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“SWELCE” and “HEAT WENTZ”: The Politics, Para-sociality, and Pairing of Sports and Popular Music
Francesca Sobande / Cardiff University & Jenessa Williams / The University of LeedsFrancesca Sobande and Jenessa Williams explore the intersections of sports and popular music, highlighting the dynamics of celebrity culture, para-social relationships, and the impact of these pairings on cultural politics. Examples include the relationship between Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce and the presence of NBA player Jimmy Butler in a Fall Out Boy music video, illustrating how these cross-industry connections influence marketing, fan engagement, and cultural representation.
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Why Being A ‘Netflix Nation’ Matters – And To Whom
Georgia Aitaki / Karlstad UniversityGeorgia Aitaki examines Netflix’s glocalization initiative and the company’s development of Greek original programming.
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Are two heads better than one? Creative collaborations and job sharing in the media industries
Eva Novrup Redvall / University of CopenhagenEva Novrup Redvall considers how directors and other industry professionals collaborate through job sharing in the film and television industries.
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How to Measure Buzz? OTT Data Sets and Media Audiences in India
Ishita Tiwary / Concordia UniversityIshita Tiwari examines how India’s leading media consulting firm, Ormax Media, measures the popularity of the country’s OTT platform content.
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There Is Something Wrong With Falling In Love: K-Pop Idols, Romance, And The Toxic K-Pop Industry
Jungmin Kwon / Portland State UniversityJungmin Kwon looks at K-pop idols and the way that dating is seen as a sin that requires forgiveness. She argues that this stems from the K-pop industry’s toxic business model, and investigates the relationship between idols, fans, and the industry.
Over*Flow
Over*Flow: Martha Stewart’s Star Persona and the 21st-Century Influencer
Emma Ginsberg / Georgetown University
Emma Ginsberg details the development of Martha Stewart’s enduring star image and contemporary influencer persona, which centers around whiteness, privilege, and affluence.