Once again, AI continues to be front of mind this month. While companies expand AI functionality, artists call for protection of their likeness, and consumers call for accurate information. Meanwhile, cyberattacks evolve, and arts enterprises with high profile clients are challenged to respond. Looking at organizational workflow, popular tools like Canva are expanding to become a “one-stop shop” for design needs. OpenAI’s New Voice Assistant and Scarlett Johansson Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, called actress Scarlett Johansson with a unique request: to approve use of her voice for ChatGPT’s new v ..read more

introduction Investment in cultural facilities can be transformational within communities, and not just through the services they provide, the jobs they create, or the money channeled into the local economy. Cultural facilities can have tangible impacts on a community’s built environment and energy systems. The arts and cultural sector is experiencing a significant increase in sustainability work, with a number of organizations beginning to measure and report impact, incorporate sustainability into values, or work toward positive climate goals (Environment and Energy Leader 2024). This work of ..read more

The Disappearance of the American Sitcom The American sitcom dominated television for decades, but its popularity has seen a sharp decline since the inception of streaming. The number of sitcoms produced today is a small fraction of what was produced during its more than 30 years on top of the charts. Sitcoms no longer sit at the top of television ratings, with sports and reality television taking the top spots. This suggests streaming is increasingly moving viewers away from the sitcom format, and possibly even comedic formats entirely. Netflix itself has become the go-to platform for dramas ..read more

By: Damon Condon Sitcoms in the Streaming Era 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. 2023 brought about unusual results in terms of overall viewership further proving the severity of this problem. The top ten most streamed shows in the U.S. were all acquired titles with no streaming originals on the list. An acquired title refers to a television show that was previously released on another networ ..read more

Beyond Simple Giving: A New Model for DAFs The Donor Advised Fund is a highly controversial instrument in the world of charitable giving. Part One of this research revealed how, while highly flexible and capable of transacting with complex assets, DAFs are also critically unregulated and notorious for both their anonymity and high barriers to entry for the average donor. The current state of this industry paired with its ballooning size has been a cause for concern among philanthropic thought-leaders and legislators alike, with multiple waves of legislation materializing to try to better defin ..read more

The Peculiar Position of Donor Advised Funds Giving is changing. Institutional philanthropy is at a global all-time high, and the increased reliance on institutional intermediaries like foundations has led to a global expansion of the sector around the world, with over 260,000 foundations existing across 39 countries as of 2018. This is a relatively recent development, as nearly three-quarters of such foundations came into being within the last 25 years. This rise in institutional philanthropy, often referred to as structured philanthropy, coincides with a reshaping of certain attitudes toward ..read more

INTRODUCTION AND RECAP OF GENERATIVE AI IN MARKETING Marketing managers are tasked with the challenge of remaining relevant in a rapidly changing society. Thanks to advances in technology that help to push the boundaries and the capabilities of our marketing efforts, marketing managers, particularly those in the arts, have a better chance of being able to keep up with the social media giants. The use of generative AI (GenAI) tools is becoming increasingly prevalent in marketing, which can be particularly useful for smaller organizations or nonprofits seeking innovative ways to engage audiences ..read more

This month, music and film are at the forefront as each battles with the future uses for burgeoning tech. While AI-generated film visuals seem to be coming up short, progress toward realistic AI-generated music is starting to send shockwaves. On the consumer side, music streaming tools are being released to allow more listening experience customization. Across the industry, artists are celebrating ways that some these new tools can enhance their work, while speaking out against potential impacts on jobs, compensation, and creative freedom. Artists push back on ai music tools AI music generatio ..read more

INTRODUCTION Generative AI (GenAI) has become increasingly integrated into marketing and communication careers, and even our daily lives, with the rise of various text-to-image (Like DALL-E, Midjourney, or Craiyon), text-to-video (Sora), & text-to-text tools (ChatGPT or Claude). As digital marketers find new and innovative ways to keep up with the trends, particularly those reaching GenZ in a quick-changing popular culture scene, how are they reacting to the rise of GenAI? Image: Human and Artificial Intelligence getting a drink together Image Source: Worklife GENERATIVE AI - PAINS AND GA ..read more

introduction Arts and cultural organizations are becoming increasingly aware of their climate impact, and many are taking action to reduce harm. Tracking, reporting, and offsetting emissions may seem like an overwhelming feat for small or mid-sized organizations, but emerging blockchain technology may help make the process more efficient and reliable.  There has been significant buzz around blockchain in recent years, and with it, much scrutiny about the associated energy consumption and environmental impact. Before using blockchain for sustainability initiatives, it’s important to consid ..read more