Entertainment news and trends

Concerts Still Strike Chord With Consumers Despite High Prices
Consumer Insights // January 31, 2025

This year’s concert season will feature several high-profile acts and increasingly high prices. The cost of seeing movies, plays and live music has jumped 20% since 2021, CNBC reported Friday (Jan. 31), citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. However, consumers have shown a willingness to...

Bank of America: New Use Cases Take Unattended Payments Into the Future
Payments Innovation // January 28, 2025

Making things easier rarely goes out of style. Just take, for example, unattended payments. Typically facilitated by self-service machines, kiosks or other devices allowing customers to complete purchases independently, these transactions occur without the need for direct human interaction at the point of sale. With...

Cantaloupe Introduces Card Reader for Arcade and Amusement Operators
Payment Methods // January 21, 2025

Cantaloupe has introduced a card reader for amusement and arcade operators that enables cashless payments and allows customers to pay once and then enjoy multiple plays. The new Engage Pulse card reader helps operators boost their revenues and enhance the customer experience, the company said...

Nice Spread: AI Is Coming for the Guac This Super Bowl Sunday
artificial intelligence // January 18, 2025

Every single American holiday is about the spread. Your mom’s Thanksgiving dinner sets the standard, but don’t discount the Super Bowl. This clash of pigskin-wielding titans is our first exercise in excess each calendar year. And artificial intelligence (AI) has decided it wants a share...

Interviews & Exclusives
Beyond Flat Fees: The Rise of Hybrid Subscription Models

February 13, 2025
New models. New ads. New pricing tiers. The subscription economy has been active, to say the least, with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan revealing TV screens have now surpassed mobile as the primary device for YouTube viewing in the U.S. This milestone shows YouTube is no longer just a video platform — as Mohan noted: “YouTube […]

Bank of America: New Use Cases Take Unattended Payments Into the Future

January 28, 2025
Making things easier rarely goes out of style. Just take, for example, unattended payments. Typically facilitated by self-service machines, kiosks or other devices allowing customers to complete purchases independently, these...

From Drawings to Digital Malls: How Google’s New AI Creates New Retail Spaces

December 06, 2024
Google’s new Genie 2 AI system converts simple drawings and text descriptions into playable 3D game environments, potentially streamlining the construction of digital worlds. The technology could significantly impact game...

Lights, Camera, AI: Gaming and Video Platforms Debut GenAI-Powered Creator Tools

August 20, 2024
Text-to-game platforms and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video generators are emerging tools, promising to lower barriers to entry for aspiring content creators. However, there are questions about their impact on professional...

Quick Reads
Concerts Still Strike Chord With Consumers Despite High Prices

January 31, 2025
This year’s concert season will feature several high-profile acts and increasingly high prices. The cost of seeing movies, plays and live music has jumped 20% since 2021, CNBC reported Friday (Jan. 31), citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. However, consumers have shown a willingness to put up with these higher costs, known as “funflation.” Concertgoers […]

Cantaloupe Introduces Card Reader for Arcade and Amusement Operators

January 21, 2025
Cantaloupe has introduced a card reader for amusement and arcade operators that enables cashless payments and allows customers to pay once and then enjoy multiple plays. The new Engage Pulse...

Disney Sees 157 Million Monthly Viewers For Ad-Supported Programming

January 09, 2025
Disney said its three streaming platforms have attracted roughly 157 million monthly active users worldwide. The entertainment giant announced those figures for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ Wednesday (Jan. 8) as...

Global Live Events Industry Focuses on Biometrics in 2025

January 02, 2025
Biometrics are increasingly being adopted for use at sports and other live events. The technology is being used to enhance ticketing, credentialing, and sales of concessions, merchandise and alcohol, BiometricUpdate.com...