Mark Harrison and Amelia Eqbal try to make sense of a new term coined to describe how spending on entertainment is way up, despite the fact that many people are struggling to make ends meet.

The writers' and actors' strikes in Hollywood have sparked renewed conversations in the music industry on whether songwriters and performers could also take similar action to improve their working conditions and royalty rates. Journalist Luke Ottenhof and industry veteran Allison Outhit discuss the structural barriers that make labour organization more difficult for musicians, and where the opportunities for mobilization exist.

After barely surviving the pandemic, music-venue operators are now faced with a new existential threat: a significant decrease in drinking among younger Gen Z concert-goers. Pitchfork writer Cat Zhang explains why this is happening, and Toronto venue manager Shawn Creamer explains how venues are adapting to this generational shift.