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Artwork for The Business

The Business

KCRW
Hollywood
Netflix
Disney
Paramount
Streaming Services
Warner Bros.
Donald Trump
HBO
Warner Bros. Discovery
Comedy
Amazon
HBO Max
Sag-Aftra
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1041Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmEntertainment NewsNews

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Artwork for The Business

Latest Episodes

Eric Deggans speaks with Desi Lydic, a longtime correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. She talks about how a pandemic-era segment satirizing Fox News evolved into her Emmy-nominated digital series Desi Lydic Foxplains. Lydic also shares ho... more

Kim Masters talks to Hannah Einbinder, who is up for another supporting actress Emmy for Hacks. But her role in the new film Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma takes her far from the lavish Las Vegas home of Deborah Vance, to a weird and gory place... more

Kim Masters talks to Lilly Wachowski, co-creator of The Matrix movie franchise, about her new artist-owned, non-profit studio. They discuss how Lilly juggled multiple international film and TV productions while she was transitioning, why she stepped ... more

Eric Deggans talks to Hiro Murai, lead director and executive producer of the Apple TV horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay. They discuss how Murai helped maintain the tricky tone of the Emmy-nominated series, his work with Donald Glover on the FX series... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Hannah Einbinder
Actress and writer, star of Hacks and Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma
Actor
Episode: How Hannah Einbinder hacked it out in Hollywood
Lilly Wachowski
Co-creator of The Matrix franchise; founder of Anarchists United
Anarchists United
Episode: Lilly Wachowski reimagines the studio system (Pt 1)
Hiro Murai
Lead director for the Apple TV series Widow's Bay, executive producer
Widow's Bay / Apple TV
Episode: The quirky alchemy of Widow’s Bay
Roy Lee
Producer of Weapons and Barbarian; involved in Siren Head project
Warner Bros. (Siren Head adaptation) / Various
Episode: Hunting for the next hit YouTube IP
Kori Adelson
President of North Road Company
North Road Company
Episode: Hunting for the next hit YouTube IP
Dale Cohen
Special Counsel for PBS Frontline and Director of UCLA Law School's Documentary Film Legal Clinic
PBS Frontline, UCLA School of Law
Episode: Documentary filmmakers facing the threat of litigation
Glenn Whipp
LA Times Awards columnist
Los Angeles Times
Episode: Emmy nominations surprises and predictions
John Carney
Filmmaker and writer-director known for musical dramas like Once and Power Ballad
Power Ballad
Episode: John Carney on pop stars, movie stars, and Power Ballad
David Koepp
Screenwriter of Disclosure Day and other works
Film industry
Episode: David Koepp on trying to ‘not screw up’ Disclosure Day

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 992 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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
#176
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#183
Canada/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#151
Italy/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#192
Australia/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#18
Chile/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#25
Argentina/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Hannah Einbinder hacked it out in Hollywood
Q: What drew you to Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma?
I was blown away by the script, the filmmaking ambitions, and the opportunity to explore both comedy and romance with a lot of emotional honesty in the character arcs.
How Hannah Einbinder hacked it out in Hollywood
Q: How did the Colbert appearance influence your career trajectory?
Being on Colbert's show gave me credibility and a potential opening act pathway, especially since the sets were pre-recorded and could reach audiences even during the early lockdown.
How Hannah Einbinder hacked it out in Hollywood
Q: Did you know early on that Hacks could become a long-term, multi-season project?
I felt the material was genuinely high-quality and engaging, and despite doubting I'd book it, the repeated callbacks and chemistry with the team convinced me it could be a meaningful, long-running role.
Lilly Wachowski reimagines the studio system (Pt 1)
Q: Are you nostalgic about the Hollywood that is fading away?
She reflects on nostalgia as complicated, noting both the fun times and systemic exclusion, and emphasizes a shift toward building new structures that protect artists and marginalized voices.
Documentary filmmakers facing the threat of litigation
Q: Do you see a move toward federal anti-SLAP legislation, and what would that mean for filmmakers?
There was discussion of a national anti-SLAP law, but it stalled in Congress; a federal statute could standardize protections across states and strengthen defenses for journalists and documentarians.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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?

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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 1041 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?

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What guests have appeared on The Business?

Recent guests on The Business include:

1. Hannah Einbinder
2. Lilly Wachowski
3. Hiro Murai
4. Roy Lee
5. Kori Adelson
6. Dale Cohen
7. Glenn Whipp
8. John Carney

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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