Sony's massive grip on entertainment history is back in the spotlight, specifically regarding its historic catalog deals. On Flagrant, guest Akon floated a theory about Michael Jackson's relationship with the conglomerate. Akon alleged that the late pop star's leverage was a threat to the board, claiming, "Like, he owned too many shares of Sony to where he controlled it." This level of corporate influence, Akon argued, made Jackson a target for industry power players.
While some hosts focus on corporate intrigue, others are laughing at Sony's consumer tech legacy. On SmartLess, co-host Jason Bateman recalled a prank he played on a passenger struggling with a car DVD player, asking him, "is that a Sony?" Bateman then convinced the passenger the device was voice-activated, telling him, "You have to say the name of the movie as you put it into the DVD player."
On the same episode of SmartLess, actor Tom Hanks shared a more nostalgic memory of Sony's hardware battles. He described the early days of home video rentals, noting how "on one side of the rental space would be VHS tapes, and on the other side would be a smaller collection of Beta, Sony Betamax."
Whether debating music catalog ownership or laughing at dead formats, the podcast world's obsession with Sony shows how deeply the conglomerate is woven into modern culture. As Sony continues to acquire massive music catalogs today, the debate over who really controls the entertainment industry is sure to keep spinning.