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Artwork for The Business

The Business

KCRW
Hollywood
Netflix
Disney
Paramount
Warner Bros.
Streaming Services
Donald Trump
Amazon
HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery
Comedy
Sag-Aftra
HBO Max
Hacks
Shōgun
Wicked
Entertainment Industry
Bob Iger
Challengers
The Apprentice

Lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors, hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1050Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmEntertainment NewsNews

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Artwork for The Business

Latest Episodes

It’s official: Bela Bajaria and Dan Lin are out at Netflix, and Peter Rice is in as the streamer’s new chief content officer. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down the shakeup, how Rice landed the top job, and who he might recruit to oversee Netfli... more

This week, Kim Masters sits down with veteran Hollywood marketing executive Gerry Rich to talk about his memoir, Chasing Hollywood. Rich recalls the nightmare of working for Harvey Weinstein at Miramax, helping launch Iron Man before Marvel became pa... more

This week, Van Dyke Parks sits down with The Business showrunner Joshua Farnham to look back at a career that stretches from childhood acting to collaborating with Brian Wilson, and scoring films for Jack Nicholson. He also recalls his first arrangin... more

This week, Kim Masters speaks with actor Malcolm McDowell about his six-decade career and the long journey to finally making his latest film, the western Last Train to Fortune. McDowell reflects on his friendship with mentor and director Lindsay Ande... more

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Recent Guests

Eric Goode
Filmmaker behind Tiger King and HBO's Monsters of God
Episode: Inside the great Netflix shakeup
Gerry Rich
Veteran marketing executive and author of Chasing Hollywood
Episode: Inside the great Netflix shakeup
Van Dyke Parks
Musician, composer, arranger, producer
Independent artist/producer
Episode: Van Dyke Parks on Brian Wilson, Hollywood, and the authority of failure
Malcolm McDowell
Actor with a long career spanning stage and screen, known for If, A Clockwork Orange, Caligula, Last Train to Fortune
Actor
Episode: Malcolm McDowell on the director who changed his life
Sharon Horgan
Creator, writer, and star of Youth; co-founder of Merman
Merman
Episode: Sharon Horgan finds the comedy in 'Youth'
Stephen Paul
Producer, industry advocate
Stephen Paul; Hollywood industry veteran
Episode: Hollywood goes to Washington for a tax break
John Voight
Actor and former Hollywood ambassador to Washington
Actor; Special ambassador to Hollywood
Episode: Hollywood goes to Washington for a tax break
Scott Carroll
Producer, involved in the push for incentives
Scott Carroll and Stephen Paul team
Episode: Hollywood goes to Washington for a tax break
Sean Astin
SAG-AFTRA President
SAG-AFTRA
Episode: Hollywood goes to Washington for a tax break

Host

Kim Masters
Host of The Business with extensive experience in entertainment journalism, covering industry news and conducting in-depth interviews with filmmakers, actors, and executives.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 917 ratings
  • Thank You Kim!

    Kim is an all time great Hollywood journalist. Thank you so much for your bravery and for never hesitating to speak your mind.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    YupOkay
    United Statesa year ago
  • Can’t support a genocide apologist

    I listened to this podcast for years until Kim shared her genocide apologist views in September 2024. Her selective empathy in the face of a live-streamed genocide really turned me off to the rest of her work.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Emerald1015
    United Statesa year ago
  • Why the politics??

    While I generally agree with 90% of the political views of the host and her “chosen” guests…. I cannot handle the constant reminder of their political view. 50% of Hollywood doesn’t agree with the political views so why should we have to hear it. This is supposed to be a podcast on the business of film…. It talks down to the listener and assumes they agree…. And - it’s not for me. I want to learn and escape….

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Film Lover 67
    United States2 years ago
  • The Best

    Kim's insights into the actual workings of Hollywood set this show apart from the superficial and tabloid coverage this industry normally receives. Her guests and interviews are fantastic as well. I wish 52 Bonus Banters came out every year

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Socktopi
    United States2 years ago
  • Like but too left-leaning

    Since it's an LA based show, I expected a left-leaning podcast but sometimes I'm still surprised about how confident the host is that absolutely no on in her audience is more centrist in their thinking. I like the "banter" part of the podcast, and most of the back-end interviews (if I see it's going to be a politically-themed echo-chamber exchange, I skip). Overall though, I commend the host's competence and interview skills.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MidtownATLGal
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are consistently high-profile and knowledgeable, contributing credible context to industry shifts.
Critics note strong viewpoints and occasional political framing may polarize some listeners.
Many value the banter and perceived honesty in interviews.
Listeners appreciate the insider access and sharp industry analysis.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#100
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#221
United Kingdom/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#224
Italy/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#229
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#20
Saudi Arabia/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Veteran marketing executive Gerry Rich on surviving Hollywood’s worst bosses
Q: Do you have any regrets about calling Josh Greenstein out in the book?
Rich says he does not regret it, explaining that the book recounts what happened at Paramount and why he left, rather than trying to settle a score.
Veteran marketing executive Gerry Rich on surviving Hollywood’s worst bosses
Q: What do you think of the idea that Tom Cruise's antics cost War of the Worlds $30 million in box office?
Rich doubts the claim, saying the film's tracking continued to grow and the controversy did not appear to reduce its audience or opening-weekend prospects.
Inside the great Netflix shakeup
Q: When you saw the Broccolis sell, I mean, because the Broccolis, that was their life. You were back in the days when Cubby was still around, not exactly in his youth and prime, but he was around.
Rich recalls that MGM's first major task was reviving Bond with GoldenEye. Research found younger moviegoers viewed the franchise as belonging to their fathers and grandfathers, so the campaign used partnerships and new platforms to bring in a new generation without alienating existing fans.
Inside the great Netflix shakeup
Q: What was the decision to buy or start this nightclub?
Goode was drawn to New York nightclubs as places where artists and other creative people met and exchanged ideas. He opened Area in 1983 to create an immersive club space that changed themes regularly.
Malcolm McDowell on the director who changed his life
Q: What was it like navigating Kubrick's process for casting Alex in A Clockwork Orange?
Kubrick's insistence on precision and his method of testing takes led to a deep, rehearsal-based discovery of the character, with Kubrick guiding McDowell to a specific, restrained choice that unlocked the role.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Business

What is The Business about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively blend of industry news banter and deep-dive conversations with top filmmakers, writers, producers, and actors. Episodes spotlight how the entertainment business operates—from financing and distribution to creative process and representation—through candid interviews and sharp, informed critique. Noteworthy is the mix of high-profile talent and industry insiders, plus timely analysis of mergers, streaming strategies, and legal issues, all peppered with engaging banter that keeps listeners informed and entertained. This show often stands out for its practical take on how deals get made, how stories are greenlit, and how industry dynamics shape what audiences ultimately see on screen.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Business?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Business. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Business and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Business get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Business?

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How many subscribers and views does The Business have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Business has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Business?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Business:

1. The Town with Matthew Belloni
2. Ankler Agenda
3. The Treatment
4. Scriptnotes Podcast
5. IndieWire: Screen Talk

How many episodes of The Business are there?

The Business launched 21 years ago and published 1050 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Business?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Business?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Business from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Business?

Recent guests on The Business include:

1. Eric Goode
2. Gerry Rich
3. Van Dyke Parks
4. Malcolm McDowell
5. Sharon Horgan
6. Stephen Paul
7. John Voight
8. Scott Carroll

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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