Strictly Business

Latest Episodes:

Daily Variety -- Cover Story: Kacey Musgraves Embraces Her Silly Side With 'Middle of Nowhere' Album and Tour Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Chris Willman details his interview with country star Kacey Musgraves as she begins a new chapter of her life and her career. It’s a very revealing interview, just like Musgraves’ new album “Middle of Nowhere,” which bows May 1.

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Daily Variety – Aaron Tracy Explores the Life of the Author Who Excited Children’s Imaginations in ‘The Secret World of Roald Dahl’ Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, writer-producer Aaron Tracy discusses his hugely popular Imagine/iHeart Media podcast “The Secret World of Roald Dahl.” The author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda,” “The BFG” and many more classics lived a wild life that Tracy unpacks in his 10-part series.

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Daily Variety – Box Office: Record Opening for ‘Michael’ Thrills Exhibitors and Fans; Surprise Madonna Appearance Lights Up West Hollywood Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the record-setting opening for Lionsgate’s musical biopic “Michael.” And Marc Malkin brings us a Just for Variety report on Madonna’s visit to the Abbey in West Hollywood.

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NBCUniversal's Pearlena Igbokwe on the Return of Pilots, the Value of Co-Viewing and Threading Shows Through Broadcast and Streaming Platforms Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, NBCUniversal’s Pearlena Igbokwe details the company’s key areas of focus following the Versant Media spinoff. The leader of NBCU’s TV production operations and programming for NBC and Peacock discusses the return of the pilot process at NBC, the importance of multigenerational co-viewing and harnessing the power of broadcast and streaming platforms. The conversation was recorded April 23 as part of Variety's annual Entertainment Marketing Summit in Beverly Hills.

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Daily Variety – Tina Knowles on Dressing Destiny’s Child in the Early Days; Ashley Graham on Fighting for Plus Size Women and Starring in ‘Chicago’ Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, entrepreneurs Tina Knowles and Ashley Graham explain how they have blazed trails to build powerful media and retail brands in highlights from Variety’s annual Entertainment Marketing Summit.

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Daily Variety -- Why the Warner Bros.-Paramount Deal 'Symbolizes Big Changes in the Industry' Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Erik Gordon, professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, breaks down the Warner Bros. Discovery sale saga as the company’s shareholders prepare to vote on the sale to Paramount Skydance.

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Daily Variety -- Hollywood Wants to Know More About Tim Cook's Successor at Apple; BookCon Returns With Focus on Romantasy and Adaptations Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Variety’s Jennifer Maas reports on the return of BookCon to New York and the emergence of a new generation of romance novels – think “Heated Rivalry” -- as a creative force in Hollywood. And the entertainment industry is eager to get to know John Ternus, who will succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEO in September.

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Daily Variety – Box Office: ‘Mother Mary’ Shows Promise, ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’ Not So Much; CinemaCon Buzzes About Windows and Warner Bros. Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Variety’s Brent Lang breaks down the weekend box office, and Lang gives us his takeaways and impressions about the state of the film industry from his time at CinemaCon last week.

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Betches Media CEO and Founder Aleen Dreksler on Building a Digital Hub for Women With Comedy and Community Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Aleen Dreksler, CEO and founder of Betches Media, details the digital media brand's origin story and why it blossomed into a hub for comedy and community designed for women. The episode also features a separate conversation from the SXSW festival that highlighted Variety's recent 10 Creators to Watch list.

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Daily Variety – Hollywood Marshals Opposition to Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger. Will It Matter?; ‘Lorne’ Measures the Man Behind ‘SNL' Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler details the growing opposition within media and entertainment to Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. And Marc Malkin talks to documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville about his Focus Features documentary “Lorne,” about the enigmatic “Saturday Night Live” leader.

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