Xerxes Atlas Blog

I came across another fantastic article today. The premise is that you don't need a superstar status to make it in the creative business. All you need is to connect with 1000 true fans. Read the article here: http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php

Jade: A couple of months ago I put up a post with a video of a presentation of Mike Masnick showcasing his Music Business formula using Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails as his case study.This is another great post from Masnick but it gives other examples of lesser known artists it's working for too:

In simplest terms, the model can be defined as:

Connect with Fans (CwF) + Reason to Buy (RtB) = The Business Model

Sound simple? It is, if you understand the basics -- and it can be incredibly lucrative. The problem, of course, is that very few seem to fully understand how this model works. However, let's go through some examples.

Trent Reznor, the man behind the band Nine Inch Nails, has done so many experiments that show how this model works that it's difficult to describe them all. He's become a true leader in showing how this model works in a way that has earned him millions while making fans happy, rather than turning them into the enemy.

Read the full article here: http://techdirt.com/articles/20091119/1634117011.shtml

Photo by Burns!

Nobody said there was no place for music labels, not more - in fact, we believe that there is a huge place for them if they can help a group that does not build a business by itself. However, for groups who are willing to go completely without a label, it is certainly possible to be a success.

See the full article here: 
http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/18/smallbusiness/wiggles_how_we_got_started/index.htm

We're going through the process of writing down our business plan. As part of the argument for doing things the way we're doing things, I've been researching other people that have already done something similar successfully. When I was talking to Elliot Bledsoe from Creative Commons Australia he sent me a link to a really good presentation on Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. The basic premise is:

Connect With Fans (CwF) + Reason To Buy (RtB) = The Business Model ($$$$)

And you can do this even by giving away your stuff.