Reputation strategist on why Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad sparked controversy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
a minute ago
- Geek Tyrant
New Trailer For The TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Movie 35th Anniversary Re-Release — GeekTyrant
Fatham Entertainment has released a new trailer for the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles re-release in celebration of its 35th anniversary. It's wild that this movie came out 35 freakin' years ago! Fathom Entertainment is bringing the movie back to the big screen for two special dates: Saturday, August 16, and Wednesday, August 20. And fans are getting more than just a nostalgic revisit. Directed by Steve Barron and produced by New Line Cinema, the original film wasn't just a huge hit, it was a landmark. With the help of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, the Turtles were brought to life using state-of-the-art animatronic suits and puppetry. The result was an awesome gritty, funny, and faithful adaptation that fans of the franchise loved! I love this movie! I actually watched it in the big screen a few months ago for the first time in years, and that was a very cool experience, one that you need to experience for yourself if your a fan! Fathom Entertainment CEO Ray Nutt summed up the spirit of the event, saying, 'Few titles in recent memory have as large and rabid a fanbase as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's Turtle Time, and Fathom Entertainment is proud to be part of Turtlemania and help make possible a 35th anniversary celebration like no other on the big screen. Moviegoers across generations will revel in the action and excitement.' Adding to the experience, audiences will also get to see Turtles Unmasked , a brand-new featurette that digs into the behind-the-scenes madness of making the film. In the film, Four teenage mutant ninja turtles emerge from the sewers to protect New York City from a masked gang of criminal ninjas. Turtlemania is back! Experience one of the biggest and most widely anticipated movie anniversary celebrations of the year with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This movie stars Brian Tochi as Leonardo, Corey Feldman as Donatello, Josh Pais as Raphael, Robbie Rist as Michelangelo, and Kevin Clash as Splinter, the Turtles' master. And features Judith Hoag and Elias Koteas. Produced alongside the team behind TMNT: Evolution, Mutation & Reboot , the mini-doc includes never-before-seen archival footage, extended scenes that didn't make the final cut, and even personal video diary footage from director Steve Barron reflecting on the film's production challenges. If you're a fan of this movie this is your chance to relive the turtle-powered magic with a crowd of fellow fans! The trailer for the 35th anniversary rerelease may be viewed below.
Geek Tyrant
a minute ago
- Geek Tyrant
Trailer For REALM OF SATAN a Very Borning Documentary About Modern Satanism — GeekTyrant
Monument Releasing has released the trailer for Realm of Satan , Scott Cummings' documentary that dives deep into the world of Satanism, and it's not what you'd expect. The film premiered at Sundance earlier this year and I watched it, but it was a very borning and completely uninteresting film. There's definitly nothing exciting about modern satanism. Not like the wild tales we;'ve heard from the 70s and 80s! The documentary takes viewers inside the controversial Realm of Satan church, offering a close look at Satanists' daily lives as well as their rituals and beliefs. According to the official description, the film 'captures Satanists in both the everyday and the extraordinary, revealing their mystical world of magic, mystery, and misanthropy.' Cummings approaches the subject with an artistic len: 'Cummings crafts each frame like a painting to allow the wild, elegant, and dynamic world of Satanists to unfold on screen.' The project features figures like Peter Gilmore, Blanche Barton, and Peggy Nadramia, key names associated with the Church of Satan. It's produced by Pacho Velez ( Searchers, The American Sector ), Caitlin Mae Burke ( We Could Be King ), and Molly Gandour ( GasLand ). Cummings expressed excitement about the theatrical rollout: 'I'm thrilled to be working with Monument on the theatrical release of Realm of Satan. The movie theater is a magical space, and this film demands that singular experience. 'Monument has stood behind and celebrated the uniqueness of this film and I am thrilled to bring audiences into our spell together. I have been a Mubi subscriber and cheerleader since their earliest day and found some of my favorite modern films through their impeccable curatorial vision. I couldn't think of a better and more exciting partner to work with.' The movie will make its U.S. theatrical debut on July 17th in Philadelphia, followed by runs at New York's Nitehawk (Prospect Park) and Metrograph. After its limited release, it hits digital platforms on September 2 and later lands exclusively on MUBI starting October 3 for U.S. and Canadian subscribers.
Business Upturn
2 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
How Rhonda Byrne turned belief into a billion-dollar business model in the United States
Rhonda Byrne is best known in the United States as the visionary behind The Secret , the self-help juggernaut that reignited America's obsession with the Law of Attraction. But beneath the glittering surface of her message— ask, believe, receive —lies a sophisticated commercial framework that turned a single idea into a multi-platform empire. This article explores the Rhonda Byrne business model, focusing specifically on how she monetised belief in the U.S. market through publishing, media, licensing, and digital strategies. With a sharp focus on monetisation mechanics rather than metaphysics, this article maps out how a spiritual concept evolved into a billion-dollar American business. The rise of Rhonda Byrne and The Secret 's influence on American consumer habits When The Secret first hit American bookshelves in 2006, few anticipated the cultural firestorm it would ignite. Based on New Thought philosophies and the age-old concept of manifestation, Byrne's brand of positivity offered something uniquely American: a promise that personal desire, if focused correctly, could translate into financial success, romantic relationships, or even health. The book's appeal was amplified by the Oprah effect—Byrne was featured twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show , instantly turning The Secret into a household name. But this was not merely a stroke of luck. Byrne's team had a meticulously prepared U.S. strategy: targeted marketing, viral DVD sales, and syndication-ready messaging that aligned perfectly with American consumer psychology, particularly in the post-9/11 era of anxiety and economic uncertainty. From self-publishing to global licensing: The monetisation of belief Initially self-published in DVD format in Australia, The Secret took a calculated leap into the U.S. through Byrne's independent media company, Prime Time Productions. This allowed full control over production and distribution—critical for maximising early profits and leveraging licensing rights. Once the product gained traction, Byrne negotiated with Simon & Schuster for U.S. book distribution, securing lucrative royalty terms while retaining key international rights. The licensing deals exploded from there: translated editions, branded journals, calendars, mobile apps, audio books, and classroom curricula. Byrne tapped into a global appetite, but it was U.S. licensing revenue—aided by Barnes & Noble deals and mass retail presence at Target, Walmart, and Amazon—that constituted the lion's share of initial earnings. She transformed a philosophical idea into an intellectual property portfolio. How The Secret was marketed as an American lifestyle product Rather than promoting The Secret as an esoteric text, Byrne positioned it as a lifestyle framework—accessible, digestible, and highly brandable. In the U.S., this meant aligning the brand with wellness, personal finance, self-empowerment, and productivity. Promotional materials often mirrored the aesthetics of life coaching and motivational content, appealing to the same demographic that consumed Tony Robbins seminars or Suze Orman books. The visual branding—sleek maroon tones, parchment-style fonts, and antique script—gave the illusion of ancient wisdom while being entirely repackaged for a modern American market. Byrne's U.S. strategy drew heavily on emotional branding, tapping into personal agency and aspirational living, two core pillars of American consumer culture. The spiritual economy and targeted wellness branding in the U.S. In America, the spirituality industry is less about doctrine and more about utility. Byrne's brilliance lay in her ability to reframe Law of Attraction as a toolset, not a belief system. This resonated especially with Millennials and Gen Xers looking for secular spirituality. Her products were marketed not through churches or religious circuits, but through wellness expos, YouTube testimonials, and self-help influencer networks. Additionally, the U.S. version of The Secret movement attracted an audience of women between the ages of 25 and 50—predominantly middle-class, self-motivated, and interested in holistic health, business success, and personal transformation. Byrne effectively monetised U.S. wellness branding trends decades ahead of today's meditation app and coaching subscription booms. The business backbone of the Rhonda Byrne empire Beyond the initial success of The Secret , Byrne expanded her brand into a multi-product business ecosystem. While many associate her only with books and DVDs, the full business structure involves real estate holdings, streaming services, limited-edition releases, and private publishing contracts—all orchestrated under her corporate entities registered across the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Two decades later, the Rhonda Byrne business model has evolved into a long-term revenue machine powered by repackaged content, re-releases, and evergreen messaging that continues to sell to new audiences. Product diversification: Beyond books and documentaries Byrne didn't stop with The Secret . Follow-ups like The Power , The Magic , and Hero were timed strategically for holiday seasons in the U.S., often bundled with journals, vision boards, or guided affirmations. These books were not standalone projects; they functioned as modular expansions of the same core message, enabling customers to buy into a continuity marketing loop. By 2020, Netflix premiered The Secret: Dare to Dream , a feature-length film starring Katie Holmes. The movie wasn't just content—it was an elaborate content marketing tool reinforcing the brand's legitimacy for a younger, more digitally native U.S. audience. Every product served a dual purpose: revenue and lead generation for future sales. U.S. publishing deals and royalty structures behind the scenes While Byrne retains much creative and brand control, her partnership with Simon & Schuster in the U.S. has been pivotal. Unlike typical first-time authors, Byrne reportedly negotiated above-industry royalties, sometimes as high as 25% on hardcover sales. Add to that the back-end licensing of audiobook rights through Audible and streaming rights via Netflix, and Byrne's U.S. royalty stack is deeply diversified. Also crucial: republication rights. Her business entities license older works in repackaged forms—gift editions, e-book bundles, and anniversary releases—ensuring long-tail profitability from existing content libraries. Her team leverages these deals across major American book fairs and online marketplaces, particularly Amazon and Apple Books. The role of exclusive distribution in building brand scarcity Unlike many self-help authors who flood multiple platforms, Byrne's strategy emphasized selective exclusivity. For instance, early editions of her DVDs were only available via the official The Secret website or specific American retailers. This helped build a sense of rarity and desire—similar to luxury fashion drops or limited edition sneakers. This scarcity strategy also applied to Byrne's speaking engagements and media appearances—they were infrequent but high-impact. By limiting access, she increased perceived authority and demand within American self-help and spiritual circles. Rhonda Byrne's digital strategy and influence on new-age entrepreneurship As digital platforms exploded in the 2010s, Byrne adapted quickly. She understood that the future of spiritual and motivational content wasn't on bookstore shelves but in online ecosystems. Her website, became the central node in an expanding web of content, courses, and streaming options tailored to a U.S. market increasingly hungry for 24/7 access to self-help. and monetising an online following Launched as a basic companion site in the 2000s, evolved into a subscription-based streaming platform offering exclusive content, including affirmations, masterclasses, guided visualisations, and member-only film access. Users could pay monthly or annually—introducing a recurring revenue model uncommon in spiritual publishing at the time. Beyond video content, the site hosts affiliate products, branded merchandise, and ticketed digital events, all monetised through e-commerce integrations and Stripe-based payment portals. The platform also leverages email funnels and behavioural tracking, retargeting U.S. users with product suggestions and exclusive offers. Byrne's influence on the U.S. motivational speaker circuit While Byrne herself is not a prolific public speaker, her influence shaped the U.S. motivational speaker economy. Speakers at events like Mindvalley Live or Hay House summits frequently cite The Secret , with some even licensing Byrne's messaging in seminars. In return, Byrne's team has engaged in content partnerships and cross-promotion across high-traffic U.S. podcasts and social media channels. This integration not only enhanced visibility but created downstream revenue—many motivational coaches now serve as de facto brand ambassadors, funneling new American audiences back to The Secret ecosystem. How her brand shaped online coaching and wellness marketing models The Byrne brand prefigured the now-common coaching economy—think Law of Attraction coaching, manifestation mentors, and mindset consultants. Many of today's digital wellness entrepreneurs credit The Secret as their inspiration and often structure their business models similarly: digital downloads, email courses, private Facebook communities, and branded merchandise. Her approach gave rise to a template for belief monetisation: package an ideology, attach it to a lifestyle, build community, and layer it with content upsells. This structure is now common among American wellness influencers and spiritual coaches. A unique business legacy: What Rhonda Byrne's model tells us about U.S. spirituality commerce Rhonda Byrne didn't just publish a book—she catalysed an entire economic movement rooted in individual agency, emotional branding, and spiritual consumerism. In the United States, where belief and capitalism often intersect, Byrne's business model offers a textbook case of how spiritual ideologies can be turned into commercial IP portfolios. Her influence on U.S. self-help media and Gen Z spiritual entrepreneurs From TikTok manifestation videos to Instagram pages filled with affirmation quotes, Byrne's legacy is imprinted across Gen Z spiritual commerce. Many younger entrepreneurs now build businesses by combining social media virality with spiritual frameworks—exactly what Byrne did before the era of influencers. Her success proved that there's a scalable audience in America for content that blends hope, empowerment, and consumerism—and that spiritual messaging can be both emotionally resonant and highly profitable. Precursor to influencer-driven wellness empires in America Byrne's empire predated the influencer economy, yet foreshadowed it. Like today's YouTubers or meditation app founders, she built a niche, created high-conversion content, and scaled vertically across platforms. From that perspective, Byrne can be seen as a proto-influencer—except her product wasn't herself, it was belief itself. Modern figures like Jay Shetty or Gabby Bernstein have replicated aspects of the Rhonda Byrne business model, monetising mindfulness, manifestation, or spiritual insight via digital memberships, workshops, and product sales. Why the Rhonda Byrne business model may become a Harvard case study Given its unique blend of ideology, IP management, media strategy, and emotional marketing, the Rhonda Byrne business model offers a rich case study for American business schools. It intersects key subjects: branding, publishing economics, cultural psychology, and platform monetisation. In many ways, it's a model of soft power capitalism, where personal transformation fuels commercial transactions. Conclusion: Rhonda Byrne and the monetisation of belief in America's digital spiritual economy Rhonda Byrne's billion-dollar success was never just about The Secret —it was about strategically packaging belief for a country where hope sells. Her brand preceded the modern wellness boom, prefigured the influencer monetisation playbook, and created a repeatable framework for how spiritual ideas can thrive in America's digital economy. Like Calm or Headspace, Byrne built a business not from tangible products, but from an emotional and cognitive experience. The difference? She did it before mobile apps or Instagram ever existed. As U.S. consumers continue to spend billions on spiritual self-help, Rhonda Byrne's model remains a blueprint for monetising metaphysics—one that continues to shape the future of belief-driven capitalism in America. This article is intended for informational and editorial purposes only. It does not constitute endorsement or promotion of any individual, company, or entity mentioned. Business Upturn makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided.
