Public Policy, creative industries
Ian Hawthorne
Frameworks for Understanding Cultural Policy: ...

This article analyzes Ireland’s emerging position as a global cultural policy case study, focusing on the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program and its place within the national framework Culture 2025. While Ireland’s consensus-driven political system, strong arts advocacy networks, and history of support for artist income have enabled an ambitious, research-oriented basic income pilot, the article highlights deeper tensions within cultural policymaking. Drawing on Stephen Hadley’s concept of “cultural policy realism,” it argues that Ireland’s policies—despite their novelty—remain rooted in traditional, instrumentalist views of culture as an economic engine and national branding tool. By contrasting democratization of culture with cultural democracy, the piece situates Ireland’s model between innovation and reversion, emphasizing the need for sustained experimentation, critical evaluation, and more genuinely democratic approaches to cultural support.

Frameworks for Understanding Cultural Policy: Lessons from the Irish Model
Gamification, Research, Artificial Intelligence
Staff Researcher
Part II - The Role of AI in Evolving Game ...

This study advances Part II by translating Scopely’s strategy into an execution plan across three tracks - NPC innovation, intelligent monetization, and ethical LiveOps - supported by new evidence from a 1,159-response consumer survey, nine expert interviews (developers, influencers, and experiential professionals), and secondary industry research. Part I established the market context for AI’s disruptive potential and identified three priorities: live operations evolution, commerce optimization, and advanced player analytics. The goal of this phase is to pinpoint the highest-leverage AI applications that deepen gameplay engagement, convert payment resistance through demonstrated value, and safeguard community trust. Accordingly, Part II outlines actionable playbooks (context-aware NPCs and adaptive narratives), platform tactics (purchase-aligned mobile personalization and cross-play integration), and operational models (behavior-based matchmaking and transparency protocols) designed to drive scalable, technology-led growth while preserving the integrity of shared human play.

Part II - The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics
Artificial Intelligence, entertainment, Research
Staff Researcher
Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in ...

This study provides a comprehensive analysis for Scopely to enhance its position as a leader in interactive and mobile gaming, focusing on AI integration in live operations, in-game commerce, and player analytics. The research reveals the urgent need for gaming companies to navigate accelerated AI adoption and evolving player expectations for personalized experiences. The goal is to identify the most impactful AI applications over the next three years and strategies that maximize engagement and monetization while maintaining player trust. Significant to this goal is balancing innovation with ethical considerations, including data privacy and transparency, while recognizing AI's potential to enhance storytelling and create immersive experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach with industry interviews, a survey of over 1,000 U.S. gamers, and secondary research, Part I establishes the foundation for understanding AI's transformative impact - setting the stage for Part II's empirical findings and strategic recommendations.

Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics
News & Announcements, museums
Hales Wilson
Byte-Sized Culture: The Art of Stealing

A daylight robbery at the Musée du Louvre in mid-October resulted in the theft of eight priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels housed in the Galerie d’Apollon. The incident now serves as an in-depth analysis for arts leaders globally to confront not only external threats, like highly organized professional thieves, but also the complex, internal risk of compromised staff and the urgent need to re-evaluate their security posture, technological investment, and institutional accountability.

Byte-Sized Culture: The Art of Stealing
entertainment, Extended Reality, Digital Futures
Staff Researcher
The Use of Immersive Technology in Live Music: ...

As immersive technologies redefine the live concert experience, artists and virtual idols alike are transforming how audiences engage with music. From Hatsune Miku’s “holographic” performances powered by projection and LED technologies to VR concerts by creators like BlackGryph0n and Gorillaz, extended reality (XR) is blurring the lines between physical and digital performance. This article explores the evolution of Vocaloid software, the artistry behind digital concerts, and the growing influence of augmented and virtual reality in live music. As AR and VR become more accessible, musicians and fans alike are discovering new ways to connect—reshaping what it means to perform, attend, and experience music in the digital age.

The Use of Immersive Technology in Live Music: Vocaloid, Digital Concerts and XR Implementation

entertainment

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Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics

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Part I - Beyond the Screen: The Role of AI in Evolving Game Ecosystems and Player Dynamics

This study provides a comprehensive analysis for Scopely to enhance its position as a leader in interactive and mobile gaming, focusing on AI integration in live operations, in-game commerce, and player analytics. The research reveals the urgent need for gaming companies to navigate accelerated AI adoption and evolving player expectations for personalized experiences. The goal is to identify the most impactful AI applications over the next three years and strategies that maximize engagement and monetization while maintaining player trust. Significant to this goal is balancing innovation with ethical considerations, including data privacy and transparency, while recognizing AI's potential to enhance storytelling and create immersive experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach with industry interviews, a survey of over 1,000 U.S. gamers, and secondary research, Part I establishes the foundation for understanding AI's transformative impact - setting the stage for Part II's empirical findings and strategic recommendations.

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Extending Reach with Extended Reality: Live Theatre Performance and XR

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Extending Reach with Extended Reality: Live Theatre Performance and XR

This article examines how extended reality (XR) technologies are expanding theatre’s reach beyond the physical venue. Building on proshots’ successes and shortcomings, it maps liveness through four components—temporality, exclusivity, spatiality, and interaction—and tests them across emerging formats: immersive dome screenings (Cosm), phone-based AR experiments (All Kinds of Limbo, The Tempest), and avatar-led VR productions (Tender Claws, Adventure Lab). XR’s promise is real—richer presence, audience participation, and radical portability—but so are the hurdles of motion capture quality, cost, technical literacy, and scale. Rather than replacing stagecraft, XR functions as a flexible toolkit that opens new creative and accessible pathways for live performance.

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Remixing the Music Industry: Strategies for 21st Century Record Labels, PART II

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Remixing the Music Industry: Strategies for 21st Century Record Labels, PART II

This study provides a comprehensive strategy for Shaboom Records to enhance its status as an independent music label in a highly competitive market, focusing on three key areas: revenue growth, digital service provider (DSP) strategies, and fan engagement. The supportive research reveals the need for companies to effectively navigate changes in the music industry, such as globalization and the rise of streaming. The goal of this research is to identify the most effective revenue streams for U.S. independent labels expanding into emerging global markets and the digital engagement strategies that yield the highest conversion rates and retention metrics for Gen Z and Gen Alpha listeners. Significant to this goal is the recognition that DSP optimization is largely based on securing relationships with playlist curators. Furthermore, social media has democratized the music industry, giving artists control over their narrative and the ability to connect with fans. 

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Remixing the Music Industry: Strategies for 21st Century Record Labels, PART I

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Remixing the Music Industry: Strategies for 21st Century Record Labels, PART I

This study provides a comprehensive strategy for Shaboom Records to enhance its status as an independent music label in a highly competitive market, focusing on three key areas: revenue growth, digital service provider (DSP) strategies, and fan engagement. The supportive research reveals the need for companies to effectively navigate changes in the music industry, such as globalization and the rise of streaming. The goal of this research is to identify the most effective revenue streams for U.S. independent labels expanding into emerging global markets and the digital engagement strategies that yield the highest conversion rates and retention metrics for Gen Z and Gen Alpha listeners. Significant to this goal is the recognition that DSP optimization is largely based on securing relationships with playlist curators. Furthermore, social media has democratized the music industry, giving artists control over their narrative and the ability to connect with fans. 

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The Politics of Portrayal: Motherhood Narratives on Television During Policy Transformation

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The Politics of Portrayal: Motherhood Narratives on Television During Policy Transformation

Between 2017 and 2024, portrayals of motherhood on American television evolved alongside seismic shifts in reproductive rights policy. As streaming platforms expanded creative freedom, shows depicted increasingly diverse maternal experiences—grappling with infertility, childcare, abortion, and the pressures of “good motherhood.” At the same time, landmark legal changes, including the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, reshaped the national conversation about reproductive agency. This article explores how television both reflected and anticipated these political transformations, revealing the cultural narratives that influence—and are influenced by—the legal realities of parenting in America.

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Should The Music Industry Go Virtual? A Case for Investing in VR Concerts

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Should The Music Industry Go Virtual? A Case for Investing in VR Concerts

Since the pandemic, the VR concert industry has slowly become more mainstream as worldwide superstars like Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter and TOMORROW X TOGETHER adopt and utilize immersive realities. This article explores what music fans want, available VR concert formats, common technical limitations, and the experiential differences between in-person and VR concerts — questions labels and artists must consider before investing resources and funds into creating VR content.

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AI-Driven Dubbing: A New Frontier for Voices in the Audiovisual Industry

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AI-Driven Dubbing: A New Frontier for Voices in the Audiovisual Industry

What is the world if not a collection of stories? And, what is a globalized world without the capacity to share those stories across cultures, borders, and languages? Dubbing has long served as a bridge between screens and diverse audiences. However, as with every technological shift, we now find ourselves entering a new era: artificial intelligence. What challenges does this emerging paradigm present to the entertainment industry with regards to dubbing?

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Disruption and Acquisition in the Entertainment Industry - March News

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Disruption and Acquisition in the Entertainment Industry - March News

An eventful March unfolds in the arts, technology, and entertainment space. With the sale of TikTok still pending, well-known tech investors like Perplexity, Microsoft, and Oracle throw their hats in the ring. And, though ethical debates of AI-generated and AI-assisted work are ongoing, it is finding success in the auction houses and award ceremonies. Meanwhile, recent tech acquisitions may signal a shift in the music industry, and South by Southwest (SXSW) is making a strategic adjustment following this year’s festival. Read the highlights.

Part II: Live Service Games - Consumer Engagement and Retention

Part II: Live Service Games - Consumer Engagement and Retention

With this increased competition form live service gaming, consumer expectations continue to shift and grow. In Part II of this capstone research by Heinz College Master of Entertainment Industry Management students, the team has employed data-gathering methods such as interviews, a survey, and social listening to better understand factors influencing player engagement and retention. 

Part I: Best Practices for Live Service Game Campaigns

Part I: Best Practices for Live Service Game Campaigns

Live service games, or LSGs, are one of the largest drivers in gaming revenue. However, as the market continues to saturate, game developers are finding it difficult to sustain players. In part one of this capstone study by Heinz College Master of Entertainment Management students, learn more about the background of these games and what has made them so  successful. 

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Music, Movies, & More - February News

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Music, Movies, & More - February News

In the middle of awards season, major announcements in the media and entertainment industry defined February’s news. While Spotify prepares to ramp up its product offerings, new AI-powered tech is winning Grammys and helping make magic happen on the big screen. All this takes place in the shadow of some major policy announcements regarding copyright and AI.

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Part II: Game IP: From Console to Screen

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Part II: Game IP: From Console to Screen

As the video game industry continues to grow, Hollywood studios are capitalizing on this intellectual property (IP) success through film and television adaptations. Students from Heinz College’s Master of Entertainment Industry Management program sought to better understand the current market for these adaptations. In Part II, see what film and video game executives consider to make an adaptation successful. Additionally, through a survey of gamers and non-gamers, learn what potential audiences prefer to see. 

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Part I: Playing the Game: The Convergence of Video

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Part I: Playing the Game: The Convergence of Video

Due to the popularity and booming business of video games, Hollywood studios have capitalized on popular game titles by developing new content based off of their intellectual property (IP). This study sets out to better understand video game IP’s impact on film and television markets and what specific elements might impact an adaptation’s success. 

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Part II: Stakeholder Interests in the Future of AI and Entertainment

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Part II: Stakeholder Interests in the Future of AI and Entertainment

How will AI-generated content transform the entertainment industry? And what are the impacts on employment, content development, budgets, contracts, legislation, and privacy rights? Part II of this research by Heinz College Master of Entertainment Industry Management students provides an in-depth analysis of survey and interview data from entertainment lawyers, educators, and other industry professionals.

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Part I: A New Era of AI in the Entertainment Industry

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Part I: A New Era of AI in the Entertainment Industry

As exemplified by the Hollywood strikes of 2023, we find ourselves in a new era of Artificial  Intelligence in film and television. While studios are looking to cut costs, performers seek job security, and consumers seek quality content. Through research conducted in collaboration with facial motion capture technology provider Faceware Technologies Inc., Master of Entertainment Industry Management students at Carnegie Mellon sought to gain insight on how AI-generated content will transform existing industries, including how this technology could affect employment in the entertainment industry, content development,  budgets, contracts, legislation, and privacy rights.

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Part One: The Globalization of Virtual Production in Film and Television - Past, Present and Future

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Part One: The Globalization of Virtual Production in Film and Television - Past, Present and Future

Virtual production, defined in this project as the use of real-time technologies to combine traditional physical filmmaking with digital assets, has become a rapidly growing practice in the entertainment industry since LED screens were first used in The Mandalorian (2019) (Desowitz, 2020). LED stages have grown exponentially from three stages in 2019 to over 300 stages in 2022 (Giardina, 2022), expanding virtual production to now be a $1.8 billion market (Grand View, 2023). This project investigates the current landscape of LED stages and studios can capitalize on the growing market. 

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The Impact of Prestige TV on Streaming Television's Storytelling and Execution

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The Impact of Prestige TV on Streaming Television's Storytelling and Execution

he current era of television feels most like the decade preceding ‘New Hollywood’ in the 1970s, the fall of big budget movie musicals and an industry wide scramble to find out what comes next. Television is in some ways returning to the old model with commercial breaks and digital bundles, but television as a medium and an industry has been forever changed by the birth of prestige television. The lessons that are learned from this time will likely dictate the next fifty years of American television. 

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Part Two: Streaming vs. Streamers - A Stand-Off

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Part Two: Streaming vs. Streamers - A Stand-Off

Since streaming became mainstream, major changes in sitcom preferences have come to light. According to analytics, the demand for sitcoms varies by streamer with viewers preferring network sitcoms to those created strictly for streaming. Not only that, but the same study shows that the sitcom was the most in demand sub-genre of television in-demand in 2022. Part One of this research discusses the top ten most streamed shows in the U.S. in 2023.

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Part One: Streaming vs. Streamers - A Stand-Off

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Part One: Streaming vs. Streamers - A Stand-Off

The creative standstill between viewers and streamers has come to a head. As streaming slowly inches its way to overtaking the conventional ways of watching television, the divide between what viewers want and what is being produced grows. Audiences have made it clear that they prefer the formats of the past overcurrent releases, but streaming companies are refusing to make changes to their current format, especially regarding the sitcom.