<ul class="summary-list"><li>Killer whales near Spain and Portugal have been confronting, and even sinking, boats.</li><li>People online have called it an "orca uprising," but it may not end well for the whales.</li></ul><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/killer-whales-may-be-imitating-orca-striking-sinking-boats-researchers-2023-5">News of killer whales confronting boats</a> near the Iberian Peninsula has sparked discourse about an "orca uprising" in which the marine mammals are finally fighting back against the blight humanity has brought to the Earth's oceans — but the whole ordeal could end badly for the orcas themselves.</p><p>Orcas near Spain and Portugal first started confronting boats in 2020. Researchers have since documented hundreds of concerning encounters in which an orca either directly approached or collided with a boat. The killer whales typically approach the ship from behind and then try to strike the rudder until the boat is immobilized.</p><p>Most incidents have caused minimal damage and no human has yet been injured. But in three separate cases, the whales have caused <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/orca-killer-whale-attack-boat-expert-advice-2023-5">sailboats to sink</a>.</p><p>Much of the internet has been fascinated by the whales' strange behavior. People online have joked the killer whales are <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/1669003301281738752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1669003301281738752%7Ctwgr%5E530b584a8665625a517c4e03e9af36d0c19bb85b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FQ8BrV2e%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"orcanizing"</a> an <a href="https://twitter.com/deviIette/status/1662270716924903424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1662270716924903424%7Ctwgr%5E00dea08b6cf8be48015de1b605dafe825aa3e352%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2Fkiller-whales-orcas-increasingly-target-boats-internet-on-their-side-2023-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"orca rebellion,"</a> with many social media users <a href="https://twitter.com/trevorcumbo/status/1667619906135752706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1667619906135752706%7Ctwgr%5E59610a7314889b26d7fc89981b648d6d5c17d611%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vice.com%2Fen%2Farticle%2Fm7bbnn%2Forca-uprising-attacking-boats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rooting for the whales</a>. In reality, the explanation is likely a lot less Hollywood-like.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Earth Liberation Studio (@EarthStvdio) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1661431641892601857">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote><p>Experts agree the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-killer-whales-orcas-attack-sink-boats-2023-6">killer whales are likely engaging in playful behavior</a>, not seeking out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/killer-whales-may-be-imitating-orca-striking-sinking-boats-researchers-2023-5">revenge</a>. And so far the behavior of targeting boats is only being displayed in the <a href="https://www.orcaiberica.org/que-son-las-orcas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">orcas near the Iberian Peninsula</a>, which includes a population of about 39 whales that is considered critically endangered.</p><p>Andrew Trites, director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, previously told Insider the behavior is also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/killer-whales-may-be-imitating-orca-striking-sinking-boats-researchers-2023-5">unlikely to spread to other orca populations</a> throughout the world's oceans any time soon.</p><p>Still, the chatter and surrounding discourse have sparked some concerns among marine biologists — for the orcas.</p><p>"Undoubtedly, the people on board these little boats feel attacked," Trites said, "but I'm concerned the choice of verbiage takes on an image of 'Jaws,' like revenge of the killer whale."</p><p>But the result could be an increase in fear of killer whales in the popular imagination, similar to what the movie "Jaws" did for sharks. </p><p>In reality, killer whales — which got their names from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/killer-whales-play-boats-califronia-same-orcas-attacked-gray-whales-2023-6">hunting other whales</a> — <a href="https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/marine-animals/are-killer-whales-dangerous-to-humans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">do not pose a significant risk of harm to humans</a>. There are no known instances of a killer whale attacking a person in the wild. While killer whales in captivity can become aggressive and have attacked their human trainers, the same behavior has not been observed outside of that context.</p><p>There's also a concern that people on boats could target orcas out of fear of being attacked.</p><p>"I am worried that people will take the situation into their own hands and use lethal or harmful tactics to try and, you know, get the whales to stop or at least you know, stop an attack at the moment," Deborah Giles, science and research director at <a href="https://www.wildorca.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Orca</a>, told <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7bbnn/orca-uprising-attacking-boats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vice</a>.</p><div type="image" title="Killer whale breaching next to a boat." height="2030" width="3142" msid="101147015" hostid="261" sizebytes="391760"></div><p>But even if boaters don't intentionally start shooting whales, encounters between whales and boats in general don't usually end well for the animals.</p><p>Thousands of whales are killed in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/09/whales-killed-passing-ships-save-alert-detection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boat collisions</a> every year. An <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/cruises-ships-break-speed-limit-protect-whales/3089966/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC Bay Area</a> investigation found hundreds of endangered whales, including humpback, gray, and fin whales, have been killed by ship strikes off the West Coast in recent years.</p><p>And for one well-known killer whale in particular, that's exactly how things ended. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/luna-orca-damage-ram-boats-killer-whales-wanted-to-socialize-2023-5">Luna, an orca off the coast of British Columbia in Canada</a> in the early 2000s, became famous for befriending humans and approaching boats, even damaging some of them in what was also likely play.</p><p>Luna's interactions with humans and boats in the Nootka Sound of Vancouver Island lasted around five years but ultimately ended in 2005 — after the animal was struck and killed by a tugboat.</p>

Who are the most likely losers of the 'orca uprising?' Sadly, the killer whales themselves.

<p><div class="image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51edb24beab8eafc0f000027-426-320/chris-golub.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Golub" style="color: #000000;" /><p class="source"><keyword id="1859888" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Studio-Orca">Studio Orca</keyword></p><p class="caption">Chris Golub</p></div></div></div>Nearly one million people listen to the music in <keyword id="319716" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chipotle">Chipotle</keyword> restaurants each day, but most have never heard of the DJ.</p>
<p>That person is Chris Golub, the founder of <a href="http://www.studioorca.com/">Studio Orca</a>, a company that creates music playlists for hospitality and <keyword id="6354851" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Retail">retail</keyword> businesses.</p>
<p>Chipotle is Studio Orca's largest client, in terms of number of locations.</p>
<p>And the Mexican fast-casual chain is pretty proud of the groove Golub, 48, creates. On its website, Chipotle <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/en-us/restaurants/the_chipotle_experience/the_chipotle_experience.aspx">boasts</a>: "We also work pretty hard to find the right music to play, because everybody knows the best parties live and die with the DJ."</p>
<p>The chain, which has more than 1,400 locations, has been working with Golub for four years<span> to create its hip atmosphere. </span></p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2699a563-f38c-1c0f-7113-d346c87dd758"><span>"What our company does is, what I like to call, creating a musical identity," Golub said. <span id="docs-internal-guid-2699a563-f38f-c187-1c86-17685f6524c7"><span>"We're sourcing out unique material that has a freshness about it and a sense of place, if you will."</span></span></span></span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Golub, who <span>called Internet radio stations and employee iPods some of the "worst decisions you could make" for retail music sources, </span>said there are days he'll listen to as many as 300 songs before finding a potential track for a client's playlist. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Unlike Internet radio stations that frequently determine song selection by genre, Studio Orca selects each song individually based its own criteria and the client. Nothing heard on traditional radio or "mainstream" is used. Tracks must fit the desired vibe of the client's space, and the studio listens for matching baselines, lyric content and recording quality of each song to ensure they pair well with each other.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>The team  scours music blogs for new material, and Golub said he attends as many as four live shows </span><span>a week in New York City to scout bands for new music.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="image-container float_right"><div class="image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5228a86569bedd1e1c8b456d-1200-924/interior-of-a-chipotle.jpeg" border="0" alt="Interior of a Chipotle" width="480" /><p class="source on-image"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Chipotle_Brandon_.jpeg">WikiMedia Commons</a></p><p class="caption">The interior of a Chipotle</p></div></div>Environment is also a factor in choosing tunes, Golub said. His team considers a retailer's whole space, down to the type of chairs and number of people it can hold.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Playlist success isn't just measured by the number of heads bobbing. </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Clients see tangible impact from the music, Golub said.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Including Golub, Studio Orca has only five employees - one of whom is part-time. He's picky about who he hires, meaning he also has to be picky about his clients.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Golub was tight-lipped when it came to discussing exactly where he scopes out music for his clients, but the music itself is no secret. Studio Orca works hard to answer inquiries about the music playing in its clients' stores. If a customer asks what song is playing, the</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> client can forward the inquiry to Studio Orca's email, and will get an answer within 48 hours.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I think it's a really cool point and one of the great things that our company does," Golub said. "</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Dude, we are music fans. We want to make our clients really happy and that'</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">s one of the ways that we go above and beyond and for us, it isn't even above and beyond."</span></p>

This Man Chooses The Music You Hear In Chipotle's 1,400 Restaurants

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US government is working to integrate 5G into technology that addresses environmental hazards.</li><li>The Navy is working with an Energy Department subsidiary on 5G tech meant to detect marine life.</li><li>Another lab is testing 5G to contain nuclear waste leaks and more efficiently dispose of bombs.</li></ul><p>In the frigid waters of Washington state's Puget Sound, the US Navy has placed sensors to detect marine mammals. If harbor seals or a pod of orcas go by, the Navy is notified so its ships and submarines can avoid the animals.</p><p>Lately, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) in Keyport, Washington, which develops advanced underwater technology, has been working alongside the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to utilize 5G, so marine mammal monitoring and other projects will become faster and more efficient.</p><p>The partner lab, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, southeast of Seattle, is the site of the 5G Innovation Studio, operated in partnership with Verizon.</p><p>The studio, which opened in 2020, operates closely with a division of the PNNL that works on Internet of Things devices and the lab's test track, where Department of Energy scientists test new technology, mainly in radiation detection. The lab collaborates with other government agencies to weave the latest 5G technology into their operations and has worked on projects ranging from underwater sensors to land-based bomb-disposal robots.</p><p>In coordination with the PNNL and the <a href="https://5goilab.com/">5G Open Innovation Lab</a>, the NUWC is working on ways for the Navy to use 5G for piloting autonomous vehicles, remote environmental monitoring, and marine-mammal detection. Brad Bittle, the principal engineer for the Undersea Test Ranges and Fleet Readiness Division at NUWC Keyport, said 5G could modernize the Navy's undersea systems without invasive environmental operations like digging trenches for underwater cables.</p><p>"We don't want to bring 4G, 3G mindsets into this," Bittle said. "We want to have a white sheet of paper that if somebody has an idea, they could plug it in and have the sandbox to try it out and really try to unleash the potential of future-generation wireless technologies."</p><p>The Navy is particularly interested in working on 5G underwater, where it could enable faster data collection and analysis, more efficient environmental monitoring, and better communication with the Navy's underwater assets.</p><p>The PNNL is also working on 5G projects with statewide agencies, like the Washington State Patrol, where the studio has discussed a 5G-upgraded bomb-disposal robot.</p><p>Typically, bomb-disposal robots work by sending a gray-scale video feed back to the human operator working to disable the explosive device, according to Scott Godwin, the director of advanced wireless communications at the PNNL. The robots are slow and top-heavy — sometimes tipping over when they hit a crack in the road. But the studio has developed a robot that's quicker and more effective because of upgraded video.</p><p>With the new robots, the operator, using a virtual-reality headset, has a 360-degree view captured by six cameras. With 5G's low latency, the operator can respond to the video feeds essentially in real time.</p><p>"This space is likely to change dramatically in the next five years," Godwin said of 5G.</p><p>The PNNL also discussed 5G solutions at the Hanford Site, a decommissioned nuclear-production complex along the Columbia River north of Richland that was used during World War II's Manhattan Project and throughout the Cold War. Hanford is also one of the largest and costliest environmental-cleanup sites in the world after radioactive and chemical waste contaminated the nearby land and groundwater.</p><p>Godwin said the 5G Innovation Studio worked on a robot that could drop between the double shells of the tanks storing nuclear waste so operators could check for leaks. Thus far, the studio has developed an initial proposal, a pilot process, and demonstrated the robot at work.</p><p>"It's these kinds of operations that haven't been possible in slower 4G or other wireless networks," Godwin said, "and this is really what's coming with 5G."</p>

Here's how the US government is developing 5G for underwater Navy sensors and bomb disposal on land

<p class="drop-cap">If you listen to <keyword id="12257531" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gus-dapperton" source="Orion">Gus Dapperton</keyword>'s <keyword id="11898471" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="music" source="Orion">music</keyword>, you'd probably imagine its creator to be polite, self-aware, and supremely chill - almost disarmingly so. You would be exactly right.</p><p>Dapperton arrived at our <keyword id="11905869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="interview" source="Orion">interview</keyword> location, a bright Japanese restaurant he selected in <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@tara.raani2/video/6978227978752871686?sender_device=pc&amp;sender_web_id=6941467851099670022&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;is_copy_url=0s_copy_url=0">Brooklyn's famously hip Bushwick neighborhood</a>, exactly on time. He made a point to shake my hand, even though I had my back to the door and hadn't risen to greet him. Then, in a move I found both strange and endearing, he took the chair next to me instead of sitting across the table.</p><p>This guileless charm is the core of Dapperton's work. Though he's ambivalent about the oft-used label "bedroom pop," he said he understands what it's trying to communicate.</p><p>Dapperton's favored blend of shimmery synths and Beach Boys-worthy guitar licks feels warm and familiar - like a dream you had long ago, or a half-awake heart-to-heart with an old friend. His writing style is reflexively candid, just as he is in real-time.</p><p>"I'm comfortable just saying whatever comes to my mind because I know I'm not going to say anything too rude," he told me over a plate of spicy tuna rolls, chopsticks poised mid-air.</p><p>But, as he explained, that comfort was learned - not intrinsic.</p><p>"In high school, I was miserably introverted. I didn't even plan on being a performer and then I kind of had to perform. Over time, I got better at it," he mused. "Somehow, I came to enjoy it."</p><p>By "had to perform," Dapperton meant that his passion and talent collided in a way that simply refused to be ignored.</p><div type="image" title="gus dapperton film photo 1" height="1600" width="2400" msid="86812767" hostid="261"></div><hr /><p class="drop-cap">Dapperton, 24, grew up as Brendan Rice in Warwick, a farm-heavy town in upstate New York. He spent most of his time skateboarding and editing videos on his computer, not auditioning for school plays or crooning at talent shows.</p><p>"My sister was always a super talented singer, but I wasn't good. I wasn't super gifted at the guitar or anything, either. I just dabbled," he explained. "When you're young, you're pushed to do the things that you're 'better' at. But I loved music."</p><p>When Dapperton was in eighth grade, his school's newly-installed computer lab presented an opportunity. His class was instructed to create a song in GarageBand, and whichever one the teachers liked best would be played on the town's radio station. Dapperton stayed late after school every day, tinkering away, determined to make sure they picked his.</p><p>They did.</p><p>"Immediately I was like, 'This is what I want to do for the rest of my life,'" he said.</p><p>Dapperton originally envisioned himself as a producer, making beats behind the scenes. But many producers also act as cowriters, and when Dapperton tried his hand at lyricism, something clicked. He began to discover his own voice, both physically and proverbially: "I realized the songs I was writing were meant for me."</p><p>As he developed his unique musical style, Dapperton used different monikers to play with a variety of genres: Spazzy McGee made "old-school hip-hop beats," Fvcking Digital whipped up electronic remixes, and Pablo Pistachio only worked with classical piano.</p><p>Gus Dapperton was the persona behind his official debut single, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjlTOqagjuY">"Moodna, Once With Grace,"</a> which he released in 2016.</p><p>The name suggests a collision of youthful simplicity and stylish panache, allowing the artist to write music that felt true to both his inside and outside. It stuck.</p><div type="image" title="gus dapperton first aid press photo" height="3000" width="1998" msid="86812772" hostid="261"></div> <div type="image" title="gus dapperton press photo" height="3000" width="1929" msid="86812775" hostid="261"></div><p>Dapperton's early releases were heavily inspired by artists like Odd Future and King Krule - fellow skater kids who had "weird voices" and no inhibitions - but he also cited supermassive stars like The Beatles, Timbaland, and Britney Spears.</p><p>"When I hear my sister sing those big pop songs, it's impossible to deny how beautiful they sound," he said. "My family would all be in the car chanting <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a> songs and stuff. I think 'Love Story' by Taylor Swift is one of my favorite songs of all time. My dad would just turn up the volume as loud as possible."</p><p>"That's why I never denied the pleasures of pop music growing up," he continued.</p><p>Indeed, Dapperton's music-making ethos is equally rooted in pop's exultant, communal power and a private individualism typically favored by singer-songwriters.</p><p>"I definitely always have the intention of sharing my music and making it for people to enjoy," he explained. "But I make songs for me, without any outside forces messing with the agenda."</p><p>Although Dapperton was courted by several major labels at the dawn of his career, he knew it wasn't time to commit to a contract. His music is currently distributed by AWAL, a division of Kobalt Music Group that <a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8482434/kobalt-awal-anti-record-label">allows artists to retain majority ownership of their music</a>.</p><blockquote class="pullquote-wrapper"><q class="pullquote-quotation">I make songs for me, without any outside forces messing with the agenda.</q></blockquote><hr /><p class="drop-cap">Superfans anxious for a spillage from Dapperton's vault will be disappointed. He estimated that he's sitting on 250 completed songs and "probably 10,000 beats."</p><p>"I make a ton of beats and then just never come back to them," he said. "Basically, every time I get up to 500 files in Logic," which is a popular music production platform, "I just get a new computer, because it stops working after that."</p><p>Even more mind-boggling: Dapperton described the bulk of his unreleased songs as catchy ear worms that will never see the light of day.</p><p>"When I see myself writing a song to be a hit, I'm like, 'I just know I'm never going to come back to this again,'" he explained. "I do those things for practice."</p><p>Dapperton revealed he's made about 40 full songs since the 2020 release of his sophomore studio album, "Orca" - not including the three new tracks on the album's deluxe version, which was released in early June.</p><div type="image" title="gus dapperton film photo 2" height="2400" width="1600" msid="86812777" hostid="261"></div><p>When I cautiously requested a peek into the new musical direction, Dapperton laughed.</p><p>"I don't really answer to anyone, so I can just talk about this," he said.</p><p>Only a small selection of those 40 songs will likely make the final cut, he revealed, but his third album is definitely taking shape. He already has the title decided.</p><p>"A couple weeks ago, I had this revelation. I have the vision. I have all the songs' names," he said, teasing a "slightly more R&amp;B and jazz-oriented" sound. "It's not <em>about</em> New York City, but it's a love letter to <em>my</em> New York City."</p><p>While "Orca" explored the cycle of depression and healing, Dapperton's forthcoming music will tackle another powerful dualism: love and fear. The two often go hand in hand, but Dapperton is oddly at peace with the turbulence. Contentedness is where he squirms.</p><p>"I wrote this poem recently for the intro, and I say this line like, 'It happens when everything is lost,'" he said. "Sometimes, when I'm so happy, I'm like, 'Well, I'm not going to make a fucking good song for a while.'"</p><p>Dapperton, who has been dating photographer Jess Farran for more than three years, described the new album's themes as "growing with love, and heartbreak, and time, and being scared of growing old, and growing old with this monotony that's healthy for you."</p><hr /><p class="drop-cap">With 2 million monthly listeners on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/6sHCvZe1PHrOAuYlwTLNH4?si=sOTi0KntRk2-U2-iuYMFQw&amp;dl_branch=1ch=1">Spotify</a>, nearly 40 million views on <a href="https://gusdapperton.lnk.to/youtubeYD">YouTube</a>, a show-stopping <a href="https://youtu.be/WzldfXlxGdc">late-night performance</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb6Scz-5YOs">a top-40 hit under his belt</a>, it seems absurd that Dapperton has only just begun to feel at home in the "indie darling" conversation - let alone that he's one of its leading voices.</p><p>"I only had about six songs out when we started touring. We had no production, no sound. It was just four of us at the time - my sister, who plays keyboards and sings, and then my bassist and my drummer," he said. "We've played all these big stages and stuff, and it's taken up until <a href="https://youtu.be/tkllCCqlhtA">this year's Lollapalooza</a> for me to feel like I finally belong there."</p><p>"I mean, I feel like I belong playing music for people, but on main stage?" he asked, his voice filled with awe as he noted: "Tyler, the Creator is headlining it later!"</p><p>That serendipity had actually struck once before - at a festival in Paris. Dapperton performed mere hours before the former Odd Future ringleader took the same stage.</p><p>"It looked like we were just some band off the street that they got, like we were busking or something," he chuckled. "But this time, I felt like we had everything prepared. I felt so comfortable up there. I was not nervous whatsoever. It was just pure joy."</p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G8G3Tcc0sns" frameborder="0"></iframe><p>After playing <a href="https://www.musicmidtown.com/">Atlanta's Music Midtown festival</a> last month<strong>,</strong> Dapperton will officially kick off his <a href="http://gusdapperton.com/tour/">North American tour</a> on October 17 in Carrboro, North Carolina. And if his sparkly eyeshadow, ever-changing hair colors, and cinematic music videos are any indication, fans are in for a full sensory experience.</p><p>"It's about individuality. It's not about trying to stand out so people listen to your music," he explained. "I want to be fashionable because fashion is an art form. I want to make good music videos because directing music videos is an art form. I want to nail a great performance because it's an art form."</p><p>"I want to put 100% into all those things. I don't want to just put 100% into music and then put 0% into everything else that I'm still choosing to immerse myself in. That's lazy."</p>

Eating sushi with Gus Dapperton, the polite king of bedroom pop

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/571109119105844d018bcea4-1769-1326/rtr2av1q.jpg" alt="Sea world orca" data-mce-source="Mathieu Belanger/Reuters" /><p class="source"><span>Mathieu Belanger/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Tillikum, a killer whale at SeaWorld amusement park, performs during the show Believe, in Orlando</p></div><p></p></div></div>SeaWorld made a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaworld-ending-killer-whales-ownership-2016-3">massive move by ending the breeding</a> of their signature orcas in March. But from a business perspective, they're not out of the woods yet.</p><p>According to Jason Bazinet at Citi, despite the revenue increases expected from the image upgrade, the theme park purveyor still has <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaworld-reasons-for-terrible-quarter-2015-11">a lot of issues to deal with</a>.</p><p>These problems, along with the now-rich valuation, should keep investors away from the stock.</p><p>"In effect, adverse Orlando trends could offset the benefits of the firm's strategic pivot," said a Friday note from Bazinet. "And, in parallel, the Street has already rewarded SeaWorld's equity. Recall, since the orca announcement, SeaWorld's equity is up ~25%. As such, we no longer like the risk-reward and are moving to the sidelines."</p><p>According to management analysis, SeaWorld's should save around $45 million from the orca transition because of declining <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaworlds-brand-damaged-online-by-harry-styles-2015-8">expenses for reputation management</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaworld-fourth-quarter-earnings-feb-25-2016-2">potential attendance increases</a>.</p><p>The move, however, also negates some of the potential gain. For instance, the shift makes SeaWorld simply a regional park, a la Six Flags, instead of a destination attraction according to Bazinet. This means that while visitors and revenue may increase from locals, the company will have fewer international and long-distance visitors.</p><p>"But, we want to assess this: If management pivots from an orca centric tourist park to a regional park, then the number of resident visitors should rise," wrote Bazinet. "But, the number of international and out-of-state visitors should fall. The key is to understand the trade-off."</p><p>In the end this trade-off will be a revenue-driver for the parks, wrote Bazinet, but the transition will not be without growing pains.</p><p>Looking at Orlando airport trends and the attendance figures after the release of the documentary Blackfish, which is widely credited with the beginning of SeaWorld's decline, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaworld-should-consider-leaving-florida-2015-9">the picture does not look bright</a>.</p><p>Here's Bazinet:</p><p style="padding-left: 60px;">We believe a 10% decrease in Orlando's attendance is possible (even assuming no share loss). And, if we assume the historical share loss, SeaWorld Orlando could see attendance declines of ~15-20%. If we assume a 10% decline in SeaWorld Orlando attendance, it would reduce revenues by ~$38 million, EBITDA by ~$28 million, FCF by ~$18 million, and total equity value by ~$3.</p><p><span>And the shift to a regional park is not the only problem. SeaWorld and Universal Studios used to gain visitors as attendance at the Disney theme parks rose. The thought being, that people on vacation would opt to spend some time at a non-Disney park for a portion of their trip. Recently, however, all of the spillover has gone to Universal instead of SeaWorld.</span></p><p>Some of the shift to Universal has been due to the "Blackfish" scandal, but some is also due to a massive wave of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/seaworld-reasons-for-terrible-quarter-2015-11">investment by Universal into their park.</a></p><p>"We believe this suggests that guests are electing to spend part of their Disney vacation at Universal rather than SeaWorld," said the note. "This is likely driven by higher capital investments at Universal." </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5711084752bcd024008bcf8b-914-586/screen shot 2016-04-15 at 11.20.13 am.png" alt="Screen Shot 2016 04 15 at 11.20.13 AM" data-mce-source="Citi" /><p class="source"><span>Citi</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Simply put, investments such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter are driving traffic away from SeaWorld, and to Universal.</p><p>So between the transition to a non-international visitors and Universal Studios gobbling up market share, SeaWorld is facing a tough few years even with the new transition.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dea-agent-when-asked-to-try-drugs-mike-vigil-deal-2016-3">EX-UNDERCOVER DEA AGENT: What I did when drug dealers asked me to try the product</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="w1MGxlMjE6hH45aq4Ag4Q590qZgMWztE" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'w1MGxlMjE6hH45aq4Ag4Q590qZgMWztE',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

CITI: SeaWorld still has a lot of problems - even without the whales

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55817fbdecad04510453bd2b-1024-768/seaworld-orca-trainer.jpg" border="0" alt="seaworld orca trainer"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gocardusa/4502544153/in/photolist-7RSHvB-pdJwjb-gnVbz-7fNvGL-b7dEV8-xBpAC-xBpe2-pUKPiV-xBok1-xBoZc-xBkrc-frwv65-8Nj1hw-xC7wz-6pQoc6-xC6Lf-xChib-bmzP4-xCghC-bprZRG-xBn7f-7RxjMm-xBrJe-8JGtLk-FMJJh-xCgmi-frx3L9-frhKu4-frwfcu-frw7fw-xC6yW-9snQoZ-frwEeA-frh9Sz-frhbGn-frgSSe-xChaX-xCh3n-xCgTj-xCgAj-xCgtt-xBUL7-xBUwb-xBTx1-xBT7s-8JKuxy-xBr2s-frvwG8-frhsW6-frwD6Q">Smart Destinations/Flickr</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>At least three analysts think the worst is over for SeaWorld.</p><p>Attendance at the animal theme park has plummeted since CNN aired the "Blackfish" documentary in 2013 that showed controversial treatment of Orcas.</p><p>In a note on Wednesday, Credit Suisse analysts wrote that consumers' feelings about the company are near a turning point:</p><p style="padding-left: 60px;">"<strong>After lengthy negative publicity around SeaWorld driven by Blackfish (and slow response from former management), we believe brand sentiment is bottoming. Our survey work suggests that while negative, online consumer sentiment appears to be stabilizing.</strong> If SEAS can start generating a positive consumer buzz and convey to customers that it's "okay" to visit SeaWorld, this should translate into pricing, attendance, and margin growth."</p><p>The analysts maintained their "Overweight" rating on the stock, with a 12-month price target of $27.</p><p>On Wednesday morning, shares were trading down less than 1% at around $20.12.</p><p>Credit Suisse's survey analyzed the sentiment in online comments about SeaWorld. The big caveat with this type of research, they noted, is that not everyone who attends SeaWorld reviews their experience on the internet, and people who do are more likely to have not had a great time.</p><p>However, it is still an "uphill climb" for the brand, the analysts wrote. Apart from the publicity from "Blackfish," the company has been plagued by poor weather, sudden ticket price hikes, and growing competition from Disney and Universal Studios, according to the analysts.</p><p>They noted that SeaWorld has embarked on an aggressive PR campaign to clean up its image.</p><p>But one that didn't go so well was the #<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23askseaworld&amp;src=typd">AskSeaWorld</a> campaign on Twitter in April; most of the negative feedback in the analysts' survey came from there. The company had hoped for a regular Q&amp;A about its animal care efforts, but people used it as a sounding board for their views.</p><p>Besides that, the analysts think the worst is over for SeaWorld.</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Here's a chart showing their research, with the amount of negative commentary falling.</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55817de7ecad04317653bd2a-1032-624/screen shot 2015-06-17 at 10.01.04 am.png" border="0" alt="Screen Shot 2015 06 17 at 10.01.04 AM"><p class="source"><span>Credit Suisse</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-encounter-rare-sperm-whale-2015-4">Watch these scientists freak out when they encounter a rare whale</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="5tcHNqdDpY3I874T5LkYK-371oQ8V8RY" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', '5tcHNqdDpY3I874T5LkYK-371oQ8V8RY',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "Studio Orca" and got 6 results

Who are the most likely losers of the 'orca uprising?' Sadly, the killer whales themselves.

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CITI: SeaWorld still has a lot of problems - even without the whales

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Analysts think the worst is over for SeaWorld

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