Communiqué de presse

Digital Entertainment World Returns May 22, 2025

Powerful Lineup Focused on AI, Investment, and the Future of the Creator Economy; Keynotes from Xbox’s GM of Gaming AI, Haiyan Zhang, and Wedbush’s Daniel Ives and Michael Pachter

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 14, 2025) Digital Entertainment World (DEW), the premier conference for industry leaders at the intersection of content, technology, and innovation, returns to Los Angeles on May 22, 2025, with an agenda that boldly addresses the biggest opportunities and challenges shaping the digital entertainment landscape.
 

DEW 2025 promises a full day of cutting-edge insights, high-level networking, and strategic conversations for executives, creators, investors, and innovators defining the future of media.

Registration at: www.dewexpo.com
 

This year’s event will feature three focused tracks designed to explore the key forces driving transformation across the industry:
 

Investment, Dealmaking and M&A

Brands & Creators

RightsTech & AI
 

The event brings together top executives, investors, innovators, and thought leaders to explore how capital, creativity, and cutting-edge technology are reshaping digital media and entertainment.


Keynote sessions include the following fireside chats:

Haiyan Zhang, GM, AI Innovation and Science, Xbox

Interviewer: Joanna Popper, Media & Technology Executive, Laurel Beach, Former CAA, HP, NBCU

Daniel Ives, Managing Director, Global Head of Technology Research, Wedbush Securities Michael Pachter, Managing Director, Equity Research, Wedbush Securities

Interviewer: Sarah Parvini, Technology Writer, The Associated Press
 

2025 Topics Include:
 

- The Power of People: Building & Retaining High-Performing Teams in Digital Entertainment

- View from the Top: Funding the Future of Digital Entertainment

- Keynote Conversation with Haiyan Zhang, Xbox

- Investing in Artificial Intelligence for Digital Entertainment

- The Future of Measurement: Unlocking Growth with AI-Driven Insights

- AI in Training: Buying and Selling Data

- Fueling the Future: Investing in the Creator Ecosystem

- Apples to Apples: Defining the B2B Backbone of the Creator Economy

- Opting In, Opting Out (of AI Training)

- Leveling Up: Investing in Games and Interactive Entertainment

- The Rise of the Independent Studio

- Deepfakes, Identity Management and Content ID

- Investing in Content: Building the Future of Multi-Platform

- Rights, Deals and the Creator Economy: Navigating Ownership in the Digital Era

- Collective Rights Management in the Age of AI

- View from the Top: The Power Play: M&A and Consolidation in Digital Entertainment

- Keynote Conversation with Dan Ives & Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities
 

Speakers Include
 

Joe Anderson, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Sean Atkins, CEO, Dhar Mann Studios

Tamay Aykut, CEO, Sureel.ai

Moritz Baier-Lentz, Partner & Head of Gaming, Lightspeed Venture Partners

Gabriel Berger, Business Development, HAND (Human And Digital)

Virginie Berger, Chief Business Development & Rights Officer, Matchtune

Jason Birke, Managing Director, Eastwind Advisors

David Bloom, Co-Founder, Next TMT

Dan Bunting, Venture Partner, 1AM Gaming

Alessandra Catanese, CEO, Smosh

Jacqueline Charlesworth, Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz

Joey Chowaiki, COO & Co-Founder, OpenInfluence

Jeff Clanagan, President & Chief Distribution Officer, HARTBEAT

Jacob Clarke, Head of Customer Success, Aspire IQ

Kayla Comalli, CEO, Lovelace Studio

James Creech, Founder, Quartermast Advisors

Dave Davis, GM, Protege Media, Protege

Derek Douglas, Head of Games, CAA

Matt Dysart, Partner, Greenberg Glusker LLP

Ethan Fassett, Co-Founder, Glystn

David Fink, Partner, Venable

Ken Gerstein, VP, Sales, NAGRA

Matthew Gielen, CEO, Silver Berry Studios

Michael Grecco, Founder & Board Member, ASCRL

Jamie Gutfreund, Founder, Creator Vision

Josh Gutfreund, General Partner, GOAL Ventures

Kalon Gutierrez, Managing Director, Manatt Ventures Consulting,  Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Frank Handy, President LA Chapter, Association of Independent Music Publishers

Nate Harris, VP, Product Innovation, CreatorIQ

Simone Heard, Sr. Director, Recruitment, Jam City

Fran Helms, Sr. Client Partner & Sector Leader, Media & Entertainment, NA, Korn Ferry

Ryan Horrigan, President, Digital Studio, London Alley

Jamie Howard, Managing Director, Perella Weinberg Jess Hunichen, Co-Founder, Shine Talent Group

Daniel Ives, Managing Director and Sr. Equity Research Analyst, Wedbush Securities

Jeonghee Jin, CEO, NC America

Ben Jones, Founder & CEO, Sundogs

Chang Kim, Co-Founder & CEO, Saywise

Jonas Lee, Chief Commercial Officer, ProRata.AI

Roanie Levy, Licensing and Legal Advisor, Copyright Clearance Center

Elaine Low, Staff Writer, The Ankler

Alice Ma, CEO & Creative Director, Mad Realities

Richard McDerby, Partner, Manatt

Olivia McNaughten, Sr. Director Product Marketing & Partnerships, GRIN

Michael Metzger, Managing Partner, Drake Star Partners

Jamil Moledina, Strategic Advisor, XP Consulting

Steph Money, SVP, Client Development, AI, Edelman

Jake Beaumont-Nesbitt, Director, Innovation & Education, International Music Managers Forum

Nika Nour, Head of International Business Development, Savvy Games Group

Michael Pachter, Managing Director, Equity Research, Wedbush Securities

Sarah Parvini, Technology Writer, The Associated Press

Joanna Popper, Media & Technology Executive, Laurel Beach, Former CAA, HP, NBCU

Phil Quist, Music & Strategic Development Agent, CAA

Katja Reitemeyer, Director, AI and Data Science, Media & Entertainment, Nvidia

Taylor Rodriguez, Global Vice President, Customer Experience, Traackr 

Leonard Rosenthal, PDF Architect & Sr. Principal Scientist, Adobe Systems, Inc.

Shara Senderoff, Co-Founder & CEO, Jen Music AI

Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound

Daisy Stall, EVP, Group Head, Entertainment Finance, California Bank & Trust

Bill Stanton, Head of Enterprise and Affiliate, Later

Paul Sweeting, Co-Founder, RightsTech Project

Hemal Thaker, Managing Director, Global Head of Gaming Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs

Jay Tucker, Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, UCLA Anderson

Andrew Wallenstein, President & Chief Media Analyst, Variety Intelligence Platform & Luminate

Rachel Webber, Chief Commercial and Brand Officer, 11:11 Media

Chris M. Williams, CEO, pocket.watch

Sharon Tal Yguado, Founder and CEO, Astrid Entertainment

Haiyan Zhang, GM, AI Innovation and Science, Xbox
 

Sponsors & Media Partners Include: Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, Wedbush Securities, Venable LLP, Copyright Clearance Center, Greenberg Glusker LLP, UCLA Anderson Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, GOAL Ventures, CareerMAGNATE, 80 Level, LAVA Media, Fusicology, Westside Digital Mix (WDM), International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL), Streaming Video Technology Alliance (SVTA), and Digital LA