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Top 100 Media Trends in 2018

From Wage Gap Magazines to Fake News Video Games

— January 13, 2019 — Marketing
The top 2018 media trends reveal plenty of experimentation and crossovers between formats, as well as blurred lines between traditional and digital media. Over the past year, there have been countless clothing collections inspired by media, including everything from 'Wikipedia Collection' apparel to capsules to accompany new magazine releases. Consumers can now experience aspects of the online media world through various exhibitions, short film festivals and tangible magazines.

In the year to come, consumers can expect to see more virtual reality Hollywood films, TV advertisements powered by artificial intelligence, computer-created 3D virtual influencers, as well as creative new projects from brands like record labels and other experimental media ventures. As seen in 2018, some of the themes that will be carried forward include explorations of authenticity, empowerment, truth and the fight against "fake news."

For more media innovations in the year ahead, check out Trend Hunter's 2019 Trend Report.
5.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
99
Collaborative Hip-Hop Scores
Collaborative Hip-Hop Scores
The Black Panther Soundtrack Features Music by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
<
98
Food-Centric Comics
Food-Centric Comics
Anthony Bourdain's 'Hungry Ghosts' is a Four-Part Comic Book Series
<
97
Villainous Halloween Tea Parties
Villainous Halloween Tea Parties
Disneyland’s Steakhouse 55’s Halloween Tea is Based on Villains
<
96
Engaging Digital Book Alternatives
Engaging Digital Book Alternatives
Yarn Offers Entertaining Chat & Text Stories to Digital Nomads
<
95
Failed Baking Shows
Failed Baking Shows
Netflix's 'Nailed It' Celebrates Earnest Efforts in the Kitchen
<
94
VR-Based Hollywood Films
VR-Based Hollywood Films
'The Humanity Bureau' Will Be Releasing in Virtual Reality First
<
93
Branded Kid-Friendly Radios
Branded Kid-Friendly Radios
Build-A-Bear Radio Shares Music, Interviews and News Content for Kids
<
92
Free Legal Streaming Services
Free Legal Streaming Services
Tubi TV Offers Thousands of Films at No Cost to Users
<
91
Cinematic Pizza-Flavored Fries
Cinematic Pizza-Flavored Fries
Wendy’s First Kitchen Japan Now Offers Pizza-Flavored Fries
<
90
Design-Centric Video Series
Design-Centric Video Series
TED's 'Small Thing Big Idea' is an All-New Original Series
<
89
Screen-Blocking Sunglasses
Screen-Blocking Sunglasses
The IRL Glasses Rethink How We Interact with Technology
<
88
Algorithmic Music-Discovery Platforms
Algorithmic Music-Discovery Platforms
Noiseblend is a Personalized Playlist Generator
<
87
Wage Gap Magazines
Wage Gap Magazines
Maclean’s Magazine is Asking Men to Pay More for Its Latest Issue
<
86
Protective Private Home Servers
Protective Private Home Servers
Helm and New Deal Design Set Out to Protect One's Information
<
85
Superhero Sequel Pop-Up Bars
Superhero Sequel Pop-Up Bars
Deadpool 2 Pop-Up Bars are Coming to Brooklyn and Los Angeles
<
84
AR Olympics Reviews
AR Olympics Reviews
The New York Times is Offering Augmented Reality Sports Coverage
<
83
Subconscious-Led TV Series
Subconscious-Led TV Series
The #WarGames Interactive TV Show on Eko is Inspired by Video Games
<
82
Mystery Teen Podcasts
Mystery Teen Podcasts
Lethal Lit Hopes to Draw More Teenagers to the Podcast Genre
<
81
AI-Powered eSports Apps
AI-Powered eSports Apps
The Blink Mobile eSports Platform Uses AI to Highlight Clips for Sharing
<
80
Streaming Service Assistants
Streaming Service Assistants
M&M's 'Red Recommends' Amazon Alexa Skill Suggests What to Watch
<
79
Long-Form Video Platforms
Long-Form Video Platforms
Instagram Launched IGTV for Creators as a Mobile Video Network
<
78
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure TV Shows
Choose-Your-Own-Adventure TV Shows
Netflix is Planning to Offer Deeper TV Immersion for Audiences
<
77
Live-Action Evasion Games
Live-Action Evasion Games
Endemol Shine UK Recreated Its Channel 4 'Hunted' Show as an Experience
<
76
Synthesized Retro Bands
Synthesized Retro Bands
Cubs Refrain Repurposes 80s Synthpop for a Uniquely Refreshed Analog Sound
<
75
Disney-Inspired Bottomless Brunches
Disney-Inspired Bottomless Brunches
'When You Wish Upon A Brunch' Takes Place at The Aeronaut
<
74
3D Printed Violins
3D Printed Violins
College Student Sean Riley 3D Printed a Functioning Six String Violin
<
73
GIF-Centric Film Festivals
GIF-Centric Film Festivals
The GIPHY Film Festival Explores Stories Told in Just 18 Seconds
<
72
Pop Super Hero Collaborations
Pop Super Hero Collaborations
Celine Dion's Ashes Video Promotes the Upcoming 'Deadpool 2'
<
71
Internet Media Exhibitions
Internet Media Exhibitions
'New Genres: Video in the Internet Age' Examines New Culture
<
70
Politically Informed Fashion Ads
Politically Informed Fashion Ads
SHOOP's Collection is Accompanied by a Playful Fake News Ad
<
69
Filmic Anniversary Shoes
Filmic Anniversary Shoes
PF Flyer's Sandlot Anniversary Series Celebrates the Movie's 25th Year
<
68
Female Leader Magazine Covers
Female Leader Magazine Covers
TIME's Cover Features Women Running in 2018 Elections
<
67
Ethiopian Movie Theater Menus
Ethiopian Movie Theater Menus
Alamo Drafthouse is Pairing Ethiopian Dishes with Black Panther
<
66
Festive Disney Gummies
Festive Disney Gummies
Sugarfina and Disney Just Released a New Mickey Mouse Collection
<
65
Food Channel Product Brands
Food Channel Product Brands
'Food Network Kitchen Inspirations' is a Line of Sauces & Meal Kits
<
64
High-Definition Vinyl Records
High-Definition Vinyl Records
Rebeat Innovation is Redefining Vinyl with Precision Quality
<
63
AI TV Advertisements
AI TV Advertisements
Channel 4 Now Lets Broadcasters Place Ads Based on Relevant Scenes
<
62
Fake News Video Games
Fake News Video Games
'Bad News' Hopes to Stop Misinformation By Teaching People How It Works
<
61
Movie-Inspired Milkshakes
Movie-Inspired Milkshakes
Black Tap Has Debuted a Mean Girls-Inspired Milkshake for October 3rd
<
60
Arm Cuff Novelty Cups
Arm Cuff Novelty Cups
Disneyland's Infinity Gauntlet Cup is Something That Even Thanos Would Enjoy
<
59
Collaborative Rapper Campaigns
Collaborative Rapper Campaigns
Axe & SoundCloud Introduced Axe The Label to Help Emerging Artists
<
58
Board Game Livestreams
Board Game Livestreams
Big Potato Games is Sharing Tabletop Gaming on Twitch
<
57
Motivational Male-Focused Digital Platforms
Motivational Male-Focused Digital Platforms
The BroBible is a Community-Driven Platform for Males
<
56
Hyper-Realistic Humanoid Robots
Hyper-Realistic Humanoid Robots
NOW TV Created Fred the Robot for Westworld's Second Season
<
55
Eco-Friendly High-Fashion Practices
Eco-Friendly High-Fashion Practices
Burberry Makes Moves Toward a More Sustainable Process
<
54
Musical-Inspired Dinner Parties
Musical-Inspired Dinner Parties
An Immersive Mamma Mia Restaurant is Coming to London's O2 Arena
<
53
Senior Sitcom Breakfast Cereals
Senior Sitcom Breakfast Cereals
The Golden Girls Cereal helps consumers relive the hit show
<
52
AR Movie Posters
AR Movie Posters
Facebook’s AR Target Tracker Effects Enhance Movie Logos, Images and More
<
51
AR Cartoon Home Experiences
AR Cartoon Home Experiences
Samsung's 'Doorways' Shows Smart Products in the Family Guy Home
<
50
Pop Song-Inspired Phone Cases
Pop Song-Inspired Phone Cases
The Beyoncé Phone Cases on eBay are Creative, Fierce and Chic
<
49
Massive Mouse-Eared Cakes
Massive Mouse-Eared Cakes
Sam's Club is Selling a Three-Tiered Mickey Mouse Cake
<
48
Publication-Celebrating Streetwear Lines
Publication-Celebrating Streetwear Lines
Only NY Pays a Stylish Homage to New York Magazine's 50th
<
47
Cartoon-Themed Burger Kits
Cartoon-Themed Burger Kits
Blue Apron is Sharing Recipe Kits Inspired by Bob's Burgers
<
46
Print Magazine Clothing Collections
Print Magazine Clothing Collections
Places+Faces Created a Magazine Merchandise Collection
<
45
Magazine Headline T-Shirts
Magazine Headline T-Shirts
New York Magazine's The Cut is Now Selling Merchandise on Amazon
<
44
Skeletal Party Supplies
Skeletal Party Supplies
The Disney Store Has Debuted a New Nightmare Before Christmas Collection
<
43
Coffee Culture Magazines
Coffee Culture Magazines
'Pour Over' is a Magazine from Plant-Based Drink Brand Califia Farms
<
42
Uplifting Website Magazines
Uplifting Website Magazines
HelloGiggles Magazine is a Tangible Version of the Online Community
<
41
Wizardly Chocolate Wands
Wizardly Chocolate Wands
Jelly Belly's New Harry Potter Treats are a Muggle’s Dream Come True
<
40
Subscription Box Live Shows
Subscription Box Live Shows
FabFitFun Live is a QVC-Style Show for Its Subscription Box Contents
<
39
Celebratory Custom Jacket Designs
Celebratory Custom Jacket Designs
Alpha Industry Nods to Playboy with Latest Drop of Jackets
<
38
Immigrant-Centric Mixed-Media Exhibits
Immigrant-Centric Mixed-Media Exhibits
Space_31's 'Diaspora, Ma Homey' Explores Immigrant Identity
<
37
Disney Villain Face Masks
Disney Villain Face Masks
Firebox's New Sheet Masks Can Transform You into a Disney Villain
<
36
WOC Beauty Tutorials
WOC Beauty Tutorials
BET Networks and Beautycon are Sharing Diverse Beauty Looks
<
35
Whiskey Brand Podcasts
Whiskey Brand Podcasts
Jack Daniel's is Launching a Branded Podcast Called 'Around the Barrel'
<
34
80s Sci-Fi-Inspired Candies
80s Sci-Fi-Inspired Candies
IT’SUGAR Launched a Stranger Things Candy Collection
<
33
Cult Film-Referencing Streetwear
Cult Film-Referencing Streetwear
Raf Simons Dropped a Capsule Inspired by Christiane F.'s Film
<
32
Intergalactic Theme Park Cantinas
Intergalactic Theme Park Cantinas
Oga's Cantina is Set to Serve Booze and Otherworldly Dishes
<
31
Social Sci-Fi Card Games
Social Sci-Fi Card Games
This Game Makes the Black Mirror 'Nosedive' Episode Playable in Real Life
<
30
VR Airline Entertainment Systems
VR Airline Entertainment Systems
The Alaska Airlines VR Lets Passengers View 360-Degree Films
<
29
Retro-Futuristic Art Exhibitions
Retro-Futuristic Art Exhibitions
Low Bros' '98 Windows' is About the Future & Past of Technology
<
28
Podcast Creation Apps
Podcast Creation Apps
The Anchor App Has Undergone a Redesign to Focus on Podcast-Making
<
27
Authentic Beauty Campaigns
Authentic Beauty Campaigns
CVS' Unretouched 'Beauty in Real Life' Sets New Beauty Standards
<
26
Photo-Friendly Purple Slushies
Photo-Friendly Purple Slushies
Disney World's New Purple Wall Slush Drink Matches Its Purple Wall
<
25
Kid-Centric Newspaper Editions
Kid-Centric Newspaper Editions
The New York Times Kids Edition is Set to Be a Permanent Staple
<
24
Virtual Magazine Makeup Try-Ons
Virtual Magazine Makeup Try-Ons
Cosmopolitan Magazine Now Offers a Try-On Feature for Beauty Looks
<
23
Iconic Cartoon Character Donuts
Iconic Cartoon Character Donuts
Krispy Kreme Australia is Now Offering The Simpsons D'ohnut
<
22
Drag Queen Chatbots
Drag Queen Chatbots
VH1's 'Sissy That Bot' Engages & Entertains RuPaul's Drag Race Fans
<
21
Comic-Inspired Museum Exhibits
Comic-Inspired Museum Exhibits
The 'Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes' Exhibit Shows Comic History
<
20
Prehistoric Cafe Menus
Prehistoric Cafe Menus
Japan's Jurassic World Cafe Celebrates the New Film
<
19
Immersive Theater Hats
Immersive Theater Hats
Poptheatr is a Focus-Enhancing Personal Theater You Wear On Your Head
<
18
Zombie-Themed Drawing Classes
Zombie-Themed Drawing Classes
Fox Styled a Life Drawing Class as a Walking Dead Promotion
<
17
Fierce Ethnic Women Photoshoots
Fierce Ethnic Women Photoshoots
Danai Gurira Stars in a Women of Color Editorial by ROGUE Mag
<
16
Disney-Branded Homewares Stores
Disney-Branded Homewares Stores
The New Disney Home Store Sells Glassware, Kitchen Goods, and More
<
15
Home-Style Movie Events
Home-Style Movie Events
Bumble and HBO's 'Stay Home' Activation Played Up Indoor Comforts
<
14
Wizardly Home Decor Collections
Wizardly Home Decor Collections
Pottery Barn's New Harry Potter Collection is Magical
<
13
TV-Inspired Comic Book Covers
TV-Inspired Comic Book Covers
These Covers Show the Netflix Original Black Mirror in a New Medium
<
12
Licensed Horror Collectibles
Licensed Horror Collectibles
Trick or Treat Studios Will be Making the First Official Chucky Doll
<
11
Charming Cartoon Cat Cafes
Charming Cartoon Cat Cafes
The New Hello Kitty Grand Cafe is Set to Open in Irvine, California
<
10
Online Encyclopedia-Inspired Apparel
Online Encyclopedia-Inspired Apparel
The Wikipedia Collection by Advisory Board Crystals is Chic
<
9
Short-Form Video Apps
Short-Form Video Apps
TikTok and Musical.ly Build a Platform That Enables Creativity & Expression
<
8
Streaming Service Pop-Up Exhibitions
Streaming Service Pop-Up Exhibitions
Netflix's 'Because You Watched' Lets Fans Step Into Show Sets
<
7
Fictitious Brand-Representing Influencers
Fictitious Brand-Representing Influencers
Lil Wavi is a Digital Human with a Scandalous Attitude
<
6
Chic Hyper-Realistic Digital Avatars
Chic Hyper-Realistic Digital Avatars
Bermuda is the Fully Digitized Entity Behind @Bermudaisbae
<
5
Quirky Social Media Illustrations
Quirky Social Media Illustrations
Burnt Toast Creative Injects Skepticism in Cheerful Compositions
<
4
Retro Arcade Game-Inspired Fashion
Retro Arcade Game-Inspired Fashion
Hermetic Square Embraces Nostalgic Fashion with Trippy Lookbook
<
3
TV Family Floor Plans
TV Family Floor Plans
Harvey's Furniture Suggests TV-Inspired Pop Culture Inspirations for Design
<
2
Empowering Lifestyle Entertainment Companies
Empowering Lifestyle Entertainment Companies
Kin Delivers Content to Motivated Women
<
1
Nostalgic Cartoon Street Apparel
Nostalgic Cartoon Street Apparel
ASOS Design and The Simpsons Joined for a Collaborative Range
<