The most discussed pop culture event of the day was the theatrical release of Cocaine Bear

Perhaps the most significant "behind the scenes" story on February 24, 2023, was the skyrocketing use of Generative AI in media production. ChatGPT (which had launched just months prior) and AI art tools were beginning to be used for script treatments, concept art, and marketing copy. The entertainment industry was just beginning to grapple with the ethical and labor implications that would eventually lead to the historic Hollywood strikes later that year.

In the music world, late February 2023 was the height of dominance. By February 24, the track was comfortably sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100, having broken Spotify records for the most streams in a single week earlier that month.

This paper examines the state of entertainment content and popular media as of early 2023. It argues that the industry has transitioned from a "Peak TV" model defined by abundance to a "Correction Phase" defined by the economization of attention. By analyzing the interplay between streaming saturation, the emergence of synthetic media (AI), and the fracturing of the monoculture, this study posits that February 2023 represents a threshold moment where the valuation of content shifted from "subscriber acquisition" to "subscriber retention" at any cost.

reported heavy net losses while announcing plans for merged platforms (HBO Max and Discovery+), signaling a shift from subscriber growth to revenue sustainability. Consumer Adaptation

(23/02/24) – closest to “24 02 23” mis-ordered