Los Angeles, CA — December 13, 2024 — Today, Penske Media Corporation (PMC) announced that Billboard, IndieWire, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety received a total of 122 awards at the 17th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Press Club on December 1. These prestigious honors highlighted the exceptional work of PMC’s journalists, photographers, and media teams, further solidifying the company's leadership in entertainment media.
PMC outlets were recognized across the board for their outstanding contributions in a variety of categories, including Print Journalist of the Year, Online Journalist of the Year as well as investigative reporting, photography, business journalism, critical reviews and more. The awards underscore the high level of talent and creativity within the PMC family and their continued impact on the world of arts and entertainment journalism.
Penske Media Penske Media Corporation Takes Honors in the Following Key Categories:
PRINT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
- Chris Willman, Variety
- 2nd: Tatiana Siegel, Variety
- 3rd: Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter
ONLINE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR — Tied to an Organization
- Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter
- 2nd: Clayton Davis, Variety
ONLINE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR — Independent
- 3rd: A.D. Amorosi, Variety, Flood, SPIN
PHOTOJOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
- 2nd: Dan Doperalski, Variety
CRITIC — ANY MEDIA PLATFORM (BROADCAST, PRINT, OR ONLINE)
Film Critic — Under 1,000 words
- Chris Willman, Variety
- 2nd: Siddhant Adlakha, JoySauce/IndieWire/Variety
Film Critic — Over 1,000 words
- David Ehrlich, IndieWire
- 2nd: Owen Gleiberman, Variety
TV Critic
- 2nd: Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter
Music Critic
- 3rd: Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter
ANY MEDIA PLATFORM (BROADCAST, PRINT, OR ONLINE)
Celebrity Investigative, Any Media
- Seija Rankin, Jason Rovou, Stephanie Fischette, Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Maer Roshan, The Hollywood Reporter, “Will Ferrell on Navigating His Best Friend's Transition in ‘Will & Harper’”
- 2nd: Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, “Get Me Bryan Freedman!”
- 3rd: Tatiana Siegel, Variety, “Crisis at Marvel: Jonathan Majors Back-Up Plans, ‘The Marvels’ Reshoots, Reviving Original Avengers and More Issues Revealed”
Headline, Any Media
- 3rd: Tom Bruneggemann, IndieWire, “They Don’t Climax in IMAX — or, Why Films with Sexy Sizzle Are Rare Today”
BOOK
Non-Fiction Book
- 3rd: Ramin Setoodeh, HarperCollins Publishers, “Apprentice in Wonderland: How Donald Trump and Mark Burnett Took America Through the Looking Glass”
PHOTOGRAPHY/ART (PRINT OR ONLINE)
News Photo
- Michael Buckner, Haley Kluge, Jennifer Dorn, Variety, “SAG Fran Strike Cover”
- 3rd: Roger Kisby, Rolling Stone, “F1 Opener”
Portrait Photo, TV/Film
- Dan Doperalski, Jennifer Dorn, Haley Kluge, Variety, “David Oyelowo Portrait”
- 3rd: Collier Schorr, Rolling Stone, “Kristen Stewart Uncensored: ‘I Want to Do the Gayest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Your Life’”
Portrait Photo, Music/Arts
- 3rd: Ash Barhamand, Ava Selbach, Peter B. Cury and Julia & Vincent, The Hollywood Reporter, “Renee Rapp”
Feature Photo
- 2nd: Ash Barhamand, Ava Selbach, Peter B. Cury and Dan Winters, The Hollywood Reporter, “Nathan Fielder + Emma Stone”
- 3rd: Jenny Sargent, Naomy Pedroza and Joelle Grace Taylor, Billboard, “Lainey Wilson”
Action Photo
- Chris Willman, Variety, “Brandi Carlile concert photo/The Best Concerts of 2023”
Photo Essay
- Ash Barhamand, Ava Selbach, Naomy Pedroza, Peter B. Cury, Munachi Osegbu, The Hollywood Reporter, “Hollywood’s Top Stylists”
- 2nd: Alexi Lubomirski, Jennifer Dorn and Haley Kluge, Variety, “Actors on Actors (Oscars)”
Illustration
- 2nd: Neil Jamieson, Haley Kluge and Jennifer Dorn, Variety, “Star Trek Illustrations”
Page Layout
- 2nd: Haley Kluge, Ted Keller, Francesco Muzzi and Jennifer Dorn, Variety, “AI Splash”
Cover Art
- Joe Hutchinson, Rolling Stone, “May 2024 Billie Eilish cover”
- 2nd: Haley Kluge, Jennifer Dorn and Jonny Marlow, Variety, “Anya Taylor Joy Cover”
- 3rd: Peter B. Cury and Zuzanna Rogatty, The Hollywood Reporter, “The Oscar Issue”
PRINT/ONLINE
Business, Film, Print/Online
- 2nd: Rebecca Rubin, Variety, “‘We’re Still Here’: How AMC Theatres Is Struggling With $4.5 Billion in Debt and Surviving Thanks to Taylor Swift, Viral Popcorn Buckets and More”
- 3rd: Gene Maddaus, Variety, “Mickey Mouse, Long a Symbol in Copyright Wars, to Enter Public Domain: ‘It’s Finally Happening’”
Business, TV/Streaming, Print/Online
- Tatiana Siegel, Variety, “Inside the Battle for CNN: Jeff Zucker, David Zaslav, Chris Licht and 18 Months of Crazy Backstabbing”
- 2nd: Jennifer Maas, Variety, “Peak TV Has Peaked: From Exhausted Talent to Massive Losses, the Writers Strike Magnifies an Industry in Freefall”
Business, Music related, Print/Online
- 3rd: Eric Renner Brown, Billboard, “Sphere digital feature”
Business, Tech/Design/Arts related, Print/Online
- 2nd: Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, “A Pellicano Target’s Second Act”
Entertainment Industry/Arts Investigative, Print/Online
- Tatiana Siegel, Variety, “Crisis at Marvel: Jonathan Majors Back-Up Plans, ‘The Marvels’ Reshoots, Reviving Original Avengers and More Issues Revealed”
Obituary/In Appreciation, Film Personalities, Print/Online
- Owen Gleiberman, Variety, “Remembering Piper Laurie in ‘Carrie’ and ‘The Hustler’: A Special Combination of Vulnerability and Power”
Obituary/In Appreciation, TV Personalities, Print/Online
- 2nd: Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, “Critic’s Appreciation: Matthew Perry Masterfully Walked the Line Between Mirth and Melancholy”
Obituary/In Appreciation, Music and Other Arts Personalities, Print/Online
- 3rd: Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, “Tony Bennett Gave an Iconic 'Goodfellas' Moment Its Charge — but He Didn't Like Being Associated with It”
PRINT (NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES)
General News, Print
- 3rd: Brent Lang, Tatiana Siegel and Matt Donnelly, Variety, “Showstopper! Strikes Plunge Hollywood Into Chaos With Pricey Movie Delays, Pay Battles and AI Anxiety”
CELEBRITY NEWS, PRINT
Diversity in the TV/Film Industry, Print
- Brent Lang, Variety, “Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Her Revealing Diane von Furstenberg Documentary and Directing a ‘Star Wars’ Movie”
- 3rd: Nekesa Mumbi Moody, The Hollywood Reporter, “Oprah and ‘The Color Purple’ Stars on the New Musical Remake: ‘It’s Bright. It’s Vibrant. It’s Us’”
Diversity in the Music/Performing Arts/Arts Industry, Print
- 2nd: Katie Bain, Billboard, “Finding Harmony”
- 3rd: Thania Garcia, Variety, “Meet the Women Managing Música Mexicana’s Breakout Stars, From Xavi to Yahritza Y Su Esencia and More”
Personality Profile, Film Industry — Under 2,500 Words, Print
- 2nd: Kate Aurthur, Variety, “Carey Mulligan Never Felt Like a ‘Proper Actor.’ Then Came ‘Maestro’: ‘I’m Going to Absolutely Do It All’”
Personality Profile, TV/Streaming Industry — Under 2,500 Words, Print
- 2nd: Emily Longeretta, Variety, “‘It Was Never My Intention to Be a Heartthrob’: Josh Hartnett on Finding His Focus, Shedding the Darkness of ‘Black Mirror’ and That ‘Bats--- Crazy’ ‘Trap’ Script”
Personality Profile, Music and Other Arts — Under 2,500 Words, Print
- 2nd: Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, “Linda Yaccarino’s Very Unmerry X Mess”
Personality Profile, Film Industry — Over 2,500 Words, Print
- Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, “Kristen Stewart Uncensored: ‘I Want to Do the Gayest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Your Life’”
Personality Profile, TV/Streaming Industry — Over 2,500 Words, Print
- Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, “Cheryl Hines … as First Lady? The ‘Curb’ Star on Life After Larry and Marriage to RFK Jr.”
- 3rd: Kate Aurthur, Variety, “Long Live Shiv Roy: Sarah Snook Tells All on That ‘Succession’ Ending, Her Pregnancy and Crying Through the Finale”
Personality Profile, Music and Other Arts — Over 2,500 Words, Print
- 2nd: Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, “Billie Eilish Would Like to Reintroduce Herself”
- 3rd: Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, “Teezo Touchdown: Birth of a Rock Star”
Film Industry Feature — Under 1,000 Words, Print
- Katcy Stephan, Variety, “‘MoviePass, MovieCrash’: Founder Stacy Spikes on Mitch Lowe, Racial Bias and Where the Company Stands Today”
- 2nd: Beatrice Verhoeven and Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, “As the Actors Strike Ends, Many Awards Contenders and Campaigners Are Scrambling to Make Up for Lost Time”
TV Industry Feature — Under 1,000 Words, Print
- Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, “Dan Harmon Is Ready to Talk About All of It (Including the Justin Roiland Drama)”
- 3rd: Katcy Stephan, Variety, “‘Futurama:’ John DiMaggio on His Salary Battle and Return as Bender”
Music/Performing Arts Industry Feature — Under 1,000 Words, Print
- Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, “Dolly Parton on Turning Down the Super Bowl and Her New Rock Album: ‘I Don’t Want It to Be Half-Ass Country’”
- 2nd: Jon Burlingame, Variety, “‘Law & Order’ Composer Mike Post Creates New Bluegrass and Blues Album”
Film Industry Feature — Over 1,000 Words, Print
- Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, “‘Schindler’s List’: An Oral History of a Masterpiece”
- 2nd: Jon Burlingame, Variety, “‘Maestro’: How Bradley Cooper Turned Bernstein’s Classical Music into a Film Score”
- 3rd: Adam B. Vary, Variety, “‘The Blair Witch Project’ Actors Call Out ‘Reprehensible Behavior’ After Missing Out on Profits for Decades: ‘Don’t Do What We Did’ (EXCLUSIVE)”
TV Industry Feature — Over 1,000 Words, Print
- 2nd: Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, “Anderson Cooper on His Complicated Vanderbilt Legacy and CNN After Chris Licht”
Visual Arts/Architecture Feature — Over 1,000 Words, Print
- 3rd: Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, “Museums Are Reckoning With Looted Art. Now It’s LACMA’s Turn”
Celebrity Feature, Print
- Rebecca Keegan, Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, “Fran Drescher’s Role of a Lifetime”
Columnist, Print
- 3rd: Andre Gee, Rolling Stone
Commentary Analysis/Trend, Film, Print
- 2nd: Brent Lang, Variety, “How Steven Spielberg Dominated Culture and the 1994 Oscars With ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Schindler’s List’”
- 3rd: Lacey Rose and Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, “Why Hollywood Is in the Throes of an IP Frenzy”
Commentary Analysis/Trend, TV, Print
- 2nd: Michael Schneider, Variety, “Repeats, Reality and 'Yellowstone': How Network TV Is Marketing Fall Lineups Without Many Scripted Favorites”
- 3rd: Clayton Davis, Variety, “‘Love on the Spectrum’ Is Showing Me Examples of How My Autistic Son Could Be as an Adult — and It’s Amazing”
Commentary Analysis/Trend, Music, Print
- Chris Willman, Variety, “Jason Aldean Already Had the Most Contemptible Country Song of the Decade. The Video Is Worse”
- 3rd: Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, “Breaking Through Rock Journalism’s Boys’ Club”
Entertainment Publication, Print
- 2nd: Billboard, Rebecca Milzoff, “Billboard: The Sports Issue”
TV/VIDEO/FILM
Personality Profile, Film Personalities, TV
- 2nd: Lesley Corral, Francesca Manto, Dominoe Ibarra and Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, “Glen Powell Shares His Hollywood Firsts: From Singing 'Unwritten' To 'Spy Kids' Set, Twisters & More”
RADIO/PODCASTS
Anchor/Host, Radio/Podcast
- 2nd: Michael Schneider, Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Jenelle Riley and Emily Longeretta, Variety, “Variety's Award Circuit Podcast Hosts”
One-on-One Interview, Film Personalities, Radio/Podcast
- 2nd: Clayton Davis, Variety, “Selena Gomez on Her Cannes Win for Best Actress, ‘Only Murders’ and Potentially Becoming Most Emmy-Nominated Latina Producer”
One-on-One Interview, TV Personalities, Radio/Podcast
- 2nd: Michael Schneider, Variety, “Day Eating With Seth Meyers: The 'Late Night' Host Counts Down His Top 10 Pizza List”
One-on-One Interview, Other Arts Personalities, Radio/Podcast
- 3rd: Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, “Geddy Lee Tells All: 'My Effin' Life' — and Rush's Possible Future”
Best Arts or Entertainment Regular Podcast
- Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, “Rolling Stone Music Now”
- 3rd: Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, “Awards Chatter”
ONLINE (CONTENT EXCLUSIVE TO THE INTERNET)
Hard News, TV/Streaming Related, Online
- 2nd: Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, “Chaos, Comedy, and ‘Crying Rooms’: Inside Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show’”
Hard News, Film Related, Online
- 2nd: Mia Galuppo and Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, “Netflix Enters Its Dan Lin Era”
- 3rd: Ellise Shafer and Alex Ritman, Variety, “Alan Menken, Sarah Sherman, Alex Winter and Larry Charles Join Jewish Creatives Supporting Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars Speech in Open Letter (EXCLUSIVE)”
Hard News, Music/Arts Related, Online
- David Browne, Nancy Dillon, Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, “‘They Wanted to Dance in Peace. And They Got Slaughtered’”
- 2nd: Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, “How Jason Aldean Cynically Built “Small Town” to Appeal to Trump Country”
Soft News, TV/Streaming Related, Online
- Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, “Bryan Lee O'Malley Wanted 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off' to Surprise You”
- 2nd: Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, “Hulu’s ‘Under the Bridge’ Tells the Story of Reena Virk — and The Notorious B.I.G.”
- 3rd: Meredith Woerner, Variety, “The True Story Behind Truman Capote’s Ashes Being Auctioned Off on ‘Feud’”
Soft News, Film Related, Online
- 3rd: Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, “Animation at a Crossroads as Hope Mixes with Anxiety”
Soft News, Music/Arts Related, Online
- Jem Aswad, Variety, “Why David Bowie Killed Ziggy Stardust, 50 Years Ago Today”
Diversity in the TV/Streaming Industry, Online
- Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, “How The CW’s ‘Sight Unseen’ Built a Production For and Driven By Blind and Low Vision Creatives”
Diversity in the Film Industry, Online
- Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, “For Female Creatives, Hollywood Is Still Just as ‘Bleak’ as Some Fear, but It Doesn’t Have to Be”
- 2nd: Clayton Davis, Variety, “Black Women Executives Are Exiting Studio Leadership Posts and Hollywood’s Doing Nothing About It”
- 3rd: Sharareh Drury, Variety, “‘Dune 2’ Criticized for Lack of Middle Eastern and North African Inclusion and Influences: ‘A Missed Opportunity’”
Diversity in the Music/Performing Arts Industry, Online
- 3rd: Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, “A Neuro-Inclusive Take on ‘Spring Awakening’: ‘We Don’t Need to Break People Down’”
Personality Profile, Film Personalities, Online
- Kate Erbland, IndieWire, “Kirsten Dunst Is Our Most Reasonable Movie Star”
- 3rd: Clayton Davis, Variety, “Paul Giamatti on ‘Sideways’ Oscar Snub, the Secret to His ‘Holdovers’ Lazy Eye and How He’s Still ‘Figuring Out How to Act on Film’”
Personality Profile, Music Personalities, Online
- 3rd: Ellise Shafer, Variety, “Peter Doherty and Katia deVidas on Making Doc ‘Stranger in My Own Skin’ About the ‘Terror and Danger’ of Drug Addiction — and Falling in Love in the Process”
TV Feature, Online
- 2nd: J. Kim Murphy, Variety, “‘Winning Time’ Ends in Defeat With an Awkward, Surprise Series Finale”
Film Feature, Actor Related, Online
- 2nd: Katcy Stephan, Variety, “Tom Hardy on His Wild ‘Bikeriders’ Accent and Knowing ‘Furiosa’ Is ‘Special’ (Without Even Seeing It Yet)”
- 3rd: Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, “94-Year-Old June Squibb Does Her Own Stunts in ‘Thelma,’ a Sundance Spin on ‘Mission: Impossible’”
Film Feature, Filmmaker Related, Online
- 2nd: J. Kim Murphy, Variety, “‘Koyaanisqatsi’ Director Godfrey Reggio Unravels His New Odyssey ‘Once Within a Time’ Amid Humanity’s Accelerating Self-Destruction”
- 3rd: Todd Gilchrist, Variety, “Director Martin Brest Revisits the Triumphs of 'Beverly Hills Cop' and 'Midnight Run,' and Reflects On His Post-'Gigli' Hollywood Exile”
Film Feature, Production/History Related, Online
- David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, “Hollywood’s 20 Most Erotic Movies, Ranked”
- 3rd: Gary Baum and Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, “Unmasking the AMPTP: Hollywood Labor’s Opaque Nemesis”
Theater Feature, Online
- 2nd: Brent Lang, Variety, “How Broadway’s ‘Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club’ Pulls Off Its Audacious, Sensual 75-Minute Prologue”
Celebrity Feature, Online
- Pamela Chelin, Variety, “Martin Scorsese Hosts Robbie Robertson Tribute Concert, With Jackson Browne and Others Paying Musical Homage”
Columnist, Online
- 2nd: Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, “The Download, a column by Hollywood Reporter Senior Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu”
Commentary Analysis/Trend, Film, Online
- Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, “A New Wave of Films Experiments With How We See Climate Change”
- 2nd: Sharareh Drury, Variety, “‘Dune 2’ Criticized for Lack of Middle Eastern and North African Inclusion and Influences: ‘A Missed Opportunity’”
- 3rd: Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, “VFX Pros Expose The Hidden Costs of Selling a Movie as ‘Real’”
Commentary Analysis/Trend, TV, Online
- Clayton Davis, Variety, “‘Love on the Spectrum’ Is Showing Me Examples of How My Autistic Son Could Be as an Adult — and It’s Amazing”
- 2nd: Brian Steinberg, Variety, “TV Talkers From Pat McAfee to Rachel Maddow Gain New License to Blast Bosses On-Air”
Commentary Analysis/Trend, Other Arts, Online
- James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, “When a Ketamine Therapy Visit Goes Horribly Wrong”
Entertainment Website, Online
- The Hollywood Reporter Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, “THR.com”
- 3rd: Variety, Variety, “variety.com”
ENTERTAINMENT BLOG BY AN INDIVIDUAL NOT TIED TO AN ORGANIZATION
Entertainment Blog
- 2nd: Aaron Couch and Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, “Heat Vision”
SOCIAL MEDIA
Best Journalistic use of Social Media to Tell or Enhance a Story
- 2nd: Rachel Seo and Julia MacCary, Variety, “Variety Actors on Actors Season 20”
- 3rd: Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, “The Hollywood Reporter music articles told through Instagram Stories”
About Penske Media Corporation
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate monthly audience of more than 350 million. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media and live events, reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Dick Clark Productions, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, Vibe, IndieWire, Artforum, Gold Derby and Luminate, the premier data and analytics company. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several of the most iconic and vital cultural events such as The Golden Globes, Country Music Awards (ACMs), Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, SXSW, American Music Awards (AMAs), LA3C, Life is Beautiful, Latin Music Week, and ATX Television Festival. Penske Media is headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, for more information, please visit www.PMC.com.
Penske Media Corporation (PMC), the leading global media, live events and data analytics company, recently released findings from their pop culture study, Power of Shared Cultural Connections. The study explores the powerful impact of shared cultural moments and immersive events on consumer engagement, revealing that these experiences resonate profoundly with audiences, foster lifelong memories and community bonds, and offer brands a unique opportunity to cultivate loyalty and engagement through these immersive events.
“At PMC, our research shows that brands have a unique opportunity to be a part of cultural moments by engaging in shared experiences which forge deep emotional connections and loyalty that traditional media channels cannot match,” said Dan Owen, EVP, GM, Strategic Solutions Group at PMC. “As a conduit for creating these collective experiences, PMC helps our partners tap into the power of pop culture and immersive events, embedding themselves in the memories that shape fandoms.”
Key takeaways from the “Power of Shared Cultural Connections” study include:
Major pop culture experiences are a pathway to lifelong memories and provide the thrill of unexpected connection. At a moment in time when much of the world is more isolated than ever, audiences want moments that fuel gratitude and bring us closer to ourselves and each other. 77% say major pop culture experiences are a source of lifelong memories, and 72% seek out pop culture events that offer immersion into the worlds of their favorite shows, movies and artists (86% among Gen Z respondents).
Shared cultural experiences are powerful community builders, particularly when they resonate deeply with the audience’s passions and interests. The more personal and human the stories surrounding the moment are, the more impactful it becomes. 63% seek out pop culture experiences that offer deeper connections to personal interests, and 56% of Gen Z respondents say that they seek out pop culture events that offer deeper community connections with like-minded fans.
Events are always in the plans. 92% plan to attend or wish to attend pop cultural events, including music, film, and art festivals, concerts, immersive experiences and exhibits, in the next year.
Award shows are a vital part of pop culture, connecting us with our favorite artists and acting as a unifying force that creates memorable historical moments. 87% of audiences identify as being“obsessed” or “casual” fans of major award shows. Award shows foster community, with 58% saying they talk to their friends and family about them.
Brands have an incredible power as the facilitators of shared cultural connection. Creating exclusive access that brings fans closer to those moments, and the artists they love most, yields extreme loyalty. 63% consider themselves a super fan of a musician (80% of Gen Z) with 43% saying that if their favorite music artist wears/endorses something, it influences their purchase decision. Additionally, 52% would feel more loyal to a brand if it provided access to live-streamed cultural events.
The findings of PMC’s Power of Shared Cultural Connections study demonstrate that shared cultural moments profoundly influence consumer engagement. This research highlights the critical role that brands play in facilitating these vital connections and creating experiences that not only build emotional ties but also foster enduring loyalty.
To explore the full details of PMC’s research, download the study at: www.pmc.com/2025popculturereport
Report Methodology
In August 2024, Penske Media Corporation (PMC) surveyed a highly targeted segment of 1200 engaged, pop-culturally aware individuals to explore their interest and interaction with live experiences, events, and key cultural moments; as well as the significance these hold for fans, artists, and the brands that make them happen. This study incorporates a blend of qualitative, quantitative, and first-party data, with a spotlight on distinct generational groups: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers.
Honoring Excellence in Art Achievements in the US
Winners Will Be Announced Online on December 4, 2024, and Celebrated in Person at Art Basel Miami Beach
To See the Full Story and List of Nominees Link HERE
Today, ARTnews announced the launch of its first-ever ARTnews Awards, a new editorial project honoring excellence in art achievements at US arts institutions. Winners will be announced online on December 4 and celebrated during a cocktail reception that evening in Miami coinciding with Art Basel. Categories include Emerging Artist of the Year, Established Artist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Best Thematic Museum Show, and Best Gallery Group Show.
Nominations were decided by an eight-person jury made up of six of today’s most closely watched curators, along with two ARTnews senior editors. The same group will choose the eventual winners. To select the winners, each juror submitted one to three candidates per category, with the full jury voting to select five final nominees per category. A second meeting was conducted to select the winners for each category.
“Based on exhibitions that take place during a discrete period of time, the ARTnews Awards bring to the art world an honor similar to the Golden Globes or the Grammys. These are annual industry awards that artists, curators, and institutions will be proud to receive, and that will mark an exciting new moment on the calendar.”– Sarah Douglas, Editor-In-Chief, ARTnews.
The jury includes Cecilia Alemani, Donald R. Mullen, Jr. Director & Chief Curator, High Line Art; Naomi Beckwith, Deputy Director & Jennifer and David Stockman Chief Curator, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Candice Hopkins (Carcross/Tagish First Nation), Executive Director & Chief Curator, Forge Project; Tina Kukielski, Susan Sollins Executive Director & Chief Curator, Art21; María Elena Ortiz, Curator, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; and Pilar Tompkins Rivas, Chief Curator & Deputy Director, Curatorial & Collections, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art; as well as ARTnews’s Maximilíano Durón and Alex Greenberger.
About ARTnews:
Since 1902, ARTnews has been the most trusted source for news of the global art world and the art market. It is a digital-first publication that delivers up-to-the minute developments across its website and newsletters. Our one print issue is the annual Top 200 Collectors issue which, since 1990, has been the definitive source on the world’s most active and important art collectors. The publication's thousands of contributors have included Alfred Barr, Bernard Berenson, Kenneth Clark, Robert Coles, Arthur C. Danto, Carlos Fuentes, Pete Hamill, Aldous Huxley, Steve Martin, Louise Nevelson, Bob Nickas, Francine Prose, Harold Rosenberg, David Salle, Jean-Paul Sartre, and William Carlos Williams.
With Additional Performances by Jamie xx, Jungle, James Blake, Thundercat, Toro y Moi, Badbadnotgood, Neil Frances, LP Giobbi, Empress Of, John Talabot, and Fifi Taking Place September 27-28 in Downtown Las Vegas
Today, Life is Beautiful, the renowned festival celebrating music, art, and culture, introduces A Big Beautiful Block Party, a thrilling new format and celebration of the culture, ideals and evolution of Downtown Las Vegas. The two-day party, taking place September 27-28, is a unique return to the festival’s roots, offering a more close-knit experience set against the vibrant backdrop of the city’s downtown heart. This year’s newly created event includes performances by Justice, Peggy Gou, LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Jungle, James Blake, Thundercat, Toro y Moi, Badbadnotgood, Neil Frances, LP Giobbi, Empress Of, John Talabot, and Fifi.
Life is Beautiful will transform Downtown Las Vegas into a massive dance party, featuring non-stop music from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. each day, and will deliver a truly unforgettable experience. Embracing a unique approach, the festival eliminates overlapping sets, allowing attendees to immerse themselves fully in the music without missing a beat. From electrifying headliners to emerging talent, Life is Beautiful promises to deliver performances that captivate and inspire.
Located just a five-minute walk from The Arts District, The East Fremont Entertainment District, and the iconic Fremont Street Experience, Life is Beautiful invites its community to explore and enjoy the rich tapestry of Las Vegas while experiencing world-class music and artistry. Additionally, Life is Beautiful is proud to partner with Headcount, working together to register voters in anticipation of this critical election year.
Tickets for the festival go on sale on Thursday, June 27, at 10 a.m. PST at LifeisBeautiful.com. General Admission passes start at $199, and VIP passes start at $399.
About Life is Beautiful
Celebrating 11 years, Life is Beautiful Festival is Las Vegas' premier music and arts event. Life is Beautiful was born as part of the major revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas in 2013 and has helped transform the surrounding DTLV community into a bustling destination while contributing over $450M of economic impact and cultural capital to the area. Acquired by Penske Media Corporation and Rolling Stone in December 2023, Life is Beautiful is expanding its offering introducing new event concepts and formats while evolving and expanding the reach and impact of its marquee festival. Life is Beautiful continues to be driven by its core mission to create a holistic experience which aids in positive community development and individual empowerment through shared experiences driven by art and culture. What started as an event has become something more: a symbol of connection, joy and creativity.
Follow Life is Beautiful
Instagram: @Lifeisbeautiful
Twitter: @lifeisbeautiful
Facebook: @lifeisbeautifulfest
TikTok: @lifeisbeautifulfestival
Introducing The Vault by Robb Report
Today, Robb Report, the world’s leading authority in luxury lifestyle, announced the launch of The Vault, a new, always-on ecommerce platform. Coined the world’s rarest shopping destination, The Vault by Robb Report allows customers to procure bespoke, unusual, and ultra-exclusive products and experiences that cannot be found anywhere else.
“Our audience is discerning, so we are always thinking about how to make Robb Report even more essential to our readers,” said Paul Croughton, Editor-in-Chief of Robb Report. “The Vault provides the perfect blend of unique products, vintage treasures, boundary-breaking travel, and must-have experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. With its selection of one-off items and occasional limited editions, The Vault is the rarest shopping experience in the world.”
“The Vault by Robb Report provides our partners with an invaluable new channel to bring one-of-a-kind offerings to the world's most affluent and sophisticated consumers,” said Luke Bahrenburg, President, Robb Report and Head of Luxury Sales, PMC. “This is not ecommerce in the typical sense. These products and experiences are high-touch, bespoke offerings. This is organic to the way a luxury publication should serve its audience.”
Robb Report will work with each vendor featured in The Vault to create must-have products or experiences they have never sold. Sample offerings include:
- Vintage Cartier Martini Set, $4,995
- Dante Cocktail Masterclass, $10,000
- Bravo Whisky Golf Experience, $85,200
- LVMH Champagne and Shopping Experience, $175,000
- Liber Pater 27L bottle and table for eight at the Francs de Pied Gala Dinner, $1,500,000
- Automobili Pininfarina Battista Hypercar and road trip through Italy, $3,200,000
For more information or to shop, please visit The Vault. The Vault launch is supported by the Luxury Group.
About Robb Report
Robb Report is the leading voice in the global luxury market. Its discerning audience around the world has a shared appreciation and desire for quality, exclusivity, heritage, taste, and fine design. Robb Report is synonymous around the world with prosperity, luxury, and the best of the best. Widely regarded as the single-most influential journal of living life to the fullest, with 17 international editions, it is the brand the most successful people rely on to discover the ideas, opinions, products, and experiences that matter most to them. For more information, please visit RobbReport.com.
About RR1
RR1 is the private-membership club that brings Robb Report to life through extraordinary, curated experiences. Members enjoy unparalleled access to benefits and events, and they become part of a powerful community of like-minded tastemakers who seek out the very finest experiences, products and services. From discovering the most alluring and exclusive destinations, to previewing the top cars and products before their official release, to dining with culinary luminaries and meeting leaders of the world’s premier luxury brands, RR1 members truly experience the extraordinary. For more information about RR1, please visit RR1.com.
London, June 2025
Today, South by Southwest® (SXSW®), the world’s leading festival celebrating the convergence of creativity, culture and technology, is launching in London in June 2025.
Through its multidisciplinary conferences and cultural festivals, SXSW has become a global platform to celebrate new ideas, propelling the careers of innovators and creatives across sectors, from start-up founders to independent artists and filmmakers.
SXSW London expands the footprint of the world’s leading and most sought-after cultural platform created over almost four decades in Austin, Texas. Every year, hundreds of thousands of creatives converge at SXSW to discuss and debate some of the most challenging issues of our time, with innovation in technology and science presented alongside the world’s biggest music and entertainment stories. From AI to climate change, politics to society, and the first outings for game changing start-ups such as Twitter and Airbnb, SXSW has been at the forefront of ideas and providing platforms for the world’s most critical and impactful voices.
Since 1987, SXSW has welcomed the world’s leading speakers and participants across a multitude of disciplines, including Christiane Amanpour, Deepak Chopra, Mark Cuban, Melinda Gates, Dave Grohl, Sadiq Khan, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Steven Spielberg, Dr. Lisa Su, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Tilda Swinton, Taika Waititi, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Webb, Michelle Yeoh, and Mark Zuckerberg.
SXSW also creates unrivalled showcasing opportunities for new musicians and filmmakers, with a roll call of firsts that has helped propel global cultural icons like Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran, and other influential artists such as Skepta, Stormzy and Wet Leg.
SXSW London will bring its own distinctive personality, driven by London's internationally renowned cultural life and creativity, its status as a global meeting place, and its proximity to other major creative and tech centres in Europe. Over the course of a week in June, SXSW London will take over dozens of venues, galleries, clubs and other spaces in Shoreditch, east London, renowned as a vibrant centre for creativity and technological innovation, as well as for its diversity, energetic youth culture, global cuisine and nightlife.
SXSW London will build upon London’s place within the community of over 20 million people working in the creative and technology sectors across Europe. In the UK alone, the cultural and creative industries contribute £125 billion, with London contributing more than half of the UK’s entire creative industries economic output.
In addition to inspiring and challenging keynotes, music showcases, and innovations in tech, gaming and screen, SXSW London will introduce boundary pushing visual arts, design and fashion programming, with exhibitions and interactive and immersive experiences in public spaces across its east London campus.
As SXSW’s European edition, SXSW London will have a particular emphasis on creative talent from across Europe. SXSW London will continue to encourage the convergence of creativity and culture, unexpected discoveries, and connections between visitors, creating opportunities for attendees, performers, and the broader London community to collaborate and innovate. SXSW London will also continue to develop Austin's focus on climate action and sustainability, with the ambition to drive positive change for future generations.
More details about the SXSW London 2025 programme will be announced in the coming months, with badges due to go on sale in October 2024. Register your interest for the most unmissable event in the 2025 European creative calendar at sxswlondon.com.
Randel Bryan, Managing Director of SXSW London, said:
"As a life-long fan of SXSW I truly believe that it’s more than an event - it’s a movement, a platform where the world’s greatest minds, musicians and motivators come to share their passion and their vision of the future.
"SXSW London will build on Austin's incredible legacy, presenting an event that underpins why SXSW is the go-to destination for professionals and creatives seeking meaningful connections, unexpected experiences and ideas that can help shape the world.
"SXSW London will also provide a platform for the next generation of creative talent and we will be working hard to ensure that opportunities for learning, employment and community uplift are at the heart of everything we do."
Jann Baskett, Co-President and Chief Brand Officer of SXSW, said:
"We couldn’t be more excited to bring the SXSW experience to London. Following the success of SXSW Sydney, this is an incredible new opportunity to highlight the elements that make SXSW unique in one of the most vibrant cities in Europe. We look forward to forming deeper connections with our overseas community and bringing the conversations that start in Austin all the way to London."
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said:
"I am delighted to welcome SXSW to London for the first time ever - confirming our place at the heart of Europe’s tech and creative sectors and as a global capital of culture.
"When I was part of SXSW in Austin in 2018, I saw first-hand the electric atmosphere of innovation SXSW creates and I can’t wait to be part of it again. This is a historic opportunity for London to once again bring the world’s most exciting talent together as part of our mission to build a better and more prosperous London for everyone."
Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer said:
“Festivals have been a vital part of British culture for decades and a key part of the reason why the UK is known the world over for creative excellence.
“From film and TV to fashion and music, London is a global hub for cultural and creative talent, so it’s fantastic that SXSW is coming here to bring together innovators from across these sectors and demonstrate why the UK’s creative industries are the envy of the world.”
Read quotes from Sir Peter Bazalgette, Co-Chair, UK Creative Industries Council, Dr Jo Twist OBE, Chief Executive, BPI, Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, Naomi Pohl, General Secretary Musicians’ Union, Priya Lakhani OBE, Founder and CEO, CENTURY TECH, Skinder Hundal MBE, Director, Arts, British Council, Karen Palmer, the award winning XR creator and futurist, Tom Kiehl, Interim Chief Executive, UK Music, Sally Davies, Managing Director of Abbey Road Studios, Lawrence Montgomery, Managing Director, Rough Trade Retail (UK), Jessica Driscoll, Director of Immersive Technology, Digital Catapult, Adam Cole, who presented his work Kiss/Crash at SXSW 2024 in Austin, Caroline Rush CBE, CEO British Fashion Council and Chair Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board, Professor James Bennett, Director CoSTAR National R&D Lab for Creative Technologies, Crispin Parry, CEO, British Underground, Ed Jenkins, CEO Volumetric Video Ltd and Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO, Royal Academy of Engineering and Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation here.
About SXSW
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film and television, music, education, and culture. An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music, and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, exhibitions, professional development, and a variety of opportunities to meet and connect with people. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and individuals come together. SXSW 2025 will take place March 7-15 in Austin.
SXSW’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region, with SXSW Sydney starting in 2023 and Europe with SXSW London in 2025, provides new possibilities at this iconic experience. These events, each with their own distinct flavour, make South By an indispensable three-stop tour for the global creative community.
Panarae
Panarae is a private investment company with a focus on the financing and development of global enterprises. The company has a diverse investment and partnership portfolio – ranging from financial and professional services to media and entertainment. SXSW London is produced under license from SXSW LLC by Panarise, a live entertainment company established and owned by Panarae.
TAIT
TAIT partners with artists, brands, and institutions to bring culture-defining, never-before-seen experiences to life. With a legacy of innovation spanning over 45 years, TAIT has grown from pioneering in rock ‘n’ roll concert staging to setting the global standard for extraordinary live events and experiences through cutting-edge technology, precision engineering, and creative design, as well as producing high-stakes, high-touchpoint moments around the globe. TAIT’s 20 global offices have developed iconic productions and experiences in over 30 countries, all seven continents, and even outer space for renowned performers, theme parks, exhibits, and venues across the globe, including partnerships with Snap Inc., Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, Warner Bros. Discovery, Royal Opera House, Nike, NASA, Google, Disney, Beyoncé, Bloomberg, and The Olympics.
Today, CBS and The Golden Globe® Awards announced today a new five-year deal to broadcast the award show on the Network and stream live on Paramount+. The new agreement kicks off with the January 2025 broadcast.
CBS’ recent broadcast of The 81ST ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE® AWARDS on Sunday, January 7th averaged 10 million viewers (Nielsen Live+7 Day national ratings), up nearly +50% from last year, its largest audience since 2020. The telecast was also the third-largest live-streamed CBS special event on Paramount+ ever in terms of AMA and reach.
“CBS’ collaboration with the Globes for this year’s broadcast was a big win for both of us and established strong momentum for awards shows in 2024,” said George Cheeks, President and CEO of CBS. “The Globes is a one-of a-kind live event that adds another marquee special and valuable promotional platform to CBS’ annual calendar. I’m excited to expand the partnership with Jay and the entire team to continue to drive the Globes forward.”
“We’re so proud to continue to call CBS our home for the Golden Globes,” said Jay Penske, Chairman and CEO of Penske Media and Dick Clark Productions. “CBS stepped up for the Globes during a very challenging time, and inherently understood its value, while having the foresight, imagination and conviction to bring this iconic show to its many platforms. We've long admired CBS’ commitment to some of the greatest cultural live events and partnering for the long-term further cements this show's legacy and incredible place in history.”
“Today marks a significant milestone for the Globes as we solidify our partnership with CBS and Paramount+ for the next five years,” said Helen Hoehne, President, Golden Globes. “We are incredibly proud of the audience we garnered in 2024 and look forward to building upon the immense success to make the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards the best and most memorable show yet.”
The Golden Globe Awards, often referred to as Hollywood’s “Biggest Party of the Year®,” is one of the biggest nights on the calendar for live viewing. It is also the largest awards show in the world to celebrate the best of both film and television.
Produced and owned by Dick Clark Productions, the Golden Globe Awards are viewed in more than 185 countries worldwide.
About The Golden Globe® Awards
As a premier entertainment awards show since 1944, the annual Golden Globe Awards has honored achievements in both television and film. Over the last three decades, the licensing fees from the Golden Globe Awards have enabled donations of more than $55 million to entertainment-related charities including scholarship programs, film restoration projects and humanitarian efforts. This funding has also supported diverse programs in partnership with advocacy groups aimed at promoting greater access in Hollywood for underserved communities. Dick Clark Productions is the owner and producer of the Golden Globe Awards. For more information on the Golden Globe Awards, please visit www.GoldenGlobes.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and in Spanish on Twitter and Facebook.
About Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming including the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” from 19 Entertainment and DCP, and “Streamy Awards.” Dick Clark Productions owns one of the world’s most extensive and unique entertainment archive libraries with more than 60 years of award-winning shows, historic specials, performances, and legendary programming. Dick Clark Productions is a Penske Media company. For more information, please visit www.DickClark.com.
*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.
Austin, Texas —February 13, 2024: Today, Penske Media Corporation’s (PMC) iconic brands announced a slate of activations taking place at this year’s South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festival in Austin, TX, March 8 – 16, 2024. Brands hosting unforgettable experiences, panel discussions, fireside chats, concerts, and more include Variety, Robb Report, Deadline, The American Pavillion (AmPav), The Hollywood Reporter (THR), WWD, Footwear News, Beauty Inc, Rivet, SHE Media, Sportico, Rolling Stone and Billboard.
Variety's signature Power of Comedy event returns in partnership with the SXSW Comedy Festival for opening night Friday, March 8, at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin. Honoring some of the biggest names in comedy, the evening will consist of stand-up acts and honoree speeches in celebration of the year in comedy.
Robb Report brings its signature style to the SXSW experience, presenting an immersive luxury destination: House of Robb, March 8 – 10, at The Walter Tips Building, located at 712 Congress Avenue. This elevated oasis within the SXSW campus combines the best of the best under one roof. Attendees will experience intimate live talks around the theme of high performance featuring, athlete and entrepreneur Gabby Reece, longevity guru Dave Asprey and psychedelics expert Dr. Dave Rabin, as well as world-class culinary and mixology adventures, VIP gatherings—and a first look at “The Vault,” Robb Report’s brand new ultra-luxury shopping platform offering one-of-a-kind products and experiences from the world’s finest brands, exclusively created for Robb Report.
Deadline will host the Deadline Studio at SXSW March 8-11 at the Thompson Hotel, with select talent from premiering projects in its signature studio for exclusive on-camera video interviews and solo and group portraits.
The American Pavilion’s (AmPav) esteemed Worldwide Student Program has introduced thousands of entertainment industry students to festivals and events worldwide, from Hollywood to Cannes to Venice. This year, for the first time, AmPav will launch an expansion of its student program at SXSW, with a 5-day program, March 8-12. Twenty-five students will attend the best SXSW has to offer including industry events with thought leaders and expert discussions from the worlds of film, tech, and music.
The Hollywood Reporter (THR) will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of "Office Space” on Saturday, March 9, hosting a rousing panel and reunion in the same town where it was filmed with select cast members on SXSW’s mainstage.
The Wear House, a cross-brand activation with WWD, Footwear News, Beauty Inc, and Rivet returns to Austin, at 800 Congress on March 9 – 10, 10:30 am – 6 pm, as the ultimate fashion and beauty innovation destination of SXSW 2024. This year’s theme, “Innovation, Insights & Influence: The Art of Storytelling in Fashion and Beauty” will engage the SXSW audience in first-person success stories from thought leaders, entrepreneurs, designers and influencers, including Remi Bader, Lo Bosworth, and Gabby Thomas. Conversations will cover how leveraging consumer data, AI, influencers, authenticity, and core cultural trends helps brands more effectively communicate with their audience, scale and succeed in a crowded marketplace. More speakers to be announced; for updates click here.
The SHE Media Co-Lab returns to SXSW for three packed days, March 9, 10 and 11, at 206 E 4th St in Austin, with an all-star lineup of women's health advocates including Brooke Shields, Katie Couric, Dr. Sharon Malone, Lori Gottlieb, and Gabby Reece. The Co-Lab at SXSW also marks SHE Media’s one-year anniversary launching its proprietary brand, Flow Space, a digital and live media platform providing content, community, and commerce in service of women’s health. The SHE Media Co-Lab at SXSW will once again gather innovators and changemakers in conversation about women’s whole health, bringing diverse voices and perspectives that will pave the way for future advancement. For more information and updates, click here.
Sportico returns to the Four Seasons Austin as the official Sports Track at SXSW, March 9 – 11. Attendees can expect three days of unrivaled programming on the Sportico Podcast Stage in the picturesque East Lawn. Guests will hear from industry players including six-time NBA All Star Blake Griffin, three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie, former NBA Center and LGBT Advocate Jason Collins, Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Aly Wagner.
Quickly established as a marquee showcase of SXSW’s music festival, Rolling Stone returns to Austin with its second-annual Future of Music programming, taking place March 12 – 15 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. Inspired by the spirit of SXSW, this four-night concert series celebrates the sounds of today and tomorrow, spanning all genres. The Future of Music showcase will be open to all SXSW badge holders and the public. Please note that badge holders will receive priority admission, and the public is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information click here.
Back by popular demand, Billboard's THE STAGE @ SXSW returns to Austin's Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park with a lineup of A-list talent across today's biggest genres. These must-see sets will take place March 14-16 during the SXSW Music Festival and are open to badge holders as well as general ticket buyers.
About Penske Media
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate audience. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media and a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Dick Clark Productions, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, Vibe, IndieWire, TVLine, Artforum, Gold Derby, Spy.com and Luminate, the premier data and analytics company. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several vital cultural events such as SXSW, LA3C, Life is Beautiful, Latin Music Week and ATX Television Festival. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, PMC believes companies should not only be profitable but also forces for good www.pmc.com.
Penske Media Corporation, One of Los Angeles’ Largest Employers Moves its Headquarters to LUMEN West LA
The experiential office campus reimagines the modern workplace with light-infused next-generation design and a fluid indoor-outdoor campus, setting the stage for creativity and collaboration in the heart of LA’s beloved Sawtelle.
LOS ANGELES – November 1, 2023 – Penske Media Corporation (PMC) announced the relocation of its Los Angeles headquarters to LUMEN West LA, adjacent to Los Angeles’ historic Sawtelle. The property, owned and developed by McCarthy Cook and Northwood Investors, spanning 3.6 acres, is an unprecedented indoor-outdoor campus featuring 1.5 acres of private outdoor event space and state-of-the-art amenities and features.
With over 125,000 square feet, PMC is Lumen’s largest tenant and will occupy seven floors across the East Tower for its corporate offices and iconic portfolio of media brands, including Variety, Billboard, Golden Globes, The Hollywood Reporter, Luminate, Rolling Stone, Deadline, Dick Clark Productions, Robb Report, WWD, SHE Media, and more. PMC’s headquarters will include a ground-floor screening room, on-site production facilities, music studios, and podcast studios.
“We have moved our Los Angeles headquarters to LUMEN West after visiting every leading contemporary office building across the market. Simply put, there isn’t a better building for our teams and brands for our organization's future growth,” said Jay Penske, CEO, Chairman, and Founder, Penske Media Corporation. “As our business has scaled over the last decade in California, it has left us with four different office towers, and thankfully, this transaction allows us to bring nearly 30 operating businesses under one roof at LUMEN.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Penske Media Corporation to LUMEN West and know their creative teams will fast embrace its light-infused, airy environments, game-changing experiential and collaborative workspaces, and amazing proximity to Sawtelle, which inspired much of our design throughout the process,” said Edward Cook III, Co-President of McCarthy Cook & Co. “LUMEN West puts people first. It is an evolved indoor-outdoor experiential office and neighborhood campus unlike any other in LA. PMC’s decision affirms it is emerging as a new destination for leading creative entertainment and technology companies.’’
Adjacent to the Sawtelle, a district designated by the City of Los Angeles as a cultural enclave with significant history and a village with a vibe anchored by over forty boutique and wonderfully eclectic restaurants in West Los Angeles, the LUMEN West campus located at 11355 West Olympic Boulevard offers nearly 550,000 square feet of office space with 1.5 acres of private outdoor event space and gathering spaces including a great lawn for events, indoor-outdoor conference & entertainment pavilion, work & social cabanas, training fitness gym, lockers & showers, basketball court, pickleball court, chef gardens, Japanese-inspired rooftop beer garden, and more. Open-air lobbies, stairways, and bridges seamlessly connect social and entertainment amenities punctuated by 16,000 square feet of restaurant space anchored on the Ground floor overlooking Olympic Blvd., providing unparalleled culinary options for employees.
About Penske Media Corporation
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate audience of over 300 million globally. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Dick Clark Productions, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, Vibe, IndieWire, Dirt, Artforum, Gold Derby, Spy.com and Luminate, the premier data and analytics company. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several vital cultural events such as SXSW, LA3C, Life is Beautiful, Latin Music Week and ATX Television Festival. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, PMC believes companies should not only be profitable but also forces for good. PMC is committed to fostering a working environment that is inclusive and responsible, where we value a company culture built on all backgrounds, voices, and experiences. For more information on the company, please visit www.PMC.com
About McCarthy Cook & Company
Founded in 1995 by Thomas McCarthy and Edward W. Cook, McCarthy Cook & Company (MCC) invests in creative media/entertainment, life science, and technology properties in the major metropolitan markets of the Western United States. MCC is a vertically integrated real estate operating and development company. MCC co-invests with institutional partners including Oxford, PGIM Real Estate, Northwood Investors, Northwestern Mutual Life, JP Morgan Investment Management, Morgan Stanley Real Estate, Canyon Capital Advisors, the Blackstone Group, and Rialto.
McCarthy Cook has completed over $5.8 billion in transactions. Its current portfolio encompasses 3.1 million sq. ft. of space in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Orange County, San Francisco, and Mountain View. MCC has a seasoned team of local investment, development, and management professionals throughout California. The Firm’s Southern California offices are in Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, while MCC maintains a Northern California office in San Francisco and Mountain View.
About Northwood Investors
Northwood is a privately-owned, employee-held registered investment advisor that was founded in 2006 by John Z. Kukral, former President and CEO of Blackstone Real Estate Advisors. Northwood employs a fundamental, value-driven investment strategy, pursuing attractive risk-adjusted returns while limiting downside risk. Northwood invests alongside institutional and private clients in a broad range of real estate and real estate-related investment opportunities across the US and Europe, with approximately $10 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2021. The Northwood team has deep experience in sourcing, executing, and managing real estate transactions worldwide, ranging from office buildings and shopping centers to hotels and residential investments. For more information about Northwood Investors, please visit www.northwoodinvestors.com
LA3C ANNOUNCES FULL MUSIC LINEUP FOR ITS MAINSTAGE AND PARTNERSHIP WITH LA’S PREMIER CAR AND LIFESTYLE EVENT PRODUCER, HIN EVENTS, HOT IMPORT NIGHTS®
LA3C will Celebrate Los Angeles’ Diversity & Creative Communities Through Music, Food and Art December 10-11 at Los Angeles State Historic Park
Tickets On Sale Now at LA3C.com
Los Angeles, CA (October 6, 2022) – Today, LA3C, Penske Media’s first-ever culture and creativity festival announced its full music lineup. The event takes place December 10-11, 2022, at Los Angeles State Historic Park, Los Angeles’ premier downtown destination for concerts and events. Newly announced mainstage performers include Free Nationals, Gerardo Ortiz, Fonseca, Marc Seguí, Shawn Wasabi, Monogem, Shea Diamond, and Chicocurlyhead. For more information on these artists, visit LA3C.com/music.
The diverse lineup of performers joins previously announced headliner and three-time Grammy-winning superstar, Megan Thee Stallion and Latin chart-topper, Maluma, with performances by K-Pop stage-breakers Seventeen and LA music icon, Snoop Dogg. Tickets are on-sale now at LA3C.com.
“We are thrilled to share our full music lineup today,” said Juan Mora, CEO of LA3C. “Our goals were to create a lineup that celebrates the range of musical genres Los Angeles offers including Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, K-Pop, Regional Mexican Music, EDM and more and for attendees to discover new artists while enjoying names they know and love.”
Today LA3C also announced its partnership with HIN Events LLC, Hot Import Nights® Brand, the world’s largest and most unique indoor/outdoor automotive lifestyle event producer. As part of the partnership, HIN Events will host a second stage featuring headliner Mustard and performance sets from AJ Hernz, ARIUS, Cam Girl, Freya Fox, Kill Bambi, Kim Lee, LOLO, LuckyLight, Madds, MEIRLIN, Peach, and Vice.
“The Hot Import Nights® Brand began in California, with our very first event in Long Beach,” said Michael Munar, CEO of HIN Events LLC. “We are immensely proud of our LA heritage and how we have grown our events around the world celebrating cars, music, gaming, fashion, technology and more. Our partnership with LA3C was organic. We both share a love for LA and are so excited to bring our unique point of view to this special stage curated by HIN Events. Attendees can expect our talent lineup of DJs, dancers, and more evoking the amazing sound and electric spirit of LA.”
Additional talent for the highly anticipated two-day culture and creativity festival will be unveiled in the coming weeks including chefs, restaurants, artists and additional surprises and delight programming. The festival and performance sets will run from 1 p.m.- 10 p.m. PT on Saturday, December 10 and from 12 p.m.- 9 p.m. PT Sunday, December 11. All attendees must be 21+.
The festival’s mark, LA3C, stands for Los Angeles (LA), the Capital of Culture & Creativity (3C) and aims to connect people and communities through the city’s most influential and inspiring music, food and art. The two-day celebration will be a curation of best-in-class experiences including a range of multicultural food and flavors punctuated by bold and interactive art on display from some of the world’s most talented artists. For more information on LA3C and the latest updates, visit LA3C.com.
LA3C is committed to nurturing the city’s creative heart and preserving Los Angeles as a capital of creativity and culture for years to come. In its inaugural year, LA3C will support the next generations of creative talent in Los Angeles through partnerships with nonprofit arts organizations Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) and Film Independent.
[MEDIA NOTE: Media assets are available here. To request media credentials for LA3C, please complete this form by Friday, November 11 at 3 p.m. PT.]
Follow the event on social media:
- Facebook: @LA3Cofficial
- Twitter: @LA3Cofficial
- Instagram: @LA3Cofficial
- Join the conversation: #LA3C
About LA3C
Penske Media’s LA3C is a first-time annual festival celebrating the rich culture and creativity of Los Angeles. Over two days, LA3C promises to cultivate the best of Los Angeles with headlining musical talent, bold art installations, and food that represents the diverse palette of the city. Festivalgoers will leave feeling proud to live in LA and energized by new experiences and surprise & delight moments. LA3C brings our community together in the heart of the city to celebrate everything that makes Los Angeles unique. LA3C will leverage the expertise and access of Penske Media properties including Variety, Billboard, VIBE, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Deadline, WWD, Sportico, SHE Media, ARTnews, Robb Report, IndieWire, TVLine and Sourcing Journal.
About Penske Media Corporation
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate audience. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media and a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, VIBE, SXSW, Life is Beautiful, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, IndieWire, Dirt, Gold Derby, Spy.com, TVLine, Sourcing Journal, among many others. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several vital cultural events such as SXSW, LA3C, and Life is Beautiful. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, PMC believes companies should not only be profitable but also forces for good.
About The Hot Import Nights® Brand
HIN Events, LLC is the world’s largest and most unique indoor/outdoor automotive lifestyle event producer and a leading influencer of innovation, technology, and creativity when it comes to the dynamic and expanding car culture community across the globe, under the HOT IMPORT NIGHTS® brand. In addition to a dazzling display of the nation’s best and most numerous customized show cars, this one-of-a-kind pop culture experience also features live performances, with social media influencers, in a unique lights-out, nightclub atmosphere. Over the years, revelers have been treated to elaborate product displays from sponsors such as Valvoline, Microsoft, Sylvania, XM Satellite Radio, Wish, State Farm, Boost Mobile, NOS Energy Drink, Universal’s Fast & The Furious, McDonalds, Pepsi, 20th Century Fox, Nissan, Mazda, Ford, Chevrolet, The National Guard, Army, Air Force, Marines, AT&T and many more. The events are attended by thousands of automotive and entertainment enthusiasts each year across the globe, multiple generations and running!
Penske Media Corporation
Brooke Jaffe, press@pmc.com
MALUMA, MEGAN THEE STALLION, SEVENTEEN AND SNOOP DOGG TO PERFORM AT LA3C, PENSKE MEDIA’S FIRST-EVER CULTURE AND CREATIVITY FESTIVAL, DECEMBER 10-11, 2022 AT THE LA STATE HISTORIC PARK
LA3C will Celebrate Los Angeles’ Diversity & Creative Communities Through Music, Food and Art
Tickets On-Sale Now at LA3C.com
Los Angeles, CA (September 14, 2022) – Today, Penske Media Corporation (PMC) announced Maluma and Megan Thee Stallion to headline its highly anticipated two-day culture and creativity festival, LA3C, taking place December 10-11, 2022 at the Los Angeles State Historic Park, Los Angeles’ premier downtown destination for concerts and events. Three-time, Grammy award-winning superstar Megan Thee Stallion will headline the show on Saturday, December 10, and Maluma will headline Sunday, December 11 and the festival will include performances by K-Pop stage-breakers Seventeen and LA music icon, Snoop Dogg. LA3C’s full talent lineup including musicians, chefs, artists and programming details will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Tickets are on-sale now at LA3C.com. All attendees must be 21+.
The festival’s mark, LA3C, stands for Los Angeles (LA), the Capital of Culture & Creativity (3C) and aims to connect people and communities through the city’s most influential and inspiring music, food and art. The two-day celebration will be a curation of best-in-class experiences including a range of multicultural food and flavors punctuated by bold and interactive art on display from some of the world’s most talented artists.
PMC Chairman, CEO and Founder Jay Penske appointed Juan Mora, an impact investor and non-profit leader as LA3C’s Chief Executive. “It is an honor and privilege to build this festival,” said Mora. “We believe that Los Angeles is a place where people come to pursue their creative passions and a place where talent, diversity and culture thrive. Our programming is meant to reflect our community and to create an inclusive environment where all feel welcome. Jay’s vision and the commitment to positively impact the city of Los Angeles inspires us all. I plan to leverage the expertise of Penske Media’s iconic brands to create an experience for all who join us.”
“I have always been inspired by Los Angeles, its people, its vibrancy, its diversity and its creativity,” said Penske. We are proudly building an event with a significant long-term vision. Right now, being together in person means so much to us all. Our event will be a place to celebrate and give back to this incredible city and the people who make it so unique.”
LA3C is committed to nurturing the city’s creative heart and preserving Los Angeles as a capital of creativity and culture for years to come. In its inaugural year, LA3C will support the next generations of creative talent in Los Angeles through partnerships with nonprofit arts organizations Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) and Film Independent.
For over 30 years, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) has helped young people overcome barriers through exceptional, integrated programs and personalized guidance in a trusted, nurturing environment. Thousands of youth attend HOLA’s academic, arts, athletics, and wellness programs yearly and at no cost. HOLA’s Visual Arts and Music departments are dedicated to the idea that every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserves the chance to create. For more information or to get involved, visit: www.heartofla.org.
Film Independent champions creative independence in visual storytelling and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation and uniqueness of vision. For nearly 30 years, Film Independent’s Project Involve has been a leader in building a more inclusive and equitable industry by supporting emerging filmmakers from communities underrepresented in film and entertainment. For more information, visit https://www.filmindependent.org/.
Additionally, LA3C will leverage the expertise and access of Penske Media properties including Variety, Billboard, VIBE, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Deadline, WWD, Sportico, SHE Media, ARTnews, Robb Report, IndieWire, TVLine and Sourcing Journal.
For more information on LA3C and the latest updates, visit LA3C.com.
*LA3C was previously announced for December 2-4, 2021 but was postponed due to concerns with COVID-19.
Follow the event on Social Media:
- Facebook:@LA3Cofficial
- Twitter: @LA3Cofficial
- Instagram:@LA3Cofficial
- Join the conversation: #LA3C
About LA3C
Penske Media’s LA3C is a first-time, annual festival celebrating the rich culture and creativity of Los Angeles. Over two days, LA3C promises to cultivate the best of Los Angeles with headlining musical talent, bold art installations, and food that represents the diverse palette of the city. Festivalgoers will leave feeling proud to live in LA and energized by new experiences and surprise & delight moments. LA3C brings our community together in the heart of the city to celebrate everything that makes Los Angeles unique.
About Penske Media Corporation
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading global media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a passionate audience. Since 2004, PMC has been a pioneer in digital media and a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens across its ever-growing constellation of iconic brands, which includes Variety, Rolling Stone, Vibe, SXSW, Life is Beautiful, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, WWD, SHE Media, Robb Report, Deadline, Sportico, BGR, ARTnews, Fairchild Media, IndieWire, Dirt, Gold Derby, Spy.com, TVLine, Sourcing Journal, among many others. PMC’s journalists and content creators deliver daily the most comprehensive news and information in their industries and areas of coverage, unequaled in ambition, depth, and courage. In addition, PMC owns several vital cultural events such as SXSW, LA3C, and Life is Beautiful. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 14 countries worldwide, PMC believes companies should not only be profitable but also forces for good.
Penske Media Corporation
Brooke Jaffe, press@pmc.com
NEW YORK, New York—November 27, 2017: Penske Media Corporation (PMC) and its subsidiary Fairchild Media today announced the acquisition of FashInvest, the innovator in connecting the fashion-tech, fashion, retail, and branded consumer goods sectors with the finance and investment sectors. This acquisition comes on the heels of Penske Media and its subsidiary Fairchild Media’s acquisition last month of Sourcing Journal, the premiere media brand for global executives focused on the sourcing and manufacturing industries. Both purchases significantly advance Fairchild’s and WWD’s position in today’s fashion, beauty, and retail business coverage.
“FashInvest has tapped into the vital intersection of finance and fashion—a business that has been built over the last decade on discovering and developing emerging fashion and retail brands and their access to capital markets. Fairchild Media has consistently been the leader in coverage of well-established global fashion brands, and with the acquisition of FashInvest the opportunity to deepen our coverage of emerging companies, start-ups, and the financial institutions (VC’s, Private Equity, etc.) that are shaping the future fashion industry is dramatically enhanced,” said PMC Chairman and CEO Jay Penske. “We are honoured to be the steward of this innovative company and continuing our investments in the Fairchild Media business.”
FashInvest, known for being “where fashion meets finance,” began as a series of educational industry events in 2009 and has rapidly evolved to now be a leading global media resource. FashInvest’s thousands of daily online news posts, reports, and exclusive interviews on the emerging fashion tech and fashion arenas have established it as today’s news authority for a growing number of fashion-tech and fashion entrepreneurs seeking the latest news on who has received funding, who is providing the funding, and what strategies are attracting financing.
“The injection of Penske Media resources into FashInvest will propel the brand and enable FashInvest to extend our reach into markets and geographic regions we have always looked to enter. We have seen an insatiable appetite for fashion brands, fashion tech companies, retailers and investors of all stages to stay current with the investment news, innovations and resources driving the industry. With this acquisition FashInvest is now the undisputed digital content and event production leader of this ever-growing space,” said FashInvest COO Erik Seel.
FashInvest’s ground-breaking events, which attract attendees from around the world, will now be bolstered by PMC and Fairchild Media’s robust event infrastructure. Renowned for their innovative, funding-focused networking opportunities between entrepreneurs, financiers, operating executives and service providers, FashInvest events are poised to expand and evolve on a global scale.
“The addition of FashInvest to Fairchild Media’s umbrella deepens our already encompassing coverage of innovative startups and their financing,” said James Fallon, editorial director of Fairchild Media. “Covering unique and disruptive entrepreneurs in fashion, beauty and retail and their monetary backers has been at the core of WWD’s ethos for decades, and we look forward to expanding our coverage in this vertical.”
FashInvest is joining PMC on the heels of PMC’s acquisition of Sourcing Journal, the media voice for the sourcing and manufacturing industries. Both join PMC’s fashion industry brands WWD and FN in addition to PMC’s lifestyle and entertainment brands Variety Inc., Deadline Hollywood, Robb Report, TVLine.com, Hollywood Life, and IndieWire as well as PMC’s global events and data services. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Transaction Highlights:
- The acquisition brings together FashInvest, a leading media innovator, with PMC’s robust media and events infrastructure to better serve today’s global fashion entrepreneurs and investors.
- The financial terms of the acquisition of FashInvest were not disclosed.
- This transaction compliments Penske Media’s 2014 purchase of Fairchild Media (WWD, FN, M, Beauty Inc.) from Condé Nast as well as its acquisition last month of Sourcing Journal.
- Under Penske Media’s ownership, FashInvest will remain an independent publication dedicated to informing fashion entrepreneurs and investors as well as bringing them together in unique networking opportunities.
- FashInvest’s events business will benefit from Fairchild Publishing, LLC’s New York-based Fairchild Live events team, leveraging a best-in-class infrastructure for international growth.
NEW YORK, New York: Penske Media Corporation (PMC) and Wenner Media today announced Penske Media’s strategic investment in Wenner Media, majority owner of Rolling Stone, the leading voice of music, politics and pop culture for 50 years.
Since its founding in 1967 by Jann Wenner and Ralph J. Gleason, Rolling Stone has defined pop culture for generations of readers and is one of the most iconic brands in publishing and music. Today, five decades later, Rolling Stone has evolved into a multi-platform content brand with unrivalled access and authority, reaching over 60 million people per month. Throughout an evolving media landscape, Rolling Stone has always stayed true to its mission to tell exceptional stories that illuminate the culture of our times.
“Our interest in Rolling Stone is driven by its people, its cultural significance, and the globally-recognized brand that has no peer in its areas of influence”, said Penske Media chairman and CEO Jay Penske. “We believe that Penske Media is uniquely qualified to partner with the Wenners to ensure the brand continues to ascend for decades across multiple media platforms—we’re eager to get started.”
“I am so proud of our accomplishments over the past 50 years and know Penske Media is the ideal match for us to thrive in today’s media landscape,” said Jann Wenner, editorial director of Wenner Media.
“We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Jay and Penske Media to invest in our company’s future success. They understand the importance and impact of Rolling Stone, and we are thrilled for this opportunity to grow our business together,” said Gus Wenner, president and chief operating officer of Wenner Media.
Penske Media has a proven track record in acquiring, investing in, and growing content and editorial teams while evolving iconic brands in today’s competitive digital media landscape. Through the acquisition and turnaround of Fairchild Media—which includes Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), Footwear News (FN), and Beauty Inc—along with the evolution of Variety, Robb Report, and IndieWire, Penske Media has continually demonstrated their ability to successfully grow legendary media businesses while preserving the heritage and culture of each brand.
Penske Media’s strategic investment in Wenner Media creates a formidable and compelling alliance for Rolling Stone’s dominance in music, politics, entertainment and pop culture.
Penske Media, founded in 2003, is a leading digital media company with significant experience in the entertainment, technology, fashion, retail, and luxury media segments. Having made investments in over 18 industry-leading trade and consumer brands that include Variety, WWD, Robb Report, Deadline, Beauty Inc, FN, IndieWire, HollywoodLife, BGR, and other leading properties, Penske Media’s digital media expertise and complementary portfolio will be key advantages in propelling Rolling Stone to significant growth, profitability and long-term success.
Transaction Highlights:
- Jann Wenner to become Editorial Director, and Gus Wenner to remain President & COO and also join Penske Media’s Advisory Board.
- With Penske Media’s strategic investment in Wenner Media, which maintains the majority control and editorial oversight for Rolling Stone, the publication will remain an independent authority on US pop culture and impactful political coverage.
- Singapore-based music start-up BandLab Technologies, which purchased a 49% stake in Rolling Stone in September 2016 for an undisclosed sum, continues as Wenner Media’s partner in Rolling Stone.
- This investment complements Penske Media’s existing entertainment media brands, which include Variety, Deadline.com, and IndieWire.
- Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, Rolling Stone will benefit from Penske Media’s industry-leading expertise in digital media, live events, and leveraging a best-in-class infrastructure for growth and continued journalistic excellence, as has been accomplished with Penske Media-owned Variety Media and Fairchild Media, which include Variety, WWD, FN and Beauty Inc.
- The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.
- Wenner Media was represented by Methuselah Advisors and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Penske Media was represented by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
# # #
ABOUT PMC
Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is a leading digital media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a monthly audience of more than 180 million and empowers more than 1 million global CEOs and business thought-leaders in markets that impact the world. Our dynamic events, data services, and rich content entertain and educate today’s fashion, retail, beauty, entertainment and lifestyle sectors. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 11 countries worldwide, Penske Media is the way global influencers are informed, connected, and inspired. To learn more about PMC and its iconic brands, visit www.pmc.com.
ABOUT WENNER MEDIA AND ROLLING STONE
Wenner Media LLC, a privately held company headquartered in New York City, publishes Rolling Stone. The number one brand in music publishing, Rolling Stone has been the leading voice of music and popular culture for 50 years. The multi-media brand features the latest in music reviews, in-depth interviews, hard-hitting political commentary and award-winning journalism across many platforms including magazine, digital, mobile, social and event marketing. Rolling Stone provides “all the news that fits” to a global audience of approximately 60 million fans of the brand every month. Rolling Stone is owned by Wenner Media and BandLab Technologies. For more information, please visit www.rollingstone.com.
Penske Media Press Contact
Lauren Utecht
+1 310-484-2540
NEW YORK, New York—March 6, 2018: PMC, owner of 20 media brands that include Rolling Stone, Variety, WWD, Deadline, and Robb Report, today announced the acquisition of SheKnows Media, a leading women’s lifestyle digital media company with 79 million unique visitors per month (comScore, Jan 2018) and whose owned and operated brands include SheKnows.com, BlogHer, StyleCaster and HelloFlo.
“We are thrilled to join PMC to accomplish our goal of building out the SheKnows brands and further engaging our more than 300 million social followers,” said SheKnows Media CEO Philippe Guelton. “We view PMC as the best home for our brands and our audiences for decades to come.”
In conjunction with its highly profitable BlogHer events, the SheKnows network of influencers and content creators is known for amplifying voices of some of today’s most influential women. With strong growth in both reach and impact, bringing SheKnows to PMC will create a formidable and compelling alliance in entertainment, fashion, lifestyle and women’s issues. The acquisition further compliments PMC’s continued expansion strategy, which over the past five years has included the acquisition of Variety, Fairchild Media, IndieWire, Robb Report and, most recently, Rolling Stone.
“Bringing SheKnows to PMC will enable us to deepen our service to our broad and loyal audiences, including women entrepreneurs and content creators, while solidifying our dominance of the women’s interests vertical,” said SheKnows Media President Samantha Skey. “PMC’s innovation in content and events along with its digital savvy make it ideal for bringing forth synergies and significant long-term scale across both companies.”
PMC, founded in 2004, is a leading digital media and information services company with significant experience in the entertainment, technology, fashion, retail and luxury media segments. Currently owning and operating industry-leading brands that include Rolling Stone, Variety, WWD, Robb Report, Deadline, Beauty Inc, FN, IndieWire, HollywoodLife, BGR, and other leading properties, PMC’s digital media expertise and complementary portfolio are expected to accelerate SheKnows’ trajectory and long-term success.
Transaction Highlights:
- Philippe Guelton will continue in his current role as SheKnows Media’s Chief Executive Officer.
- Samantha Skey will continue in her current role of President and Chief Revenue Officer.
- SheKnows brings to PMC a leading lifestyle and women’s interests digital media platform that is a top 5 comScore for Lifestyle, scaling PMC’s reach and diversifying PMC’s offerings by deepening its dominance of the women’s interests vertical.
- SheKnows Media’s thriving BlogHer events business will compliment PMC’s industry-leading expertise in live events.
- This acquisition allows PMC to diversify its revenue across the consumer packaged goods, healthcare, and food and beverage verticals.
- SheKnows employees will remain in their current New York offices until integrated into PMC’s corporate NY headquarters in late 2018, while new office space in Scottsdale is expected within 6 to 8 months.
- The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
- SheKnows was represented by Ballard Spahr LLP and Houlihan Lokey acted as exclusive sell-side advisor to SheKnows.
- PMC was represented by Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP.
# # #
About PMC
PMC is a leading digital media and information services company whose award-winning content attracts a monthly audience of more than 210 million and empowers more than 1 million global business leaders and CEOs with actionable market information and business intelligence. Our dynamic events, data services, and rich content entertain and educate today’s fashion, retail, beauty, entertainment, luxury and lifestyle sectors. Headquartered in New York and Los Angeles with additional offices in 11 countries worldwide. To learn more about PMC and its iconic brands, visit www.pmc.com.
About SheKnows Media
SheKnows Media is a top women’s lifestyle digital media company with 79 million unique visitors per month (comScore) and more than 300 million social media fans and followers. The company operates a family of leading media properties that include SheKnows.com, BlogHer.com, StyleCaster.com and HelloFlo.com. With a mission of women inspiring women, SheKnows Media is revolutionizing the publishing industry by forging a new kind of model that seamlessly integrates users, editors and content creators onto a single platform designed to empower all women to discover, share and create. Whether it’s parenting or pop culture, fashion or food, DIY or décor, our award-winning editorial team, Experts, bloggers and social media influencers produce authentic and on-trend content every day. We dig deep to learn what makes our audience tick, revealing unexpected insights on women and digital media. Our robust, end-to-end suite of premium branded content and influencer marketing solutions generate nearly 1 billion ad impressions per month (sources: DFP), allowing brands to distribute authentic content and integrated advertising at scale.
SheKnows Media is based in New York and Scottsdale, Ariz., with offices in Los Angeles and Chicago. We also operate internationally in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
PMC Press Contact
Lauren Utecht
+1 310-484-2540
Key PMC brands, including Rolling Stone and Variety, will utilize the platform’s data, analysis and consumption charts.
JULY 26, 2018 4:00PM PT: Penske Media Corporation (PMC) is making a strategic investment in BuzzAngle Music, the company announced today. Founded in 2013, and launched in 2016 by Border City Media founder Jim Lidestri, BuzzAngle provides a state-of-the-art music analytics service that has revolutionized the way businesses analyze music consumption and related trends. The system incorporates the daily sales, streaming and airplay activity of albums, songs and artists.
Penske Media plans to leverage some of its key brands, chief among them Rolling Stone, Variety, Deadline and IndieWire, to deepen the influence and expand exposure of the BuzzAngle charts in addition to creating custom charts for specific content verticals. The investment will also provide BuzzAngle a stronger financial foundation from which to grow.
The BuzzAngle investment was led by Michael Ye, Senior Director, Strategic Planning and Acquisition for PMC.
“We’re thrilled to announce our investment in BuzzAngle, and partnership with Jim and the team,” said Jay Penske, the founder, Chairman and CEO of PMC. “BuzzAngle has already accomplished many milestones — but as part of this new alliance, we will jointly push even more aggressively to make the charts an essential and central part of music, media and the entertainment industry.”
Music consumption, measured by streaming and multiple sales configurations, has become increasingly complicated to track, but BuzzAngle Music provides the tools that deliver meaningful information that the music industry needs immediately. BuzzAngle’s arrival ushers in a time of quantifiable, instant data with which a music company can track even the most granular of metrics. BuzzAngle’s platform provides countless sorting options, such as daily album and song sales, streaming activity, and radio airplay, all of which can be broken out market by market. Its methodology allows for more than 10 trillion combinations of individualized reports for albums, songs, artists, labels and distributors.
“Penske Media is the perfect partner to help BuzzAngle fulfill the goals we set out to achieve at our founding,” said Lidestri. “The needed funding will accelerate product development and the reach of Variety and Rolling Stone will provide an unparalleled ability to bring charts and data analysis both to the music industry and to music fans worldwide.”
Since its launch, BuzzAngle has been the leading innovator in music-consumption analytics by being the first to offer daily updates; the first to develop a global platform; the first to develop a dashboard-driven system; the first to show streaming data at a market level; and the first to show both major and independent label and distributor market share based on streaming and total consumption. BuzzAngle is the only platform that allows users to create individualized reports on a daily basis, and in multiple countries.
PMC’s interest in BuzzAngle follows its December 2017 transaction with Wenner Media, the majority owner of Rolling Stone, the leading voice of music, politics and pop culture for 50 years.