The Entertainment Economy: How Mega-Media Forces Are Transforming Our Lives (Penguin business)

Every so often an author explains our culture in such a new and original way that from that day forward we see the world around us in a new light. From Understanding the Media, by Marshall McLuhan to Nicholas Negroponte's Being Digital, the books that have shown us the clearest vision of the future have been those that recognize the central role of mass media. In The Entertainment Economy, Michael J. Wolf, the industry's most in-demand strategist, demonstrates that media and entertainment have moved beyond culture to become the driving force of the global economy. From London to Lagos, from Singapore to Seattle, from New York to New Delhi, every business is locked in the same battle for consumer attention that film producers and television programmers deal with on a daily basis. Consumer businesses, just like entertainment businesses bave to turn to content for the competitive edge. As adviser to companies and individuals such as Disney, Rupert Murdoch, Bertelsmann and Intel, Wolf is known by industry insiders as the moguls' secret weapon. Working at the heart of the entertainment industry during its most volatile decade has given Wolf a clear perspective on what any organization, blue chip or start-up, needs to grab and hold on to consumer attention. In clear, lively prose, full of real-life examples, Wolf shows how tomorrow's successful businessperson will have to act like a mogul in a global economy defined by hits and blockbusters. From MTV to Chris Evans, from Amazon.com to Richard Branson, Wolf shares the insights gained from his unique perspective as the founder of the world's largest media consulting practice, leaving no doubt that the watchwords for all consumer businesses in the 21st Century are truly, "there's no business like show business."