Summary: Few, if any, can rival <a href="https://twitter.com/PDergarabedian" target="_blank">Paul Dergarabedian</a> when it comes to analyzing the film industry’s global box office. Rentrak’s senior media analyst has been running movie numbers for upwards of 20 years now and is a regularly quoted box office pundit. Dergarabedian joins us to discuss how 2015 turned into a record breaking year at the box office all over the world.<br> We cover everything from how the winners at last year’s box office left little for the losers to the increasing role social media plays in the fortunes of any given movie, from the importance of international grosses to the record shattering “Star Wars” sequel. One big question is how 2016 could ever top last year’s figures or if that even matters.<br> We wind up in the music business where lawsuits are always a good indication on the issues affecting the industry. Two big new lawsuits target Spotify and Ticketmaster. We’ll explain what they are all about… and predict if they will actually make it to trial.<br> Of course we also cover the week’s top entertainment news including why The Beatles agreed to put their music on streaming services, how Taylor Swift’s concert tour topped the charts last year and the sexual assault charge against Bill Cosby.<br> <br> Rentrak Weekly Worldwide Box Office<br><br> <a href="http://www.rentrak.com/section/movies_and_tv_everywhere/top_entertainment_rankings.html#1" target="_blank">http://www.rentrak.com/section/movies_and_tv_everywhere/….</a><br> ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Crosses $100M Milestone in Imax Theaters<br><br> <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-force-awakens-crosses-851298" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-force-awakens-crosses-851298</a><br> Steven Spielberg Puts His Own Big Bucks Into the New Amblin Partners<br><br> <a href="https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spielberg-amblin-investment-1201669720/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2015/film/news/steven-spielberg-amblin-investment-1201669720/</a><br> Rentrak Reports 2015 Worldwide Box Office Sets New Record with $38 Billion-Plus<br><br> <a href="http://investor.rentrak.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=948427" target="_blank">http://investor.rentrak.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=948427</a><br> China Box Office Grows Astonishing 48.7 Percent in 2015, Hits $6.78 Billion<br><br> <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-grows-astonishing-851629" target="_blank">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-box-office-grows-astonishing-851629</a><br> Box Office 2015: How Revenue (Narrowly) Hit a Record $11B in the U.S.<br><br> <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-2015-how-revenue-851167" target="_blank">https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-2015-how-revenue-851167</a><br> ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Push Disney Past $5 Billion Mark for First Time<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/news/star-wars-box-office-disney-5-billion-1201666226/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2015/film/news/star-wars-box-office-disney-5-billion-1201666226/</a><br> Half Of Top-Grossing Films Worldwide Were Released In 2015<br><br> <a href="http://deadline.com/2015/12/top-grossing-films-worldwide-half-released-in-2015-1201670465/" target="_blank">http://deadline.com/2015/12/top-grossing-films-worldwide-half-released-in-2015-1201670465/</a><br> Hollywood Rules French Box Office in 2015<br><br> <a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/hollywood-france-box-office-2015-1201670302/" target="_blank">http://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/hollywood-france-box-office-2015-1201670302/</a><br> Italy Box Office 2015: ‘Inside Out’ Arrives on Top, Overall Revenue Jumps<br><br> <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/italy-box-office-2015-inside-851473" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.</a>
