America Has Lost 200k of Jobs in Media, Film and the Arts. How Much Is AI?

America has lost over 200,000 jobs in creative industries over the past four years, coinciding with the rise of AI systems capable of generating digital art, music, and written content at low costs. While proving direct AI causation is difficult, the job losses are concentrated in digital sectors like film, TV, and publishing, while in-person entertainment continues to grow, suggesting AI's significant role. The movie and sound recording industry has been hit hardest, losing over 100,000 jobs—nearly a third of the sector—reaching employment levels not seen since the 2008 recession.