The proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery could create one of the largest media conglomerates in American History. Many in the creative industry have concerns around the merger, including  homogenization, jobs and whose stories get told. This merger comes at a time when funding for independent media is under increasing threat by the Trump Administration.

Hailey Tolleson, head of new works at Blackout Theatre Company in Albuquerque, is concerned about increasing difficulties in an industry with no shortage of challenges.

“I worry about how protective creative types are and it’s already hard to find jobs and get paid fairly. This is just going to make it a whole lot harder,” she said. “Not to mention I know there’s a lot of concern over, maybe, how media is manipulated.”

In the face of an increasingly homogenized media landscape, consumers may find an alternative in regional entertainment. Tolleson believes stories reflecting a local landscape may help companies like hers find new audiences.

“Even if you can’t picture Frontier or something, you can still find a spark of recognition,” she said of the iconic restaurant on Central Avenue featuring a giant John Wayne portrait, rug room and classic diner booths. “So, I think there’s a lot of stories that have a lot of specifics to them and I think those specifics are important to being told.”

The stakes are high in the ever-changing media landscape. For small theatre companies like Blackout, finances can prove more difficult than creative endeavors. Last year, the Trump Administration cancelled National Endowment for the Arts grants for hundreds of groups.

“Funding has always been a huge concern,” she said. “I get that people think maybe the arts aren’t worth it.” 

Tolleson said she remembers being on the way to rehearsal for “Menarche in the U.K.,” a queer love story, when she saw chatter on her phone about the possibility of theater companies losing money for telling queer stories. 

“Thankfully that ended up not going through,” she said. “But, yeah, just to have that threat looming — it isn’t fun on anyone.”

For its part, however, Blackout Theatre is used to operating on a shoestring budget. Plus, they aren’t aiming to compete with the giants of the industry.

“I don’t know that we’re seeing ourselves as David against the Goliath of this conglomerate,” Tolleson said. “I do think, like a lot of smaller companies like ours, there’s a certain kind of earnestness that I think just resonates with people.”

Looking ahead to her role as head of new works, Tolleson remains optimistic.

“I’m hoping we have the issue of too many good things to choose from,” she said.

As Blackout heads into its 2026 season, resistance to the Warner Brothers Discovery/ Paramount Skydance merger continues. On Monday, April 13, more than 1,000 industry professionals published a letter in opposition to the takeover.