# WAP #51 "BJ and Stern news! *sample*"

**Source:** We Are Pinball (WAP)  
**Type:** podcast_episode  
**Published:** 2026-01-07  
**Duration:** 5m 2s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wap5/episodes/WAP-51-BJ-and-Stern-news--sample-e3d9mab

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## Analysis

We Are Pinball hosts Don and Genghis discuss copyright strikes on their podcast (a 1950s Frank Sinatra cover unexpectedly triggered takedown), announce a shift to retro 8-bit/16-bit chiptune music for future episodes, celebrate early guest support and Jamie Burchill's birthday, and tease upcoming Patreon-exclusive content covering Jersey Jack Pinball and Stern Pinball news.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Sonic the Hedgehog pinball is coming later this year (2026) from Jersey Jack Pinball, designed by Steve Ritchie, based on the game not the movies — _Don states directly: 'sonic the hedgehog coming later this year' and 'it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect'_
- [MEDIUM] Jersey Jack Pinball's Sonic game reminds some people of F14 Tomcat in terms of gameplay/flow — _Genghis: 'i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat'_
- [HIGH] Beetlejuice production at a Stern facility started on Monday (first day of the new year) at the factory — _Don: 'yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production'_
- [HIGH] WAP received a copyright strike from a 1950s Frank Sinatra cover despite previously using all kinds of music without issue — _Genghis: 'i can't believe like a 1950s cover frank sinatra old song got us a copyright strike of all things all that stuff we've played so far'_
- [MEDIUM] When a podcast reaches a certain listener threshold, copyright claim bots/systems monitor the channel more actively — _Don: 'when you have a certain amount of listeners, I will, they will, they, they will come in and keep an eye on you'_

### Notable Quotes

> "sonic the hedgehog coming later this year...it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect"
> — **Don**, early segment
> _Confirms Sonic pinball 2026 release and game-based theme direction_

> "return to form for steve richie being like everything that he's done all of his knowledge all of his experience going into sonic"
> — **Don**, early segment
> _Positions Sonic as major career statement for legendary designer Steve Ritchie_

> "i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat"
> — **Genghis**, early segment
> _Insider gameplay comparison; suggests fast flow and ramp-heavy design similar to classic JJP title_

> "yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production"
> — **Don**, mid segment
> _Confirms Beetlejuice production start date at Stern facility_

> "a 1950s cover frank sinatra old song got us a copyright strike of all things all that stuff we've played so far"
> — **Genghis**, early-mid segment
> _Documents unexpected copyright enforcement targeting classical/standard music_

> "When you have a certain amount of listeners, they will come in and keep an eye on you"
> — **Don**, mid segment
> _Explains escalation of copyright enforcement at scale; relevant to creator economics_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| We Are Pinball (WAP) | organization | Pinball podcast hosted by Don and Genghis; experienced copyright strike on Patreon content |
| Don | person | Co-host of We Are Pinball podcast; has Stern Pinball news to share |
| Genghis | person | Co-host of We Are Pinball podcast; has Jersey Jack Pinball (BJ) news to share |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | game | Upcoming Jersey Jack Pinball machine designed by Steve Ritchie, based on the video game series, releasing later in 2026 |
| Beetlejuice | game | Stern Pinball machine entering production phase; first day of production was first Monday of 2026 |
| Steve Ritchie | person | Legendary pinball designer creating Sonic the Hedgehog pinball for Jersey Jack Pinball |
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer producing Sonic the Hedgehog pinball machine |
| Stern Pinball | company | Pinball manufacturer in production phase for Beetlejuice machine |
| Jamie Burchill | person | Content creator; guest on early WAP episodes; birthday celebrated on episode date (turning 39) |
| Jeff Teolis | person | Early guest on WAP (referenced as 'Jeff from Ed Pinball') |
| Retro Ralph | person | Early guest on WAP; pinball content creator |
| Kale Hernandez | person | Early guest on WAP; pinball community member |
| Kaneda | person | Early guest on WAP; described as 'anime guy from the internet' involved in Neo Geo gaming |
| F14 Tomcat | game | Classic Jersey Jack Pinball title; Sonic pinball gameplay reportedly similar in flow |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Copyright enforcement and podcast monetization, Sonic the Hedgehog pinball (Jersey Jack) design and Steve Ritchie return, Beetlejuice pinball (Stern) production status
- **Secondary:** WAP podcast growth, community support, and guest network, Retro video game music and chiptune aesthetics, Patreon exclusive content strategy

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.75) — Hosts express enthusiasm about upcoming games (Sonic, Beetlejuice), celebrate podcast milestones and community support, but frustration with unexpected copyright enforcement tempers overall tone slightly. Birthday celebration and retro music shift add levity.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** Beetlejuice production initiated at Stern factory on first Monday of 2026; manufacturing cycle beginning (confidence: high) — Don: 'yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production'
- **[community_signal]** Insider access to Sonic gameplay; people have reportedly seen the machine and compare it to F14 Tomcat, indicating test play or early access feedback circulating (confidence: medium) — Genghis: 'i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat'
- **[announcement]** Sonic the Hedgehog pinball officially confirmed for 2026 release from Jersey Jack Pinball, designed by Steve Ritchie, based on video game IP not movie franchise (confidence: high) — Don: 'sonic the hedgehog coming later this year...it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect'
- **[product_strategy]** Sonic mentioned as coming 'later this year' (2026) rather than specific earlier quarter; typical pattern of JJP delays evident (confidence: medium) — Don says 'sonic the hedgehog coming later this year' without specific month; Genghis mentions 'radcals and topper' suggesting design still in progress
- **[technology_signal]** WAP podcast forced to shift from diverse music licensing (hip-hop, rock, classical standards) to retro 8-bit/16-bit chiptune music due to copyright enforcement (confidence: high) — Genghis: 'from now on no more hip hop intros nothing It will be 60 bit 80 bit Embrace the retro'; hosts confirm unexpected Frank Sinatra strike triggered change

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## Transcript

 oh i'm digging the 80s retro vibe of these chiptunes man finding them all over youtube i had to use them for our bonus patreon show jengas how are you doing today it's thursday i'm doing great brother i'm doing good it's 2026 yeah we need to use music like this because what happened to our last show man yeah yeah you're you're retro jango after all right and i i love i love me some mega man tunes i love me some nes i'm looking i'm trying to get in the mood for sonic the hedgehog coming later this year so i'm like having a big 8 and 16 bit resurgence i love 8 and 16 bit it's the best era of gaming man i love it and having this in a pinball machine oh i'm so excited return to form for Steve Ritchie being like everything that he's done all of his knowledge all of his experience going into sonic and it's not the movies it's the game perfect perfect i hope jersey jack kills it on the radcals and the topper and i i'm hearing from people that have seen the game that it reminds them a little bit of f14 tomcat that perfect with me i mean my man I love Steve Ritchie games I love them The fast flow is just awesome And with these 180, 360 ramps, it's going to be mind-blowing. I can't wait. But this with music, Tony. I love the 8-bit intro. But our last show, it was like, it was dark outside here in Denmark. It was a snowy day. It was about Christmas. and i was like let it snow mood and you were like yeah let's use that song because once upon a time this was a small little little tiny teeny show and we could use all the songs we wanted it was so good rock tunes hip-hop everything right i can't believe like a 1950s cover frank sinatra old song got us a copyright strike of all things all that stuff we've played so far and that's what got us Yeah. Bam. And we were like that. I mean, I think I talked with some guys that were like, when you have a certain amount of listeners, I will, they will, they, they will come in and keep an eye on you. So yeah. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the listeners. But I always want to I also want to say something Donnie Yeah We were lucky you and I when we started this show we got a lot of support man That was incredible Yeah It was incredible. From the get-go, can you name all the guests we had here? Just the first year. Come on, can you name just five of them? We got Jeff from Ed Pinball. I think we got Jamie Burchill. Retro Ralph was on. Kale Hernandez. Kale Hernandez. is some guy named kaneda he's an anime guy from the internet he's in a new geo and stuff that's the first five i mean uh and we have a big list of people that wants to join and you said you said jamie jamie it's jamie's birthday today happy birthday happy birthday jamie i don't i don't have an air horn hooked up here for him but i know how much he loves man there you go jamester you take that and you enjoy birthday today young young man he he is 39 years old today so congratulations my friend so that's great doesn't look a day over 29 now it doesn't young man but yeah all the support we've got has been absolutely amazing so yeah from now on no more No more hip hop intros nothing It will be 60 bit 80 bit Embrace the retro I love it I think it a great idea or we could make some music right that costs money so possibly but you also have to have talent too so for now we'll we'll poach from uh from from available ponds yeah yeah okay donnie so this one is gonna be patreon only show it's gonna be awesome because we have some great news you start with your bj news and i continue with my stern news okay i don't i don't know how your week is going but my week is stupendous all right yesterday yesterday was monday it's the new year everybody's back at the factory it was the first day of beetlejuice production oh that was getting juicy uh head it over to patreon at patreon.com backslash we are pinball $5 gets you in the door for that entire bonus episode that you got a little a little inkling of now of course we are pin will be back with a full robust episode for everybody for the people here shortly but in the meantime there's a ton of patreon content over there and more coming soon so be a bro support the show and we'll see you on over there take care everybody

_(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 6468167f-6cde-4760-acef-93abf77a1c9a*