Streaming, Sharing, Stealing: Big Data and the Future of Entertainment by Rahul Telang, Michael D. Smith

In their recent book Streaming, Sharing, Stealing: Big Data and the Future of Entertainment, Professor Rahul Telang and Professor Michael Smith discuss the evolution of entertainment industry as it becomes increasingly intertwined with technology and data. With the new “streaming economy”, the authors discuss its impact on the future of the entertainment industry. This article will provide an overview of the book, with a special emphasis on the importance of Big Data in the future of entertainment.

The authors note that the rise of digital music, streaming video, and social networks are ushering in a disruptive phase of business and technology. The traditional gatekeepers of the entertainment industry, such as movie studios, record labels and television networks, are being replaced by digital media giants such as YouTube, Apple and Spotify, which have a better insight into what people want to watch and listen to.

The book argues that key to these new players’ success is their ability to gather and make use of customer data. Companies like Apple have an incredible wealth of data on their customers and use it to curate and recommend content with increasing accuracy. This allows them to manage music and video libraries with far greater precision and personalization than ever before.

The authors also make the point that Big Data has the potential to go beyond personalization and recommendation, and become an integral part of the business model for the entertainment industry. For example, data can be used to identify new trends and target the right audiences with the right content, helping studios and labels promote the right movies, albums and shows.

The authors also discuss the implications of collecting large amounts of data. They point out the ethical questions raised by collecting such vast amounts of personal data, and they give an overview of the laws governing data privacy and security. The authors note that, while the ethical questions around Big Data may be complex, they’re also unavoidable.

At the same time, the authors argue that, ultimately, Big Data will make the entertainment industry more efficient and profitable in the long run. They suggest that the key to using Big Data effectively is to strike a balance of privacy, convenience, and profitability for everyone involved.

The authors also discuss the impact of Big Data on the creative side of the entertainment industry. They make the point that, in a Big Data-driven world, it’s less about having a good idea and more about being able to target the right people with the right message. This could potentially limit the amount of risk studios and labels are willing to take, leading to a homogenized industry that lacks the diversity of content and ideas.

Finally, the authors give an overview of the entertainment industry’s future in the streaming economy. They note that industry incumbents will have to adapt quickly to survive, while new companies who understand the power of Big Data will have an immense opportunity.


Overall, Streaming, Sharing, Stealing: Big Data and the Future of Entertainment is an insightful and thought-provoking book. In it, Professor Telang and Professor Smith provide a fascinating overview of the changes and impact of Big Data in the entertainment industry. They make it clear that Big Data is a powerful tool with both potential benefits and risks, and that staying on top of the changes will be essential to succeed in the future.