700,000 sickies: Netflix lifts the lid on Australia’s binge-watching culture

Netflix has released new data on Australian viewers and their streaming preferences. Here are the things we value most. Australia’s Netflix obsession at a glance Stranger Things, comedy and sickies. Netflix has surveyed and Aussies have spoken. The streaming platform that brings us the cult series ‘Stranger Things,’ says that 68% of our population has […]

$558 million and counting: Swifties’ bumper boost to Aussie economy

Research from RMIT University values the national economic impact of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour at more than half a billion dollars. Taylor Swift played to the biggest tour crowd of her life this weekend. Not once, but three times. “96,000 people the first night, 96,000 people the second night, 96,000 people tonight. All of that, […]

Kanye West’s new album disappears from iTunes, Apple Music: Here’s why

Kanye West’s latest album, “Vultures 1,” disappeared from Apple Music and iTunes Thursday afternoon after distribution company FUGA told Billboard it would work to remove the album, which was released by a FUGA client on Saturday despite the company previously declining to release it. Key Takeaways Key Background West had already faced criticism and threats […]

Leading ladies of the Spider-Verse: How Madame Web’s stars prepared for their Marvel debuts

Typically, Spider-Verse films revolve around the eponymous male superhero. The latest in the comic book series features a leading cast of four women. Here’s how Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, and Isabela Merced prepared for their arachnid roles. “Most superheroes’ powers come from strength and agility. With Madame Web, it’s all psychological,” says SJ Clarkson,  the […]

Usher gets 550% Spotify streaming boost after Super Bowl

Usher received a significant streaming boost immediately following his Super Bowl performance, as is typical for halftime headliners, according to Spotify, with four of the songs he performed surging more than 1,000% in streams on Sunday night. Key facts Key background Though artists – including Usher – don’t get paid for headlining the Super Bowl halftime show, […]

Kylie Minogue bags her first Grammy win in 20 years

Australia’s pop-princess won the Grammy in the new ‘Best Pop Dance Recording’ category. The win comes two decades after Minogue was awarded her first Grammy for ‘Come Into My World.’ It is a brand new category, and our Kylie Minogue has taken home the first-ever gold statue. Minogue beat David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Bebe Rexha […]

Netflix is raising prices by killing its cheapest ad-free plan

Netflix is about to get a lot more expensive for a huge chunk of its subscriber base. The Los Gatos, CA-based streaming giant announced the death of its US$11.99 Basic plan during the company’s recent earnings report. The Basic Plan has been the cheapest ad-free option for subscribers since Netflix NFLX +1.5% began offering ad-based plans. Where ad-based […]