TheWrap and Pollstar Host Landmark 'Culture & Capital' Forum: Industry Titans Tackle AI, Streaming, and Live Entertainment’s Future

Entertainment Industry Gathers for 'Culture & Capital' Forum Amid Unprecedented Disruption

TheWrap and Pollstar hosted the inaugural Culture & Capital forum on May 1, 2026, bringing together C-suite leaders from music, film, and television to navigate the entertainment industry’s most transformative era. The invitation-only event, held in Westwood, California, just ahead of the Milken Institute’s Global Conference, focused on opportunities emerging from rapid technological and consumer behavior shifts.

AI, Streaming, and Live Entertainment: The New Paradigms

Discussions centered on the impact of artificial intelligence, evolving post-COVID consumer habits, and the evolving dynamics between streaming platforms and theatrical experiences. Executives shared strategies for adapting to these changes, emphasizing the need for innovation in traditional business models and financial assumptions.

Irving Azoff, Chairman and CEO of The Azoff Company and a music industry titan, co-hosted the event with Sharon Waxman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of TheWrap. Azoff, whose ventures span venue ownership, artist management, and music catalog acquisitions, framed the forum as a platform to foster an "opportunity mindset" for executives and influential figures.

Off-the-Record Conversations with Industry Heavyweights

The event operated under Chatham House rules to encourage candid dialogue. Highlights included:

• Matt Mahan, California gubernatorial candidate, discussed his plans to revitalize the state’s production industry.
• Makan Delrahim, Chief Legal Officer of Paramount, addressed the pending Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

Keynote Speakers and Panelists

The forum featured a roster of entertainment and business leaders, including:

• Michael Rapino, CEO and President, Live Nation Entertainment
• Jon Feltheimer, CEO, Lionsgate
• Scott Ratner, Co-Founder and COO, OBB Media
• Tom Staggs, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Candle Media
• Jerry Bruckheimer, Producer
• Peter Guber, CEO, Mandalay Entertainment; Co-owner, Golden State Warriors and LA Dodgers
• Sulinna Ong, Global Head of Editorial, Spotify
• Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO, HYBE America
• Patrick Healy, CEO, Hellman Friedman
• Paul Wachter, Founder and CEO, Main Street Advisors; Chairman, UTA
• Richard Weitz, Co-Chairman, WME
• Andy Howard, CEO, Shamrock Capital Advisors

Why 'Culture & Capital' Matters Now

The forum’s timing was critical, arriving as the entertainment sector grapples with:

• Rising influence of AI in content creation and distribution
• Shifts in post-pandemic consumer behavior
• Debates over the sustainability of streaming vs. theatrical models
• The resurgence and centrality of live entertainment

"Entertainment is at yet another inflection point," Azoff noted. "The rise of AI and changes in media consumption are reshaping traditional business models and time-tested financial assumptions."

Photo Gallery: Industry Leaders at 'Culture & Capital'

View highlights from the event below, captured by photographer Randy Shropshire for TheWrap.