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The Great Reconnection: 2021’s Entertainment and Popular Media Landscape
- Chart-topping artists: Artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and Drake topped the music charts in 2021, with Rodrigo's "Drivers License" becoming a record-breaking hit.
- Podcast popularity: Podcasts continued to gain popularity, with shows like "The Daily," "How I Built This," and "My Favorite Murder" attracting millions of listeners.
- YouTube’s "Stay Home" era shifted to "Return to Life." Creators like MrBeast doubled down on expensive, high-production stunt videos (recreating Squid Game in real life for $3.5 million).
- Audio exploded. Clubhouse (audio-chat app) was the darling of early 2021, while Spotify aggressively pushed podcasts (acquiring Joe Rogan and locking Armchair Expert). Podcasts like SmartLess and Call Her Daddy signed nine-figure distribution deals, signaling that radio was dead.
- Twitch streaming became a spectator sport. While gaming was the core, "Just Chatting" categories saw musicians, chefs, and even politicians using the platform to build direct-to-fan relationships.
Streaming Services: The New Normal