The latest thread of modern romance discourse gripping the internet is the emergence of "high-value dating" (HVD) influencers: women building a following due to their guidance on securing a wealthy husband. Attitudes to dating are shifting as more Gen Z women come of age, in turn changing the rules of engagement for brands.

A partnership between Disney and Epic Games will allow creators on battle-survival game Fortnite to use Disney’s intellectual property (IP) to build Disney-themed gaming experiences. The opportunities available to fan-creators are expanding rapidly. This latest development will see gamers take on new significance as contributors to the expanding Disney entertainment ecosystem.

The appetite for virtual music events may have wavered since live real-life concerts returned post-pandemic, but it’s by no means disappearing (see Key Stats). US-based virtual reality (VR) entertainment platform Soundscape is betting on reigniting interest via newly AI-improved features and an on-demand virtual concert by Canadian electronic music star Deadmau5.

San Francisco-based AI entertainment company Fable has launched Showrunner, a platform where people can use AI to generate full episodes of TV with a text prompt. The model can write, animate and voice these ‘original’ shows, and users will be able to watch the platform’s other creations, marking a new leap forward in how AI will impact audience experiences.

American audio erotica app Quinn is capitalising on the thriving celebrity-crush corner of internet culture by securing famous actors to voice new, original adult-content series. As appetite for sexual content on TV and film wanes for some, Quinn is hoping to redefine erotica for audiences looking for fresh narratives, formats and an outlet for fandom thirst.