My Predictions for 2026, 3, Culture & Media

  1. Streaming will consolidate further with fewer more expensive services.
  2. AI-generated content will be everywhere (music, books, art, video) causing both creativity challenges and copyright chaos.
  3. The nostalgia cycle will reach the 2010s.
  4. Podcasts will finally peak as the market becomes saturated.
  5. Live experiences (concerts, theatre, sports) will command even higher premiums as “authentic” alternatives to digital.