Blockbusters: Hit-making, Risk-taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment

What is behind the phenomenal success of entertainment companies including Warner Bros., Marvel Entertainment and the NFL, as well as stars like Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and LeBron James? What strategies are used by leaders in television, film, music, publishing, and sports? Anita Elbers, an expert on the entertainment industry at Harvard Business School, has been conducting ground-breaking research in the world of media and sports for more than a decade. In her book, she explains an important truth about the fierce competition in the business world surrounding blockbuster movies, TV shows, songs and books that are extremely expensive to produce and sell. The author explains why entertainment executives often spend insane amounts of money in search of the next blockbuster, why superstars are paid incredible fees, and how digital technology is changing the entertainment landscape. The information in the book will be easy to understand even by those who were not previously interested in this field, and among the interesting research, readers will be amused by the author's funny comments.