From the Silver Screen to Your Living Room
Nowhere is this more obvious than in entertainment. I think Netflix fundamentally changed the game. It doesn't just distribute films and television shows, it manufactures global water cooler moments. By using its vast trove of data, it can make frighteningly accurate bets on what the world will want to watch next, creating worldwide cultural touchstones from scratch.
Then you have the old guard, like Disney. For generations, it has been the custodian of childhood, embedding its stories and characters into the very fabric of family life. This isn't just about selling cinema tickets or theme park passes. It's about creating a deep, emotional loyalty that lasts a lifetime, a competitive moat that is almost impossible for a newcomer to cross. These companies aren't just in the entertainment business, they are in the business of creating our shared cultural memory.