Golden Globes Shake Up Hollywood With "Barbie" and Taylor Swift Emphasis
The Golden Globes have undergone some major changes in their ownership and decision-making structures, including a shift in voting committees and the relocation of their television center to Colombia, following a scandal and allegations of ethical misconduct. This 80-year-old awards ceremony lost the support of Hollywood's major broadcasting corporations, such as CBS and NBC, as a result.
Regardless of the hidden players, the Golden Globes seem to be sending a clear message to the Oscars: Don't overlook the popular films.
Whether it's a merit-based decision or a byproduct of the planning process, it's undeniable that the Golden Globes' most frequent nominations went to the two most successful films of the year - "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," each with nine and eight nominations, respectively. The awards also introduced a category for popular films, including Swift's The Eras Tour concert film, which set a box office record, and the fourth John Wick film.
Thanks to the diversity of categories and the weight of the major film and acting awards split between drama and musical/comedy categories, the Golden Globe judges were still able to accommodate lesser-known and more eccentric films in their selection.
In keeping with tradition, the organization also continued to favor recognizing established stars, which could explain why Jennifer Lawrence quietly joined the comedy "No Hard Feelings," and Netflix's "May" was selected, although its classification as a comedy was a little confusing, as it also recognized Natalie Portman for her lead role in the film.
However, it seems that the Golden Globes have consciously or unconsciously accepted the need for broader public interest - if producers and broadcasters want viewers to tune in to award ceremonies despite declining overall viewership numbers, they must cater to the audiences' deep-seated interest.
It's worth noting that the Oscars attempted a similar move a few years ago with a Popular Film category, which it ultimately abandoned, although it was widely criticized as a yielding act to the lure of commercial success and prestige. We hope that some of the popular films will organically make their way into the nominations this time around.
The Golden Globes' approach to recognizing popular films and entertainers has yielded mixed results, and some of the organizations regarded as influential in shaping the Oscars' voting preferences, such as critic groups, likely won't embrace a more esoteric taste in films, which now often appear on streaming platforms rather than in cinemas.
This back-and-forth is also apparent in the 2023 Golden Globe nominations, with Netflix leading the way in film nominations and other streamers like Amazon and Apple TV+ gaining recognition, reflecting a desire for prestige and acknowledgment within the industry. This desire goes beyond financial considerations.
In short, those who flocked to "Barbie" this summer likely won't be disappointed if they tune into the Golden Globes in hopes of seeing their favorite films represented.
This change won't put an end to the Golden Globes' past issues or address the myriad factors contributing to the awards ceremony's poor reputation, including the length of the presentations and the editing standard that prevents many from watching them for hours at a time.
However, award ceremonies themselves carry business risks, as they impede the audience's ability to accept their offerings. The real trick, from a strategic perspective, is in selecting who to invite to the party and who ultimately reaps the benefits of the gathering.
