As we enter this new year in which technology will certainly have a huge impact, I was curious what the entertainment industry might look like 50 years from now. In full transparency, I must begin by saying that, ironically, the only way I could pen this article was to ask for assistance from AI, specifically ChatGPT.
I simply asked, “What will the entertainment industry be like in 2075, and be sure to include radio and podcasting.” While I did a great deal of editing, this is basically what ChatGPT suggested our lives will be like in 50 years.
The entertainment industry will be shaped by rapid advancements in technology, specifically virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive storytelling. Entertainment will become more personalized, interactive, and fully immersive. Traditional media like radio will also undergo dramatic transformations. Old forms will evolve, and new experiences will emerge, redefining how we consume media.
Immersive Virtual and Augmented Reality
In 50 years, entertainment will not be confined to TV, movies, radio, laptops, smart devices, or apps. The rise of virtual and augmented reality technologies will make it possible for all of us to step inside our favorite movies, video games, or even live performances.
Imagine attending a concert by your favorite band, even those that don’t exist any longer — only instead of watching from the crowd, you are inside the concert, feeling the music and interacting with the performers in real-time. It may not matter that Glenn Fry died back in 2016. You may be able to be right on stage as the original Eagles take the stage.
AR will enable mixed-reality experiences that meld both the digital and physical worlds. For example, instead of watching a traditional sports game on TV, you could use AR glasses to overlay live stats and player insights directly onto your view of the field.
Just imagine the ways in which gaming will be transformed, offering experiences that allow players to physically interact with their environment and explore virtual worlds in ways that were once only imagined in science fiction.
AI will revolutionize the human entertainment experience through highly personalized content tailored to your own unique preferences. Streaming platforms will evolve way past the simple algorithms of today, well beyond recommending shows based on past viewing habits. AI systems will enable you to create unique, interactive stories that respond to your personal choices in real-time.
These new enhancements may be able to analyze your emotions, reactions, and preferences, adjusting everything to provide an experience based on how you feel at any moment.
In films or programs, we may be able to choose character decisions or influence plot outcomes, blurring what today is a clear line between traditional media and interactive experiences. AI-driven content creation may even develop “hyper-personalized” entertainment, where our own experiences of the same film or game could be completely different based on personal interaction with the story.
By 2075, holographic performances may become common, allowing musicians, actors, and performers to appear anywhere in the world without leaving their homes. Celebrities may even have NIL agreements in place posthumously,
In addition to real-life celebrities, virtual celebrities created by AI might just become increasingly popular. These synthetic virtual stars may have their own personalities, careers, and fanbases, engaging with followers through social media, virtual events, and customized interactions.
Consider the possibility that social media influencers may just be driven more by virtual personalities who have significant power, creating entirely new avenues for marketing and fan engagement.
Storytelling and writing will no longer be confined to humans. By 2075, AI could have a major role in creating entertainment content, from films and music to art and literature. AI could generate music based on personal preferences or even compose new symphonies that reflect the listener’s mood or emotional state.
Video games will likely be increasingly complex, blending simulations of reality and fantasy, while players experience their entire lifetimes in virtual environments, forging relationships, building communities, and creating their own narratives.
Again, I want to remind you that all this prognostication comes from AI itself. Perhaps one of the most profound changes in the entertainment industry being suggested comes from direct brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
By 2075, these interfaces may actually allow us to access entertainment by simply thinking about it. Instead of using screens or controllers, individuals could experience films, games, or music directly in their minds; only we would actually visualize it versus our imagination.
With BCIs, entertainment may forego traditional methods of sensory engagement, such as sight or sound, to deliver experiences that engage our emotions and sensations on a neurological level, creating a personalized emotional journey.
I did ask AI to include audio and podcasting, so here we go. The medium will likewise experience transformation over the next 50 years. Traditional broadcasting formats may give way to highly personalized, on-demand experiences, all powered by AI. Radio may offer access to audio experiences that adapt to our tastes, mood, and environment in real time. AI systems could design playlists, talk shows, and even news broadcasts based on real-time data and our innermost thoughts, specifically tailoring the content.
Radio shows and podcasts may become fully interactive. Using voice commands, listeners might influence a conversation or the types of topics discussed. Imagine a live news broadcast where you can question the AI host and even engage with other listeners in the same virtual space.
There is little doubt that entertainment in 2075 will be more social and community-driven than ever. Virtual reality and AI could foster new forms of social spaces where people from around the world can connect, interact, and share experiences in real time. Imagine a shared virtual theater where we can all watch films, play games, or attend live events together, regardless of where we are on the planet.
By 2075, the only thing we can be assured of is that the entertainment industry will be dominated by innovative technologies that make our experiences far more immersive, personalized, and interactive.
The future promises a world of entertainment that adapts to our individual preferences and even our personal emotions. All these advances will not only change how we consume media but will also redefine the essence of entertainment itself. The days of Star Trek’s “holograph deck” are truly on the horizon.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Bob Lawrence serves as a Market Manager for Seven Mountains Media, overseeing the company’s Parkersburg, WV/Marietta, OH cluster. He has held virtually every position in the business over his 40+ year career, from being on-air in Philadelphia, San Diego, and San Francisco as well as programming legendary stations including KHTR St. Louis, KITS Hot Hits and KIOI (K101) San Francisco.
Bob also honed his research skills over ten years as Senior VP of Operations at Broadcast Architecture, eventually launching his own research company and serving as President/CEO of Pinnacle Media Worldwide for 15 years. Bob spent five years as VP of Programming for Saga Communications before joining New South Radio in Jackson, Mississippi as GM/Market Manager. Prior to joining Seven Mountains Media, Bob served as General Manager for the Radio Advertising Bureau, overseeing its “National Radio Talent System”.
