Comments on: Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/ Kevin Koym on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:54:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Yes, Changing the World at Exponential Entrepreneurship http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2820 Yes, Changing the World at Exponential Entrepreneurship Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:06:34 +0000 http://www.exponentialentrepreneurship.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2820 [...] Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” [...] [...] Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” [...]

]]> By: Escape the “labor-mentality” Matrix at Exponential Entrepreneurship http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2552 Escape the “labor-mentality” Matrix at Exponential Entrepreneurship Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:00:42 +0000 http://www.exponentialentrepreneurship.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2552 [...] Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” [...] [...] Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” [...]

]]> By: Kevin http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2453 Kevin Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:11:55 +0000 http://www.exponentialentrepreneurship.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2453 Thank you MJ and Michael for your post. I think that I have an answer for both of you... right now the industry is being shaped by revolutionary forces, not just evolutionary forces... it is in times of great change and great re-distribution that I think anyone can shift the dynamics in their favor- whether it be Trent Reznor- or it be some unknown artist... the main thing that I see happening is that there is a shift- where many of the incumbent companies are actually trying to resist the shift... If they were not trying to resist it- I bet that there would be less opportunity for the unknown artist... but as I mentioned in the original post- even my buddy Sean is publishing his music... but his full time job is being a software engineer. Little to no cost for publishing will allow artist to give away their music (much like we all as kids use to bootleg it anyway... ) The artist that give it away (even at zero cost) will be able to sell other merchandise- and create real revenue opportunities... Or in the case of Sean- he publishes because he wants to- his underlying behavior is social- not market driven. This social behavior (publishing music for one's friends consumption) is disrupting the existing market based companies... Trent Reznor and Oasis and Radiohead are just getting onto the bandwagon that is already leaving the station. Thank you both for your comments! Thank you MJ and Michael for your post. I think that I have an answer for both of you… right now the industry is being shaped by revolutionary forces, not just evolutionary forces… it is in times of great change and great re-distribution that I think anyone can shift the dynamics in their favor- whether it be Trent Reznor- or it be some unknown artist… the main thing that I see happening is that there is a shift- where many of the incumbent companies are actually trying to resist the shift… If they were not trying to resist it- I bet that there would be less opportunity for the unknown artist… but as I mentioned in the original post- even my buddy Sean is publishing his music… but his full time job is being a software engineer. Little to no cost for publishing will allow artist to give away their music (much like we all as kids use to bootleg it anyway… ) The artist that give it away (even at zero cost) will be able to sell other merchandise- and create real revenue opportunities… Or in the case of Sean- he publishes because he wants to- his underlying behavior is social- not market driven.

This social behavior (publishing music for one’s friends consumption) is disrupting the existing market based companies… Trent Reznor and Oasis and Radiohead are just getting onto the bandwagon that is already leaving the station.

Thank you both for your comments!

]]> By: Thousands of bloggers unite at Exponential Entrepreneurship http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2451 Thousands of bloggers unite at Exponential Entrepreneurship Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:04:26 +0000 http://www.exponentialentrepreneurship.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2451 [...] Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” [...] [...] Early signs of the “Superempowerment of the individual” [...]

]]> By: Michael http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2277 Michael Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:07:30 +0000 http://www.exponentialentrepreneurship.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2277 One note of caution: Trent Reznor, Radiohead, and Oasis are all established acts who became established through the mechanisms of the recording industry as we know it. It's not yet clear whether the Internet can provide the means for an unknown, up-and-coming band to build enough of a fan base to survive and thrive on its own without a record label. I hope it can, but I'm not seeing it yet. One note of caution: Trent Reznor, Radiohead, and Oasis are all established acts who became established through the mechanisms of the recording industry as we know it. It’s not yet clear whether the Internet can provide the means for an unknown, up-and-coming band to build enough of a fan base to survive and thrive on its own without a record label. I hope it can, but I’m not seeing it yet.

]]> By: MJ http://www.kevinkoym.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2276 MJ Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:21:53 +0000 http://www.exponentialentrepreneurship.com/blog/2007/10/10/early-signs-of-the-superempowerment-of-the-individual/#comment-2276 As I understand it, what Radiohead and the others are doing is offering their music directly to consumers AT WHATEVER PRICE THE CUSTOMER WANTS TO PAY - including no price at all. While this obviously creates tremendous buzz and airply -- and some hardcore fans might be happy to part with their money -- they also are foregoing all traditional revenue streams such as royalties and copyrights. So why do they not believe that the market, if offered something for free, will opt to take it for free? In other words, is this laissez-faire approach truly viable as a business model? Very few companies, entrepreneurs or artists have the luxury to approach their business this way -- so while NIN, Radiohead and the others may indeed be prophets crying in the wilderness just now, won't they soon be searching frantically for locusts and honey to sustain themselves? What is the value of a brand-name entity going beyond the bleeding edge of innovation if few others can afford to follow them into their social nirvana? Can you really argue that this is a tipping point, or is it more likely a freakish aberration? As I understand it, what Radiohead and the others are doing is offering their music directly to consumers AT WHATEVER PRICE THE CUSTOMER WANTS TO PAY - including no price at all. While this obviously creates tremendous buzz and airply — and some hardcore fans might be happy to part with their money — they also are foregoing all traditional revenue streams such as royalties and copyrights. So why do they not believe that the market, if offered something for free, will opt to take it for free? In other words, is this laissez-faire approach truly viable as a business model? Very few companies, entrepreneurs or artists have the luxury to approach their business this way — so while NIN, Radiohead and the others may indeed be prophets crying in the wilderness just now, won’t they soon be searching frantically for locusts and honey to sustain themselves?

What is the value of a brand-name entity going beyond the bleeding edge of innovation if few others can afford to follow them into their social nirvana? Can you really argue that this is a tipping point, or is it more likely a freakish aberration?

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