative standpoint, I mean in terms of how you are going to get in touch with the right people to get you to what you need to accomplish. That also goes along with just hustling. When I moved to LA I didn't know anyone and it was so much cold emailing, going to trade shows, getting my way in there, and showing people my work.

I was always giving people business cards trying to get my name out there, and I would find the most important people in the room. You have to take your shot and get turned down 9 out of 10 times, but it will pay off in the end.

AvA: What was your first concert?

Kirsch: 3 Doors Down.

AvA: Best concert?

Kirsch: Dead & Co. at the Sphere.

AvA: Dream Artist to see play at the Sphere?

Kirsch: Rüfüs Du Sol.

AvA: Favorite Non-Drew Kirsch music video?

Kirsch: Gosh - James XX.

AvA: Dream Festival Headliners?

Kirsch: Eminem, Glass Animals.. and throw something in there like a Shania Twain. Make it funky. 

AvA: Dream Artist Collaboration?

Kirsch: I'd love to do someone just like off the wall that no one would think about like Natasha Bedingfield, and Taylor Swift again.

POV: You’re a Hollywood Assistant:

👋 See you back here on Tuesday for a brand new selection of Entertainment jobs

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