We believe true innovation and progress can only occur by exploring new opportunities, creating new dialogues, and taking bold action. As we recalibrate expectations and ways of conceiving the future, follow along with our thinking and perspectives.
Mark Fischbach grossed $21.7 million in a single weekend with a self-distributed horror film playing on over 4,000 screens. No studio. No distributor. No traditional marketing spend. The January 2026 theatrical release
The latest data from the National Endowment for the Arts reveals a striking paradox: while attendance at traditional performing arts venues continues its decades-long decline, Americans are still eagerly attending live performances—just
Recent data across venue sizes shows uneven performance across live-music market: premium stadium nights keep smashing records, midsize theaters are emerging as the dependable “workhorse” for cities and developers, and
Drawing on our extensive experience at the intersection of cultural vitality and economic strategy, we provide practical frameworks for translating the data you already collect—ticket sales, artist payments, education programs—into
The global art market’s recent transformation reveals critical insights for cultural institutions, real estate developers, and urban planners navigating an increasingly complex creative economy. Despite a 12% global decline in
The music festival industry—once a cornerstone of the experiential economy—faces an unprecedented crisis that extends far beyond entertainment. With 78 festivals canceled across the United Kingdom and over 40 shuttered
The intersection of creative economy investment and community-centered economic development has never been more critical. As CVL Economics embarks on our partnership with Creators @ Laboratory—a groundbreaking content production and
Economic development strategies systematically overlook design innovation, missing opportunities that could transform regional competitiveness across industries. While policymakers chase the latest tech trends and offer traditional tax incentives, the $2
New IRC Section 181 changes offer immediate deductions for recording costs, promising to reshape local music economies and artist development across the United States. It has been the spring of
The first Air Jordan shoe burst onto the NBA scene in April 1985—40 years ago this month—in unmistakably flashy fashion. Designed by Peter Moore, the Air Jordan 1 didn’t just
What makes a successful global city? Undoubtedly, thriving metropolises require quality housing, robust job markets, safe streets, and efficient public transportation. However, successful global cities are also creative hubs that
The performing arts are not simply a form of entertainment, they offer a powerful means of creative and cultural expression, education, and community-building. Theater, dance, music, and other forms of
In the 1990s, the United States was unrivaled in the Visual Effects (VFX), animation, and gaming industries, boasting a wealth of talent and job opportunities. Fast forward just a decade,
Filmmaking has undergone major transformation since its emergence in the early 20th century. In the early days of Hollywood, the industry was dominated by a small number of studios that
The streaming economy has entered a new phase. After a decade of venture-funded subscriber acquisition at any cost, major platforms have pivoted toward profitability. Netflix now generates $7 billion in
