the brAIn - real AI intelligence for media & entertainment
Peter Csathy, media, entertainment, AI & tech expert (chairman of Creative Media)
All about how generative AI is transforming the world of media and entertainment - hosted by leading expert Peter Csathy of Creative Media (creativemedia.biz). "the brAIn" features Csathy's "insider" insights about the latest developments in generative AI and its impacts on media, entertainment, and the entire creative community. It also features interviews with leading artists, innovators, entrepreneurs, executives, and influencers. Each episode starts with Peter's humorous rundown of the latest key headlines in the world of AI, media and entertainment. The podcast is the companion to his newsletter "the brAIn" that reaches thousands of "movers and shakers" in the industry. You can find it at themediabrain.substack.com. Peter is a renowned dealmaker, serial entrepreneur, business advisor, Harvard trained lawyer, writer, speaker, and overall creative force. He writes a weekly column about AI and the media industry in leading entertainment publication TheWrap. He has negotiated over $4 billion in deals, served as CEO and President of several pioneering media-tech companies that achieved successful exits, and as a senior dealmaker in major studios. Peter has been a key driver and force for opening up entirely new markets, including on demand music streaming, online video platforms, and live social video streaming and chat. He is a believer that artists and creators sit at the center of the overall media, entertainment and tech universe. He also hosts the podcast series "The Story Behind the Song" on Consequence, where he interviews the most legendary artists of the past several decades about their most iconic songs. You can find that podcast at consequence.net/category/consequence-podcast-network/the-story-behind-the-song.reach out to Peter at bizdev@creativemedia.biz.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 47min
AI & Creative Control - A Conversation with Andy Beach, former CTO Microsoft (M&E)
Andy Beach, former Microsoft CTO for Media & Entertainment and AI strategist, now an advisor and writer. He dives into Disney’s $1B tie-up with OpenAI and how its structure affects IP and governance. He breaks down Apple’s choice to use Google for Apple Intelligence and Microsoft’s Publisher Content Marketplace. They also tackle persona trademarking and what creative control means as generative AI scales.
9 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 44min
Series Debut: CES AI Media Masterclass: The Latest Content Licensing/Pricing, Copyright/Fair Use (Expert Panel)
Dave Davis, Chief Content Officer at Protege, who licenses audiovisual content to AI companies. Rebecca Grossman-Cohen, strategic partnerships lead at The New York Times, focused on commercial AI licensing. BT, Grammy-nominated electronic artist and developer working in generative music. They discuss copyright and fair use shifts, recent high‑value licensing deals and pricing models, how publishers and creators approach payments and rights, and risks from recursive training.
8 snips
Dec 16, 2025 • 17min
5 Predictions for AI, Media & Entertainment in 2026
Peter Csathy shares five bold predictions about the future of AI in media and entertainment, framing 2026 as a pivotal year. Key discussions include the shifting power dynamics favoring creators due to fair use rulings and the necessity for AI companies to engage in settlements and licensing. They highlight significant settlements reshaping media practices and explore the ethical use of AI by studios. The conversation emphasizes that while some jobs may evolve, human creativity will remain vital for industry success.
7 snips
Dec 12, 2025 • 16min
What Does Disney's $1 Billion OpenAI Deal Mean? My "Hot Take"
Peter Csathy, a seasoned media and entertainment dealmaker, shares insights on Disney's surprising $1 billion investment in OpenAI. He discusses how this move allows consumers to create personalized videos with beloved Disney characters through Sora. Peter argues that Disney is strategically experimenting with AI rather than resisting it, emphasizing the importance of licensing for creators' compensation. He predicts micro-licensing as a scalable revenue stream and highlights how Disney's flexible approach during the Frozen phenomenon boosted audience engagement.
13 snips
Jul 25, 2025 • 50min
Generative AI & Copyright: Infringement or Fair Use? Expert Panel Discussion
Karen Chesley, Senior Litigation Counsel at The New York Times, Avery Williams, Partner at McKool Smith, and Sky Moore, entertainment law expert, dive into the contentious crossover of generative AI and copyright. They tackle landmark cases and the shifting landscape of fair use. Key issues include the vital need for better regulation, ethical content sourcing, and the challenges creators face in protecting their rights amid AI advancements. The panel also discusses the implications of misinformation and the necessity for clear guidelines in content creation.
14 snips
Jul 24, 2025 • 49min
The AI Content Royalty Marketplace: Licensing & Rev Sharing (Expert "Insider" Discussion)
In this engaging panel discussion, guests include Rebecca Grossman-Cohen, strategic partnerships lead at The New York Times; Howie Singer, AI consultant and NYU instructor; Dave Davis, chief content officer at Protege; and Mickey Maher, CRO at Vermilio. They dive into the evolving licensing landscape for AI-generated content, addressing fair compensation and recent agreements. The panelists spotlight emerging trends in custom content curation, the complexities of negotiating deals, and the transformative impact of AI on media, balancing innovation with intellectual property rights.
Jul 17, 2025 • 11min
H.I. v. A.I. - One Emotes, The Other Mimics
This episode discusses Peter Csathy's latest musing about H.I. v. A.I. in the Arts and overall creative process -- with H.I. referring to Human Intelligence and the critical role of moment-in-time human emotion in the Artist's creative journey and resulting creative works (emotion that AI may be able to mimic, but never authentically capture). H.I. captures the Artist's emotional state of mind at the moment of creation -- whereas AI can only create based on past data (a historical record).Csathy generated this episode using Google NotebookLM (with direction given relating to his article).Sign up for the companion "the brAIn" newsletter via this link.Check out Peter and his firm Creative MediaCheck out Peter's LinkedIn bio here.And send feedback to bizdev@creativemedia.biz.
Jun 26, 2025 • 28min
EMERGENCY POD: Kadrey v. Meta's "Fair Use" Decision - Don't Believe The Tech Bro Hype, Copyright Owners Are The Big Winners
In this emergency podcast episode, Peter Csathy's co-hosts discuss the second ground-breaking AI copyright "fair use" decision in the past two days - this time Judge Vince Chhabria's in Kadrey v. Meta (from the same federal district court in Northern California in which Judge William Alsup sits, and who decided "fair use" in Bartz v. Anthropic). This podcast - generated using Google NotebookLM - is based on Csathy's detailed written analysis of both cases. Csathy underscores that at first blush, both "fair use" decisions look like victories to AI developers. But he offers the convincing case as to why both decisions - especially the decision in Kadrey v. Meta - are actually huge wins for copyright owners. And he argues that these decisions will significantly heat up the AI licensing market.Sign up for the companion "the brAIn" newsletter via this link.Check out Peter and his firm Creative MediaCheck out Peter's LinkedIn bio here.And send feedback to bizdev@creativemedia.biz.
Jun 26, 2025 • 43min
On "AI & Entrepreneurship" - Interview with Peter Csathy
Host Peter Csathy was recently interviewed by Robert Milazzo who is a professor, creator and founder of The Modern School of Film — an educational studio that has produced hundreds of masterclasses and educational events to explore the intersections of community, craft and culture. Our topic? “AI Entrepreneurship.”It’s a wide-ranging discussion that bounced from the practical and pragmatic (getting a job in the creative industries, and best positioning yourself) to the more philosophical (how AI will transform the creative arts, and what it means for Art itself).Sign up for the companion "the brAIn" newsletter via this link.Check out Peter and his firm Creative MediaCheck out Peter's LinkedIn bio here.And send feedback to bizdev@creativemedia.biz.
Jun 24, 2025 • 14min
Emergency Pod: First "Fair Use" Ruling In GenAI Case - What It All Means
In this emergency episode, AI/media expert Peter Csathy's co-hosts discuss his just-posted written analysis of the first federal Judge's ruling on the critical issue of "fair use" in the context of generative AI. The decision was just handed down by Judge Alsup in the Northern District of California - and Csathy read and analyzed the full decision to see what it all means for both copyright owners and AI developers - and what comes next. Csathy generated this episode based on his article using Google NotebookLM - and Csathy approves the contents as being consistent with his perspectives, and also thoughtful and engaging.Sign up for the companion "the brAIn" newsletter via this link.Check out Peter and his firm Creative MediaCheck out Peter's LinkedIn bio here.And send feedback to bizdev@creativemedia.biz.
