The Game Changers and the 6 Underperformers: Unveiling the Top 11 Influential Figures in Media and Technology for 2023

2023 brought monumental changes to the industry.

The disruption caused by technological advancements and media shifts challenged the leadership of prominent executives, while also propelling new influential figures into the spotlight. We conducted a survey of the media and technology industries to highlight 11 significant individuals who made impactful decisions in 2023. Below is a non-comprehensive list of leaders who have played a major role in shaping the global landscape of communication, information, and entertainment.

Sam Altman: At the end of last year, Sam Altman was relatively unknown to most of the world. However, in just one year, the founder of OpenAI has become one of the most influential executives globally. The technology behind his firm's ChatGPT tool has captivated the public, excited Wall Street, disrupted Silicon Valley, impacted Hollywood, and sparked concerns among observers worldwide. The recent boardroom drama at OpenAI has generated a flurry of headlines, and world leaders have convened urgent meetings to discuss the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology. The decisions made by Altman as the head of OpenAI could potentially determine the trajectory of a significant threat to humanity.

Taylor Swift: Throughout the year, Taylor Swift has commanded widespread attention with her music, nationwide tour, and a successful concert film. Her impact was such that the Federal Reserve attributed an economic boost to her influence. Described as the "main character of the world" in TIME's 2023 person of the year feature, Swift's presence has been undeniably significant.

Elon Musk: Despite his attempts to be the world's central figure, Musk's controversial behavior and social media presence have led to a decline in public support and an undermining of his company's success.

David Zaslav: As a new player in Hollywood, Zaslav has made bold moves to revamp the media landscape, launching the Warner Bros. Discovery's MAX streaming service and forging innovative partnerships with competitors. However, he has faced criticism and challenges along the way, but remains a central figure in shaping the industry's future.

Bob Iger: As CEO of the Magic Kingdom, Iger has faced significant challenges and worked to position Disney as a media company of the future. He has made significant moves, including acquiring Comcast's stake in Hulu and setting ESPN up for a direct-to-consumer future. Despite facing challenges and criticism, Iger's decisions have had a significant impact on the media industry.

Steve Bannon: As host of the "War Room," Bannon is a key figure in the far-right media space. His extremist rhetoric often sets the agenda and influences narratives adopted by Donald Trump and his allies. Despite not having the largest platform, he plays a crucial role in shaping media discussions.

Greta Gerwig solidified her status as a force in the entertainment industry with her blockbuster "Barbie," surpassing the success of her acclaimed projects "Little Women" and "Lady Bird." The film's global ticket sales exceeded $1.4 billion, breaking records at the box office and placing Gerwig, alongside Swift and Beyoncé, at the forefront of the wave of female-led successes over the summer.

In 2023, while Mark Zuckerberg remains the face of Meta, Adam Mosseri, as the boss of Instagram, made significant strides in expanding his influence. Overseeing Meta's X competitor, Threads, Mosseri played a crucial role in shaping the platform and navigating critical policy decisions, making him a prominent figure in the public eye. However, Mosseri also faced unflattering news coverage, with outlets like The Wall Street Journal highlighting disturbing traits of Instagram's powerful algorithm, serving as a reminder of the significant influence he holds as the executive in charge of Meta properties.

Kara Swisher is a well-known and highly respected journalist in the media and tech sectors, often revered and feared by top executives. She has millions of followers and shares important insights into major news stories, and isn't afraid to challenge powerful figures. Despite her direct style, Swisher continues to secure top-notch interviews at events and on her numerous podcasts, showcasing her widespread respect in the industry.

In recent years, Janice Min and Jon Kelly have significantly influenced the media consumption habits of those involved in the entertainment industry. While Hollywood professionals have traditionally focused on the major Hollywood trade publications, The Ankler and Puck have become essential sources for industry news, providing crucial reporting on and for the top figures in show business.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO, X/Twitter speaks onstage during Vox Media's 2023 Code Conference at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel on September 27, 2023 in Dana Point, California.

The Losers: It was a tough year for several prominent industry leaders. Some were let go, while others suffered damage to their reputations. A few also faced major setbacks that could challenge their companies' dominance. Here are six individuals who had a particularly difficult year.

Linda Yaccarino: Has any executive so quickly and publicly destroyed their reputation like Yaccarino? The once-respected NBCUniversal advertising chief moved over to X where she tarnished the sterling reputation she had built over decades of hard work. Yaccarino, who holds the title of X chief executive, has taken on the role of Elon Musk's spokesperson, becoming the public face for the billionaire's controversial decisions and often unacceptable behavior as he embraces conspiracy theories. Yaccarino's friends in the advertising business urged her to leave after Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory, but Yaccarino chose to stay, further damaging her public standing.

Rupert Murdoch: Murdoch had a less-than-ideal year with 787 million reasons to regret. The Fox boss was forced to pay a historic fortune to settle a damning lawsuit brought against his right-wing cable network by Dominion Voting Systems. The lawsuit brought even more shame to Murdoch and his team, who were revealed to have known that Donald Trump's election lies were false, despite broadcasting them to millions of loyal viewers. It also revealed that Murdoch had lost control of the right-wing media universe he once ruled, with emails showing he was fearful of Trump's army of supporters. In addition, Murdoch had to scrap plans to reunite News Corporation with Fox Corporation and faced an overall terrible year, which ended with him handing over the keys to his son Lachlan as he transitioned to chairman emeritus of his companies.

Tucker Carlson, once seen as untouchable at Fox News, was unexpectedly fired by Murdoch in April with no explanation. Consequently, Carlson's influence dramatically decreased without the prominent platform he had been given. After his firing, he turned to vlogging on X and claimed to launch a "streaming network." However, it was essentially a collection of his videos being sold at a high price to his fans.

Chris Licht, who took over as CNN boss, had initially been well-received by the public, but by the end of his short-lived tenure, he had lost all goodwill. Licht's one-year tenure was marked by layoffs, shrinking profits, low ratings, the firing of two anchors, and low employee morale. His downfall was cemented by a scathing 15,000-word profile in The Atlantic, casting serious doubt on his ability to lead the organization. Ultimately, his boss, David Zaslav, agreed, leading to Licht's public firing and exile from the WBD kingdom.

Kevin Feige: Marvel Studios, once known for consistently producing billion-dollar hits loved by both fans and critics, saw their reputation take a hit in 2023. "The Marvels", with a budget of over $200 million, flopped at the box office and received negative reviews. And earlier in the year, "Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" was harshly criticized by reviewers. On top of this, Marvel had to remove Jonathan Majors from his role as the main villain in the next phase of the MCU after he was found guilty of harassment and assault. These events have placed Marvel, under Feige's leadership, in a difficult position, despite its history as one of the most successful studios in Hollywood.

Sundar Pichai: Google, which has long operated without significant competition, faced an unexpected challenge in 2023 with the rapid rise of OpenAI. This has led the tech giant to make significant efforts to catch up. Pichai, recognizing a potential threat to Google's dominant search product, announced Gemini late in the year, but the product did not meet the high expectations set for it. Additionally, Google is facing antitrust challenges, having lost a major trial to Epic Games and battling the Department of Justice in a separate lawsuit. These legal battles have shed light on Google's practices, revealing a less than favorable picture.