Shhh! Don't Tell Anyone Else

Here's a little langiappe that isn't going into the presentation or the handout. Just for the cool kids here on the blog:

If you want to know what the impact of technology is having on the creative business, consider the release of Radiohead’s latest album. They made it a free download, pay what you think it is worth. They made about $1 million off the release. Sure, not everyone paid; but many paid more than if Radiohead had distributed it by disk or other on-line services. That fact is well noted in the on-line business community. I have another take not spoken. To me, it’s less about the giving up of control over the price or the digital rights management. It’s the fact Radiohead could create and produce its own album without the need for the record label, and distribute it through their own marketing channel. There is a reason why the networks, the providers – cable, satellite and IP-based; and the conference offices are racing to sign up athletic departments and lock away content for big money and very broad control rights. They know it too. My prediction: the schools that retain control will make the Notre Dame move to become Team NBC in the 1990s incredibly small potatoes.