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There is no consensus in the literature about how successful media clusters can be developed. Using insights from workshops and survey data, this study develops and tests a new model that explains why media activities agglomerate at certain places. The model consists of four economic drivers: urbanization, localization, agglomeration and perception economies. The findings emphasize that a one-size-fits-all policy regarding media cluster development is best avoided, due to the high levels of heterogeneity in the conditions for success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is the clustering of audio-visual companies in London's Soho really the same as the clustering of Berlin's new media industry? The media cluster approach has gained a lot of attention not only in academia, but also in political discourse. But, as appealing as the media cluster concept is, one of the most fundamental issues is the comparability of the phenomenon. This article tackles this issue and an analysis of 43 case studies has been conducted. The case studies have been grouped to find a new typology for media clusters. The research revealed six different types: The Creative Region, the Giant Anchor, the Specialized Area, the Attracting Enabler, the Real Estate and the Pooling Initiative. The typologies showed that they distinguish especially in their geographical scale and specialization in media activities, while at the same time cluster types can be found in the same area. They are driven by four rationales: agglomeration, urbanization, localization economies and artificial formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A push by governments to foster the development of local media clusters is currently taking place. This newly emerged focus is responsible for cities, regions, nations and scholars investing in better understanding media clusters. Yet, there is no common method for mapping the phenomenon in terms of key variables. This article proposes a framework in which empirical observations as well as theoretical considerations can be placed to fill the gap. The framework consists of seven parameters: place, proximity, population, profile, path-dependency, policy and performance. These parameters unite several heterogeneous approaches towards media clusters into one common analysis framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]