After more than a decade in decline, the sale of recorded music in the United States is set to grow for the second straight year thanks to increased revenue earned from music streaming services such as Spotify. Even so, the music industry is taking in half of what it earned at its peak late 1990s because streaming revenue hasn’t made up for the falloff in actual sales.
Meanwhile, the Dalian Wanda Group continues its invasion of Hollywood by cutting a deal with Sony Pictures to market movies in China. Wanda can practically guarantee the success of a new release given that it controls the largest movie theater chain in China ensuring a film will be scheduled heavily when it opens.
There is no sure bet at Viacom however as the media giant’s leadership remains in turmoil. It’s interim CEO is stepping down sooner than expected and the vice chairman of Paramount Pictures is also exiting. Then last week the company announced it would take a $115 million loss on a movie that hasn’t even been released yet.
Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including a new law requiring websites like IMDb remove an actor’s age upon request, the BBC gets into a bake off battle and why Netflix is getting more original every day.

comScore Announces Official Worldwide Box Office Results for Weekend of September 25, 2016
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comscore-announces-official-worldwide-box-office-results-for-weekend-of-september-25-2016-300333726.html
China Box Office: ‘Odyssey’ Clings to Top in Quiet Weekend
https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/china-box-office-odyssey-top-in-quiet-weekend-1201870060/
Feng Xiaogang’s ‘Madame Bovary’ Release Delayed
https://variety.com/2016/film/asia/mystery-distribution-delay-for-feng-xiaogangs-madame-bovary-1201866753/
TimeWarner Chief Jeff Bewkes on their DC Movies: “There’s Room For Improvement”
https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/jeff-bewkes-batman-v-superman-suicide-squad-time-warner-1201866932/
Disney CEO Bob Iger Deems ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’ “an Experiment, of Sorts”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-ceo-bob-iger-deems-931450
Sony and Wanda Team Up to Market Films in China
http://www.wsj.com/articles/sony-and-wanda-team-up-to-market-films-in-china-1474600691
AMC Theatres CEO Blasts NATO Head for Attacking James Murdoch
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amc-theatres-ceo-blasts-nato-head-john-fithian-932238
The Music Industry Is Finally Making Money on Streaming
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-20/spotify-apple-drive-u-s-music-industry-s-8-first-half-growth
iHeartMedia Announces Plans for Its Entry Into Paid Streaming