Why We Have a Methodology Page
Entertainment numbers are easy to quote badly. A figure can be correct and still be misleading if the period, geography or definition has been left out.
This page explains how GYOnlineNG handles the numbers that appear in our reporting and analysis.
Define the Measure First
Before comparing two figures, we ask what each figure actually measures.
In cinema, that can mean gross ticket revenue, paid admissions or average ticket price. In streaming, it might mean streams, subscribers, views, watch time, licensing income or artist royalties. Those are different measurements and we do not treat them as interchangeable.
State the Scope
We try to identify the country or market being measured and the period covered. A Nigeria total is not the same thing as a Sub-Saharan Africa total. A calendar-year figure is not directly comparable with a partial-year figure unless the difference is made clear.
Show the Calculation
When an article calculates a percentage, ratio or average from published figures, the calculation should be possible to reconstruct from the numbers shown.
For example, when we discuss average cinema ticket price, the basic calculation is gross box office divided by paid admissions. The point is not to make the number look precise. The point is to let the reader see where it came from.
When Sources Disagree
Public entertainment datasets do not always line up. Different organisations may use different cut-off dates, categories, reporting rules or revised figures.
When two sources conflict, we do not quietly pick the number that makes the stronger headline. We identify the disagreement where it matters and make the narrower claim that the available evidence can support.
Primary Sources First
Where possible, we start with the underlying material: official reports, filings, published data, regulatory documents, company statements and direct interviews. Secondary reporting can add context, but it is not automatically treated as equivalent to a primary record.
What the Numbers Do Not Prove
A large gross does not establish profit. Higher revenue does not automatically establish a larger audience. A large stream count does not, by itself, establish an artist’s earnings.
Numbers describe a measurement. The meaning comes from the definition, timing, business model and surrounding evidence.
Research Tools
Software can help us organise a large amount of material or suggest questions to investigate. It does not turn an unverified claim into a fact.
We do not use a generated citation as a substitute for the source it claims to represent. Quantitative claims, quotations and important factual statements are checked against the underlying material before publication.
Updates and Corrections
Data pages can change when a source revises a dataset, when a better primary source becomes available, or when we find an error in our own calculation.
When a change materially affects the conclusion, the article should be updated rather than allowing an outdated number to stand simply because it was published first.
Our editorial principles are set out in Editorial Standards.