The city of Los Angeles is well-known around the world for a lot of things, but its entertainment industry is arguably one of the most iconic and famous things that it is synonymous with.
The media and entertainment industry in Los Angeles is unique in its immense ability to entertain, mesmerize, uplift and keep spell-bound
The Industry
Los Angeles is home to numerous industry-leading global brands in TV, film, music, print, and gaming. The industry plays a major role in the economic development of not just the county of Los Angeles, but the state of California. The media and entertainment industry is reported to employ about 365,000 people, including approximately 220,000 direct-payroll workers and 145,000 contingent workers.
According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the economic impact of the industry runs into the billions, generating more than $120 billion a year in revenue, including $47 billion in value-added services directly related to the industry. That is about 8.4% of LA County’s estimated annual Gross County Product.
TV and Film
Hollywood is an actual neighborhood located in the central region of Los Angeles city, but the name is also synonymous with an entire industry. In fact, until recently, the Hollywood film industry was the largest in the world by revenue. It is also a major player in the city’s economy.
Many production facilities are found in Los Angeles, including the three major American TV broadcast networks — NBC, CBS, and ABC.
There are also numerous media conglomerates based in Los Angeles like Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. In addition, stations of major Spanish-language networks, Univision and Telemundo operate out of the city. There are also four Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) outfits in Los Angeles.
Visitors and residents alike can get a glimpse of the limelight as some film studios are stops during a Hollywood tour. Look behind the scenes as you walk through the following:
Music and Dance
Los Angeles has a very active music scene. The recording industry in the city is also huge. Many major recording labels are either based or have facilities in the city, thereby, employing thousands of workers.
At Walt Disney Concert Hall, one can see the performance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, one of the finest orchestras in the country. Many notable musicians also perform in the city. Venues around Los Angeles often host top acts, some of the most popular locations being:
People who appreciate dance will also enjoy visiting the City of Angels. Los Angeles Ballet, the first resident ballet company in the city, performs at the Los Angeles Opera. There are also regular performances from visiting companies at the Music Center. Many local companies present various performances such as ethnic, experimental, jazz, modern, and tap dance.
Theater
When it comes to theater, Broadway arguably wins the top prize as the go-to place. But the theater scene in Los Angeles can and does hold its own against other major theater locations around the world. Theater-goers can often witness and experience world-class theatrical performances in Los Angeles as the city is a stopover for many major touring companies. Many small theaters that screenplays and musicals can also be found there.
For people interested in theater, visits to the following venues will be memorable:
Print Media
The popularity of online media has not dampened the ability or resolve of traditional print media in still being relevant and playing an important role in the dissemination of information in society. If anything, many print media companies have adapted to the digital age we live in today by ensuring that their print media offerings also have digital versions.
Many major daily newspaper companies can be found in Los Angeles. Some of these include the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News and the Spanish-language paper La Opinion. Various smaller regional and alternative weekly newspapers and magazines are available in the city, such as the LA Weekly, Los Angeles Business Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Los Angeles Downtown News, and Los Angeles Magazine.
Given that the population of L.A. is comprised of people from various ethnicities, there are also local papers serving immigrants. These are usually written in their native languages.
Gaming Industry
The gaming sector in L.A. is yet another sector that is growing in leaps and bounds. There are around 900 known video game companies in California. Of these, a vast majority are in Los Angeles.
Some of the biggest and most influential companies in the gaming industry have global headquarters in LA. Many world-renowned development studios are also based in the city. Industry titans like Electronic Arts, Activision Blizzard, and Riot Games call Los Angeles their home. Even PlayStation and Nintendo employ hundreds of people in the city for content production.
The city’s gaming industry also exports best-selling video games all over the world. The gaming industry annually contributes billions of dollars in revenue. This is part of what makes the city the global capital of the video game industry.
Part of what helps to make Los Angeles a center of the industry are the annual gaming events and conferences held in the city. For instance, the premier conference E3 takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Meanwhile, W Hollywood Hotel houses the LA Games Conference every year. These two are major events for gamers and developers from different countries.
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