The Reading Garden: 4/11/25
What We’re Reading, and Why It Matters to Legacy Media
Welcome to the Reading Garden, where every Friday we spotlight three must-read (and sometimes must-watch!) pieces we're paying attention to and explore what they mean for legacy media.
Let’s dive in…
Matthew Gielen has spent his entire career building media companies in the digital video space, and now he’s laying out his thesis on where it’s all headed. You’ll want to read this one as it’s packed with white space opportunities for legacy media.
In short, Matthew argues that digital media companies need to build with with creators/celebrities, not just around them—developing shows, movies, and IP in partnership. Why? Because every major media company in history has been built on the backs of characters or personalities. That’s Hollywood’s core strength.
But if a business is tied solely to one individual (as many creator models are today), there’s a ceiling. Enter creator studios: centralized operations that amortize and reduce c…
