Rephonic
Artwork for The Business

The Business

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1035Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
TV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Business

Latest Episodes

Kim Masters talks to LA Times Awards Columnist Glenn Whipp about the Emmy nominations announced this week. Whipp thinks this was not a stellar year in television, meaning that top nominees, The Pitt and Hacks, are likely to feast at September’s Emmys... more

Kim Masters talks to John Carney, who after his 2006 indie breakout film Once, has made a career of making movies about musicians making music. Generally, the ones who never got famous. His new film, Power Ballad, stars Paul Rudd as a wedding singer ... more

Kim Masters talks to screenwriter David Koepp about Disclosure Day, his latest collaboration with director Steven Spielberg. After Spielberg sent Koepp a 40 page treatment for the movie, which Koepp gave notes on, Spielberg emailed him back that “it’... more

This week, Kim Masters talks to Alvaro Bedoya, a former FTC Commissioner, about why he objects to the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger. Bedoya says it will mean fewer jobs, higher subscription fees for consumers, and more censorship when the Ellison ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Ankler Agenda
Ankler AgendaTheAnkler.com
Scriptnotes Podcast
Scriptnotes PodcastJohn August and Craig Mazin

Recent Guests

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
Alvaro Bedoya
Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project; former Federal Trade Commissioner
American Economic Liberties Project
Episode: Former FTC Commissioner wants to stop the Paramount-Warner merger
Eric Kripke
Showrunner, The Boys
Amazon/The Boys
Episode: Eric Kripke responds to critics of the ‘The Boys’ finale
Jack Thorne
Writer for Adolescence and Lord of the Flies
Netflix/Writer
Episode: Jack Thorne on ‘Adolescence,’ ‘Lord of the Flies,’ and his autism
Courtney Kemp
Creator of Power; showrunner behind Nemesis
Netflix
Episode: Courtney Kemp on Netflix series ‘Nemesis’ and diversity in Hollywood
William Shatner
Legendary actor, best known as Captain James T. Kirk
Actor, Star Trek franchise
Episode: William Shatner & Neil deGrasse Tyson think ‘The Universe is Absurd’
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Famed astrophysicist and science communicator
Planetary Society, astrophysicist
Episode: William Shatner & Neil deGrasse Tyson think ‘The Universe is Absurd’
Kirk Jones
Director and producer of I Swear
I Swear (film)
Episode: Kirk Jones and Robert Aramayo on the making of ‘I Swear’

Host

Kim Masters
Host of The Business; KCRW

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 987 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 States10 months 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 States10 months 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critique perceived political bias or over-emphasis on industry names without explaining them.
Many value the opening news banter and quick market updates.
Listeners praise incisive interviews and industry insight.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#237
United States/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#78
France/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#133
Hong Kong/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#154
South Korea/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#208
Israel/TV & Film
Apple Podcasts
#211
Belgium/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Koepp on trying to ‘not screw up’ Disclosure Day
Q: Is it literally 42 drafts or is that a stretch?
It's a bit hyperbolic, but the process was extremely revision-heavy, with many drafts submitted to the Writers Guild; the key point is that revisions were constant and thorough.
John Carney on pop stars, movie stars, and Power Ballad
Q: How did you approach casting Paul Rudd in a role that required both singing and acting?
He discusses assembling a shortlist, recognizing that Paul Rudd's presence both on screen and offscreen would help shape the film's energy, and that having a great actor attached can unlock financing and boost confidence from financiers.
John Carney on pop stars, movie stars, and Power Ballad
Q: Now that we have YouTube, we don't need any more biopics.
Carney explains that the proliferation of digital platforms has changed how biopics are perceived, but he still values the cinematic experience and believes each project should be judged on its own terms rather than a blanket rule about biopics.
Former FTC Commissioner wants to stop the Paramount-Warner merger
Q: Do you think Europe will wave this through or challenge it, and what about the state Attorneys General?
The discussion notes Europe's review and potential challenges, alongside possible state AG actions.
Former FTC Commissioner wants to stop the Paramount-Warner merger
Q: Are you going to combine these two services and then raise the price of what people are paying for HBO, or what's the plan there?
Bedoya responds that they are considering combining services but says there is no current public comment on pricing.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Business

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

This show combines sharp industry news wrap-ups with in-depth conversations with filmmakers, actors, and industry executives. Across episodes, listeners get a frontline view of how studios, streaming, and AI are reshaping Hollywood, along with candid career stories and behind-the-scenes decision-making. Noteworthy strengths include a strong journalistic lens from veteran hosts, timely discussions on labor, technology, and distribution, and access to high-profile guests, from Oscar winners to top producers and directors. It's particularly valuable for listeners who want practical insights into dealmaking, production realties, and the business angles behind cutting-edge entertainment.

A standout aspect is the banter interwoven with rigorous ... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Business, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Business?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Business, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. The Powers That Be: Daily
5. Scriptnotes Podcast

How many episodes of The Business are there?

The Business launched 21 years ago and published 1035 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Business?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Business. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Business?

Recent guests on The Business include:

1. John Carney
2. David Koepp
3. Alvaro Bedoya
4. Eric Kripke
5. Jack Thorne
6. Courtney Kemp
7. William Shatner
8. Neil deGrasse Tyson

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days