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In 2024, a 15-second dance trend on TikTok can dictate which songs top the Billboard Hot 100. A single line of dialogue from a Netflix series (“I am the one who knocks,” “What’s your damage?”) can become a political meme. And a video game (like The Last of Us or Arcane) is just as likely to win a Peabody Award as a PBS documentary.

We are living in the Golden Age of Popular Media—but it is a chaotic, fragmented, and deeply personalized golden age. To understand entertainment today, you cannot just look at the box office. You have to look at the algorithm. ExxxtraSmall.24.05.23.Sona.Bella.Tiny.Raider.XX...

While video dominates, audio remains a resilient pillar of popular media. Podcasts have resurrected long-form conversation. From true crime (Serial) to comedy (Call Her Daddy), audio entertainment allows for multitasking. Furthermore, the rise of audiobooks and Spotify’s push into video podcasts indicates that the "screenless" sector is not just surviving but thriving. In 2024, a 15-second dance trend on TikTok

Historically, "popular media" was gatekept by studios, labels, and networks. That wall has crumbled. This democratization is beautiful, but it has a

Today, a teenager in their bedroom with a $100 microphone and DaVinci Resolve can produce a short film, album, or podcast that reaches a global audience.

This democratization is beautiful, but it has a shadow side: The "Passion Economy." Everyone is now a small business. If you are making a fan edit, a cosplay tutorial, or a cooking stream, you are not just playing; you are working in popular media.