TO THE EDITOR:
I write regarding Bo McMillan’s Nov. 1 piece, “A hole in the heart from modern ‘art.’”
His appreciation for thought-provoking entertainment is admirable. I would like to contribute two supplemental points that can help explain the business side of media.
Firstly, it is important to consider the complicated reasons why certain types of entertainment become popular.
The “art” McMillan dislikes, for example, would not be popular if there wasn’t data to suggest people want or, at least will buy, it.
Our media consumption habits translate into circulation, viewership and/or listenership numbers (depending on the medium) that are interpreted by mainstream media gatekeepers as interest.
Advertisers, sponsors and others use this data to determine if they can reach their target audience by investing in that programming.
Secondly, consider why a person consumes the media they do. There have been numerous studies conducted in order to understand this.
For example, Kristin Barton’s 2009 research on reality television viewing found that “personal utility” (e.g., “They make me feel less lonely,” “They are different than anything else on TV,” “They help me forget about my problems” and “They help me relax”) were reasons why people consume this genre.
