In this article, we will be looking at the top 20 entertainment brands in the world. If you don't want to get into details, feel free to skip to the Top 5 Entertainment Brands in the World.
The entertainment industry is undoubtedly one of the biggest industries in the world. Entertainment brands have spread throughout the world, capturing audiences with their engrossing narratives, ground-breaking technologies, and creative approaches to entertainment in everything from films and TV shows to music and live events. Last year, the worldwide entertainment and media (E&M) sector grew significantly faster than the world economy as a whole. Following a 2.3% dip in 2020 due to the pandemic, E&M revenue increased by a robust 10.4% in 2021, from US$2.12 trillion to US$2.34 trillion.
In this context, it's critical to examine the leading entertainment brands that have had a big impact on the sector. By establishing themselves as household names and building a devoted following, these companies have dominated the entertainment industry. These major players in the sector include studios that make blockbuster films, record companies that produce top-charting singles, and theme parks that provide their guests with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The most well-known entertainment companies, among others, include The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD), Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX), Universal Studios, and Sony Pictures. These companies have transformed the entertainment sector by providing audiences with unmatched experiences using technology and creativity. They have also had a significant impact on popular culture and how we consume content.
Industry Outlook
New streaming options in the industry have completely changed how we consume entertainment, enabling us to binge-watch our favorite shows and films whenever we want with no restriction on the number of things we get to watch. Previously, we had to wait for a show to air at the exact time and could only watch one episode of the show per week. Statista reports that around 7.2 billion hours of content was viewed in the third quarter of 2022. Although Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) wasn't the original developer of streaming, it is thought to have been the first to popularize it, and since then, it has developed into one of the largest entertainment industries in the world, with ad revenue projected to increase by 39% CAGR from 2023 to 2026 and reach $1.7 billion by that year.
The pandemic, in the opinion of experts, has simply hastened the transition from traditional to digital entertainment, and as a result, we have already passed the tipping point, which would have taken years to reach otherwise. People who were confined to their houses during lockdowns turned to stream all of their content to pass the time, making entertainment more individualized and digital than ever. Because of services like HBO Go, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and many others that offer streaming content, television is no longer as highly sought-after as it once was.
For our methodology, we have ranked the top 20 entertainment brands in the world in ascending order based on the highest market cap as of April 2023, for which the data is publicly available. We have also discussed the brands’ ttm revenue for their latest fiscal years. To ensure the accuracy of the figures, we have collected the data from various reliable sources including Companies Market Cap and Yahoo Finance.
Here is our list of the top 20 entertainment brands in the world:
20. Nexon Co., Ltd
Market Cap: $20.18 billion
Nexon is a South Korean video game company that was founded in 1994. It is highly known for developing and publishing popular massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) including MapleStory, Mabinogi, and Dungeon Fighter Online. It is also highly recognized for creating some of the most famous games like KartRider Rush+ and FIFA Online 4 M. The most recent financial reports from Nexon show that the company's revenue in 2022 was $2.65 billion. The company's revenue in 2021 was $2.45 billion, down from $2.76 billion in revenue in 2020.
19. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO)
Market Cap: $21.42 billion
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) is a well-known global publisher and game developer. The corporation boasts an amazing portfolio of studios and franchises that have created some of the most widely recognised and financially lucrative games in the market.
Millions of copies of Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and NBA 2K have been sold globally. These are some of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc (NASDAQ:TTWO)'s most popular titles. The business has built a reputation for excellence by putting a strong emphasis on quality and creativity with a revenue of $4.83 billion in 2022, and it still sets new standards for publishing and game creation.
Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX), founded in 2004, is an online gaming platform that had a revenue of $2.22 billion in 2022. It allows users to create games using Roblox Studio, which is a proprietary game development tool. The platform offers a wide variety of game genres, such as simulations, obstacle courses, and role-playing games. Additionally, Roblox Corporation (NYSE:RBLX) provides social capabilities that let users interact with one another and join communities based on shared interests. The platform has recently experienced fast growth and has established itself as a major force in the gaming market.
The well-known music streaming service, Spotify Technology S.A (NYSE:SPOT) was established in Sweden in 2006 and gives customers access to millions of songs, podcasts, and other audio files. Currently, the platform has 345 million users worldwide, including 155 million members, spread across 178 nations, making it the most widely used audio streaming subscription service, and had a revenue of $12.33 in 2022. Spotify Technology S.A (NYSE:SPOT) offers both a free version with advertisements and constrained functionality, and a premium version with ad-free listening and extra features.
16. Evolution Gaming
Market Cap: $28.89 billion
A reputable provider of live casino games, Evolution Gaming, established in 2006 in Sweden, provides a selection of well-liked games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker. Modern studios, cutting-edge technology, and expertly trained dealers provide gamers from all around the world with an immersive gaming experience. Due to its dedication to innovation and excellence, Evolution Gaming has risen to the top of the live casino industry, and earned the trust of international online casino operators with a revenue of $1.53 billion in 2022.
15. Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD)
Market Cap: $30.83 billion
The entertainment business has been shaped by Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD), an American entertainment brand, for almost a century, making it a renowned corporation in the field with a revenue of $33.81 billion in 2022. The DC Comics universe, and Harry Potter are two of its most well-known brands that have influenced popular culture. Along with continuing to innovate and push the limits of entertainment, Warner Bros. Discover, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) also produces and distributes music.
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), also referred to as EA was founded in 1982, and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. It is widely known for its well-liked properties like Madden NFL, FIFA, and The Sims. The business creates, disseminates, and publishes interactive entertainment software and content for a variety of platforms. Despite receiving criticism for its business practices, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) has worked to repair its reputation and allay complaints and earned a revenue of $7.37 billion in 2022.
13. Flutter Entertainment
Market Cap: $33.90 billion
Previously known as Paddy Power Betfair, Flutter Entertainment is a global sports betting and gaming organization. It is a part of the FTSE 100 Index, and is traded on the London Stock Exchange with a revenue of $8.14 billion in 2022. It is the owner of businesses like Sky Betting & Gaming, Sportsbet, Paddy Power, FanDuel, Betfair, and PokerStars. The company is a major force in the online gambling sector due to its broad range and emphasis on the user experience.
12. Naspers
Market Cap: $36.91 billion
Global internet and media company Naspers has its headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa. Since its establishment in 1915, the company has transformed from a traditional print media organization into a global conglomerate with assets in digital businesses. It is well known that Naspers has invested in businesses including Tencent, Mail.ru, and Delivery Hero, and earned a revenue of $7.94 billion in 2022. The business is present in more than 120 nations, and is concentrating on growing its digital enterprises in developing regions.
11. Universal Music Group
Market Cap: $41.81 billion
The Universal Music Group is a leading music company, founded in 1934. It is a subsidiary of the French media conglomerate Vivendi. Apart from managing music publishing rights, the company's activities also include the creation, promotion, and marketing of recorded music. Some of the biggest names in music, like Lady Gaga, Drake, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift, are on the roster of UMG artists. Along with these efforts, the corporation is investing in music streaming services to penetrate new digital platforms and markets. The company earned a revenue of $10.06 billion in 2021.
10. Sea (Garena)
Market Cap: $42.47 billion
Currently operating as Garena, Shopee, and AirPay, Sea Limited is a Singapore-based provider of financial services, online video games, and e-commerce. The company earned a revenue of $12.44 Billion in 2022. Its revenue in 2021 was $9.95 billion, up from $4.37 billion in revenue in 2020.
Las Vegas Sands Corp (NYSE:LVS) is a global hotel and casino operator with its headquarters in Paradise, Nevada. Sheldon Adelson founded the business, which has grown to dominate the global gaming and hospitality sectors. Sands manages opulent hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore, and is responsible for turning Macau into a significant gambling hub. Las Vegas Sands Corp (NYSE:LVS) is also dedicated to ethical business conduct and earned a revenue of $4.11 billion in 2022. The business generated $4.23 billion in revenue in 2021, an increase from $3.61 billion in revenue in 2020.
8. Nintendo
Market Cap: $50.80 billion
Nintendo is a Japanese video game developer and distributor, that has risen to the top of the industry in terms of both product creation and market share, and have had earned revenue of $12.62 billion in 2022. Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon are just a few of the well-known video game titles that the firm is best known for. It has also created cutting-edge systems including the Game Boy, Wii, and Switch.
Leading Chinese technology firm, NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTES) founded in 1997, works in a variety of industries, such as gaming, e-commerce, and online education. The business, which is well-known for its well-liked video games, has also branched out into other industries including music streaming and healthcare technologies. The financial reports from NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTES) show that the company's revenue in 2022 was $14.27 Billion. The corporation generated $13.55 billion in revenue in 2021, a rise from $10.73 billion in revenue in 2020.
6. Oriental Land
Market Cap: $60.24 billion
A Japanese corporation, Oriental Land owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort including the Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. In addition, to its involvement in other real estate and hotel projects in Japan, the company has a licensing arrangement with The Walt Disney Company. To support sustainability and corporate responsibility, Oriental Land has adopted several environmental and social projects and is dedicated to giving its visitors unique experiences. The company earned a revenue of $3.27 billion in 2022.
