Amazon MGM Studios will soon join the Motion Picture Assn., the lobby organization of the major Hollywood studios announced on Thursday.
The Seattle-based tech and retail giant, which distributes content through its Amazon MGM cinema arm and its Prime Video streaming service, will officially become the MPA’s seventh member on October 1. Amazon has supported the MPA’s anti-piracy efforts as a board member of the organization’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment.
Amazon is the second technology company after Netflix to receive representation on the MPA, another sign of Hollywood’s ongoing efforts to find new ways to reach its audiences – especially streaming.
The MPA – which has always advocated for traditional film factories to produce films for theatrical release – caused a stir in 2019 when it welcomed Netflix into its ranks.
In addition to Netflix, the organization currently represents Disney, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery.
“The MPA is the global voice of a growing and evolving industry. The addition of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios to our ranks will expand our collective efforts to shape policy and protect content on behalf of our most innovative and creative companies,” said Charles Rivkin, MPA chairman and CEO, in a statement.
“MPA studios fuel local economies, foster job creation, enrich cultures and strengthen communities wherever they operate. With Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios joining our roster of exceptional members, MPA will give an even greater voice to the world’s greatest storytellers.”
Amazon, which entered the film scene in 2015 with Spike Lee’s “Chi-Raq,” is known for releasing titles such as “Manchester by the Sea,” “Challengers,” “American Fiction,” “Saltburn” and “One Night in Miami …”
The company solidified its presence in the film industry when it purchased the storied film and television studio MGM in 2022. Prior to the acquisition, MGM was a member of the MPA from 1928 to 2005.
“Amazon’s mission is to entertain customers around the world with exciting movies and television shows,” said Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, in a statement. “To do that, we must support storytellers while helping to sustain a robust entertainment industry that works for both studios and our creative partners.”
