Anita Elberse Book order (chronological)

Anita Elberse is a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Her research focuses on understanding the drivers of success for products in the entertainment, media, sports, and other creative industries, and how firms can develop effective marketing strategies. She is acclaimed for her work on digital-media strategies, exploring how to best leverage the power of influential personalities. Her book, Blockbusters, delves into the risks and rewards of the business of entertainment.

Blockbusters
Why Big Hits - And Big Risks - Are the Future of the Entertainment Business
320 pages
12 hours of reading
What is behind the phenomenal success of entertainment businesses such as Warner Bros., Marvel Enterprises and Manchester United - along with such stars as Jay-Z and Lady Gaga? Which strategies give leaders in film, television, music, publishing, and sports an edge over their rivals? Anita Elberse, Harvard Business School's expert on the entertainment industry, has done pioneering research on the worlds of media and sports for more than a decade. Now, in this groundbreaking book, she explains a powerful truth about the fiercely competitive world of entertainment: building a business around blockbuster products - the movies, television shows, songs and books that are hugely expensive to produce and market - is the surest path to long-term success. Along the way, she reveals why entertainment executives often spend outrageous amounts of money in search of the next blockbuster, why superstars are paid unimaginable sums and how digital technologies are transforming the entertainment landscape. Full of inside stories emerging from her unprecedented access to some of the world's most successful entertainment brands, <i>Blockbusters</i> is destined to become required reading for anyone seeking to understand how the entertainment industry really works - and how to navigate today's high-stakes business world at large.
2014
Blockbusters
Hit-making, Risk-taking, and the Big Business of Entertainment
307 pages
11 hours of reading
Why will the future of popular culture hinge on larger investments in entertainment? What drives the remarkable success of companies like Warner Bros., Marvel, and the NFL, as well as stars such as Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, and LeBron James? Anita Elberse, a leading expert from Harvard Business School, explores these questions through her extensive research on media and sports. In this groundbreaking work, she reveals a crucial insight: focusing on blockbuster products—high-budget movies, TV shows, songs, and books—is the most reliable strategy for achieving long-term success in the competitive entertainment landscape. Elberse discusses the rationale behind the substantial financial commitments made by entertainment executives in pursuit of the next big hit, the astronomical salaries of superstars, and the impact of digital technologies on the industry. With exclusive stories from her unique access to top entertainment brands, this book serves as essential reading for anyone looking to grasp the intricacies of the entertainment sector and navigate the complexities of today’s high-stakes business environment.
2013
3.7