Business

Making it in America

Steve Tobak over at CBS MoneyWatch has this to say about achieving the American Dream (whatever that actually is) … and just in case you’re wondering it most certainly doesn’t involve dreaming.

Business

This is why recorded music is in a hole

Video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 "established a new five-day sell-through record of more than $US775 million" worldwide according to a report in the Fairfax media.

Startup

Using technical proficiency as an excuse for not shipping

In another exemplary post, Seth Godin considers a frequent failing of many who use technical proficiency as an excuse for not shipping.

Music Business

To stream tunes, or to buy?

According to a report from Digital Music News, users of Spotify tend not to purchase music. This is hardly surprising.

Business

Content ain't king, and neither is distribution

In 1996 when considering the future of the internet Bill Gates famously wrote that 'content is king'. Meanwhile others argue in 2011 that 'distribution is king'. In 2012 the only king of the internet is attention.

Principles

The paradox of expectations and 1% change

Two posts about expectations interested me. One about the paradox of expectations, and the other about incremental change and expectations.

Business

Can you handle the truth?

In a recent post titled Neil Patel blogged about the need to be able to openly receive the 'truth' if we’re to grow a business. Be on the lookout for false prophets.

Music Business

Steve Stoute interviews Jimmy Iovine

Steve Stoute interviews Interscope's Jimmy Iovine about Rolling Stone magazine's first hip hop cover.

Music Business

Steve Stoute interviews Jay-Z

Steve Stoute, author of The Tanning of America, and music biz and advertising supremo, talks with Jay-Z.

Year With No Beer

A Year With No Beer, Redux #YWNB

This year I conducted a social experiment on myself. I decided to not consume alcohol to see what impact it had on my life. Would any problems be solved?

Creativity

Knowing when to abandon great art

Great art is never complete, only abandoned. Knowing when to abandon our art and offer it up to the world is the most important lesson the creator has to learn.

Creativity

In-built mediocrity and letting go

Being good enough is pretty easy. We don't need to strive to better ourselves each and every day. It's safe. Goals are achieved. Progress is made. No-one really gets hurt. Except of course that's not true.

Creativity

Context vs Content

Two of my favorite, long-running TV shows ended this year: HBO’s Entourage and the BBC’s Spooks. I recently re-watched the first series of both programs and was struck by the vibrancy and intensity of each. It didn't last.

Music Business

Spotify is financial death by a trillion streams

Streaming will turn recorded music into a nickel and dime game, which will only work for multinational aggregated rights owners.

Publishing

Seth Godin on author scarcity and souvenirs

The future of books lies in amateur authors, together with the few superstars with a big enough tribe to earn significant advances and royalties.

Business

Rethinking to-do lists

We all have stuff that needs to be done, and keeping it together is clearly difficult enough to warrant the existence of a gigantic to-do list industry.

Marketing

How the Buddha solved his marketing problem

When you think of the Buddha, you don't think of marketing. But if we agree with Seth Godin that marketing is about spreading ideas, then you could say the Buddha was one of the greatest marketers of all time.

Year With No Beer

180 days down in my Year With No Beer #YWNB

Today is my 180th day with no booze! It’s actually been really easy and so I’m setting a new challenge for the second half of 2011: daily exercise. I think it’s going to be much harder to achieve.

Publishing

Ingram brings Print-On-Demand to Australia

Ingram Content launched their print-on-demand biz Lightning Source in Australia today. It’s no small thing either and will dramatically impact how indie publishers run their national supply chain.

Publishing

Seth Godin on game theory and free

Very important blog post from Seth Godin today, The game theory of discovery and the birth of the free-gap. It’s a must read.

Business

Offices of work and Microsoft

With business growth comes the need to find new office space. I am not so sure anymore. Why does anyone involved in the creative industries need to be confined to a cubical any more?

Music Business

The recorded music biz 2000 vs 2010

Interesting series of charts from Digital Music News (love your work PR!) breaking down recorded music revenues by format. Here’s a couple of charts, and for the full set go to the DMN site.

Publishing

Can a free book be a bestseller?

Can a book given away for free can actually be a bestseller? Does the consideration for the sale have to be greater than zero?

Marketing

The future of artist management

The future of performing and recording artist management is global brand management using in-market expertise. We are moving into a disaggregated world and the gatekeepers are slowly losing their powering and influence.

Music Business

Driving me crazy, and back in the music biz

A good friend called me a week ago to help him out driving at a music festival. It was great fun driving artists and execs around. Happy days.