Spotify, SoundCloud, Deezer, Apple Music, Tidal – all offer playlists that are curated to users’ individual preferences. But are we taking notice of the music we consume on a daily basis or are algorithms pushing us into echo chambers that dramatically alter our tastes to enjoy more of the same?

With 3.5 million regular listeners, the podcast phenomenon has arrived Down Under. Aussies are enjoying this intimate mode of storytelling at home and in cars on their daily commute. So what’s the lure for busy Australians? And how can brands best tap into their invigorated interest?

Social media platforms have enabled fans to feel closer to their idols than ever. By managing direct messages with a mass audience, LA-based Community helps celebrities dodge call-out culture and satisfy an increasing demand for genuine communication through direct text messaging.

In an era of super-fandom, the question is not whether to stan or not to stan, but whom to stan, and for how long. The intensity of fan devotion in the digital age is creating new opportunities for brands to activate hyper engaged communities – just don’t get on their bad side.

British literature is undergoing a renaissance, as the canon begins to include and champion a diverse range of writers. With modern readers – young ones, in particular – wanting improved representation in mass media, the publishing landscape is reshaping to prioritise nuanced narratives and a multiplicity of voices.

For the eighth series of MTV’s reality showAre You The One?, the drama-filled fun came with an important social message. By featuring an entirely sexually fluid cast, the network offered a nuanced portrayal of LGBTQ dating in 2019 and boosted media representation for this oft-sidelined group.

The rise of on-demand streaming services supposedly sounded the death knell for traditional television, but bright spots have emerged even as live audiences have diminished. What gets people to tune into programmes at specific times rather than catching up at their own pace?

While Netflix has long reigned supreme among OTT television providers, Disney+ is entering the ‘streaming wars’ with a vast catalog of content. As viewing habits change and choice fatigue persists, can Disney tap a captive audience? And will it be able to usurp Netflix’s top spot?