Publications

June 2010
Case

Legendary Pictures & ABRY Partners

This case focuses on the review by the private equity firm ABRY Partners of an opportunity to invest in a film financing vehicle, Legendary Pictures. Before 2004, private equity firms had avoided co-investing with film studios in film productions because of their... View Details

Keywords: Private Equity; Investment; Film Entertainment; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

January 2006
Case

Negotiating for the Motion Picture Association of America and the Motion Picture Association: Jack Valenti (A)

By: James K. Sebenius, Ellen Knebel and Erin Egan

Summarizes the background and career highlights of Jack Valenti, longtime head of the Motion Picture Association of America and the Motion Picture Association. Sets up three difficult negotiation challenges facing Valenti over a rating system for movies, the financial... View Details

Keywords: Decision Making; Film Entertainment; Television Entertainment; Negotiation; Problems and Challenges; United States

Charles Ringling organized his siblings to form what would eventually become “the Greatest Show on Earth.” When the siblings began performing, they used only their personal talents, but under Charles’ leadership, the show grew into a large traveling enterprise and... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment & Broadcast Media

September 1994 (Revised January 1997)
Case

This Case Sucks: Beavis, Butt-head, and TV Content (A)

By: Joseph L. Badaracco Jr. and Jerry Useem

Beginning in 1992, "Beavis and Butt-head," an animated series on MTV about two uncivilized teenaged misfits, became both a runaway popular sensation and the symbol of a heated national debate about violent and inappropriate programming on television. Especially after... View Details

Keywords: Debates; Decision Choices and Conditions; Animation Entertainment; Fairness; Governance Controls; Media; Outcome or Result; Social Issues; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

01 Jun 2004
News

Media, VC Discussed at WSA Conference

The media and entertainment business can be a bit of a roller-coaster ride — particularly in today’s climate of tight margins and consolidation. But that state of flux creates opportunity, agreed panelists at the Women’s Student... View Details

Keywords: women in business; women's student association; Arts, Entertainment

03 Nov 2003
Research & Ideas

Making Money Making Movies

What makes a movie click with an audience? How important is buzz in the success or failure of an entertainment product? Should worldwide releases of movies be done over time, or all at once? Those are the kinds of questions that interest... View Details

Keywords: by Manda Salls; Entertainment & Recreation; Entertainment & Recreation

May 2023
Supplement

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats Video Supplement Playlist

By: Boris Groysberg

Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Personal Development and Career; Entrepreneurship; Goals and Objectives; Power and Influence; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

October 2019 (Revised December 2019)
Case

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys: A Power Couple

By: Boris Groysberg, Annelena Lobb and Sarah Mehta

Set in 2018, this case follows married couple and music industry titans Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys as they consider how best to use their platforms to achieve their goals. Since achieving professional success in the music industry early in their lives, Swizz and Keys... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Personal Development and Career; Entrepreneurship; Goals and Objectives; Power and Influence; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Article

Demand and Supply Dynamics for Sequentially Released Products in International Markets: The Case of Motion Pictures

By: Anita Elberse and Jehoshua Eliashberg

Keywords: Supply and Industry; Product; Markets; Film Entertainment; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Read Now

Initially a co-owner of a black nightclub in Los Angeles, Griffey moved into music producing and built one of the most important black entertainment enterprises. A firm proponent of black culture and community, Griffey started a record... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment & Broadcast Media

September 2003 (Revised January 2004)
Case

Giant Cinema

By: Malcolm P. Baker, Richard S. Ruback, Erik Stafford and Kathleen Luchs

The owner of Giant Cinema must decide whether to invest in a digital projector, a new technology for screening films, or purchase a traditional projector. The impact of the new technology is uncertain, and the case describes probabilities for different outcomes that... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Film Entertainment; Technology Adoption; Financial Strategy; Investment; Outcome or Result; Risk and Uncertainty; Technology; Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Trained as an engineer, Sarnoff predicted that radio, and later, television, would transform the way people interacted with the world around them. Sarnoff lead RCA to become the leader in radio programming, offering services from news, sports, View Details

Keywords: Entertainment & Broadcast Media

Sumner M. Redstone

Beginning his career as a lawyer, Redstone joined the entertainment industry in the 1960’s with the formation of National Amusements. As Chairman of Viacom, he guided the company’s successful post-theatrical and syndication activities and... View Details

Keywords: Entertainment & Broadcast Media

February 1999 (Revised August 1999)
Case

Michael Brown: Negotiating Slots at Foxwoods (B)

By: James K. Sebenius

The approach taken by Michael Brown and Governor Lowell Weicker and the means by which the agreement's sustainability was enhanced in the face of attacks by other gaming operators are detailed. View Details

Keywords: Games, Gaming, and Gambling; Agreements and Arrangements; Government and Politics; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Connecticut

Nov 2008
Conference Presentation

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), United Artists, and Tom Cruise: A Case Study.

By: Anita Elberse

Keywords: Film Entertainment; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

April 2001
Case

Music Industry Update: April, 2001

By: Jan W. Rivkin

Updates BMG Entertainment. View Details

Keywords: Music Entertainment; Music Industry

October 1984 (Revised January 1986)
Background Note

World Television Industry in 1979

By: Michael E. Porter

Keywords: Television Entertainment; Electronics Industry

April 1984
Case

General Cinema Corp. (B)

By: Hugo Uyterhoeven

Keywords: Film Entertainment; Motion Pictures and Video Industry

December 2007 (Revised August 2014)
Case

Xanadu on Broadway

By: Anita Elberse

Can one of Hollywood's biggest flops magically turn into a Broadway hit? Xanadu, an adaptation of a 1980 Olivia Newton-John roller-disco film described by one critic as "the epic failure to end all epic failures," opened on Broadway in July 2007. Producer Rob Ahrens,... View Details

Keywords: Theater Entertainment; Product Marketing; Product Launch; Demand and Consumers; Risk and Uncertainty; Creativity; Entertainment and Recreation Industry