Hello. I see that the headline hooked you in. Now whereas most of these catchy headlines exist to entice you into reading and then disappoint you with something unrelated to the title, I would never be that devious. For you see, today has been a momentus day, we have now got a Sky subscription and so are in the process of losing our Virgin Media account. Now what has this to do with entertainment you may ask, well it has everything to do with entertainment.
The way in which content is delivered and consumed is something that the industry needs to be more aware of. As you may have guessed by now if you've read my other posts, is that the big studios, record labels etc. are losing their stranglehold on an industry they have throttled for far too long.
As consumers our brand loyalty to a service is only as good as the quality and value of it. So if Virgin Media at some point catches up to the excellent Sky+ service (I know there's Virgin+ but it's not a patch), has as many channels (or at least more content you actually want to watch) and offers the same or better value for money than Sky then we may consider going back.
This teaches a very valuable lesson that I myself am learning. As one of these so-called middlemen, it's not enough just to say here you go, have a clown, jazz band etc., but there needs (and of course with Xi Entertainments, there is!) added value. So my example would be that if you want to make sure your event goes off without a hitch use our entertainment services as we will pair you up with only the best performers and ensure that everything goes smoothly.
FURRY MIC NITE
But wait, there's more! Having tried to convince myself that specialisation is the way forward I am now doing completely the opposite. That is why I'd like to introduce you to "Furry Mic Nite." A sort of variety night for the 21st Century, on the 9th May at the Smokestack, Lower Briggate, Leeds, there is going to be a night with Alfie Moore - Stand-Up Comedian, Harrison Richards - Mind-Reader and Maybe Myrtle Tyrtle - Newcastle based contemporary Bluegrass band. For all that it only costs £6 pre-order and £7 OTD. If you're interested please email me on hayden@xientertainments.com
Promoting and the agency go hand in hand. It's all hard work, but a night is tangible. Something for someone (and indeed anyone) to see what it is I do. I'm using the night as a way of providing entertainment but at the sametime showing that I know what it is my clients are looking for as well. I know their audience as well as they do.
The point I'm trying to make is that the lazy days of the 20th Century (not a typo) are coming to end with the possible exception of the tech industry. Everyone has to work harder which can only be a good thing for 99% of the world. I would feel sorry for the large companies, but then I remember, they've screwed me over for years. Now is payback time.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Youtube and PRS
I know this is more of a music post than a startup one, but I'm angry. For those of you who are unaware, Google (specifically YouTube) and PRS are having a scrap. PRS is the Performing Rights Society and they collect royalties for musicians. They want Google to pay for each viewing of a music video and Google believe that PRS is charging too high a price. In this post I will tell you why both parties are being unaccommodating, why that's a bad thing, what the future will hold and hopefully suggest a positive solution (which I am aware will probably be ignored).
So, Google say they can't afford it. They approximately make $5 Billion (£3.65 billion) every 3 months, but YouTube is still their loss leader. If you've been noticing, on many music videos, a "buy on itunes" logo has popped up alongside other adverts so this obviously means that either Apple is paying Google for the service like an advert or Google makes money from each song sold by a click. I'm assuming the former but I may be wrong. Now some of these videos reach millions of views (were talking 10 + million) and some, only a few thousand. However I've clearly shown that Google is making money from these artists.
PRS wants what's best for it's performers and this is understandable so they want a chunk of revenue each time someone views a video. However, unless someone actually clicks on an advert, Google will make no money, so this seems unreasonable. PRS though are right to not trust Google which I am sure would do some "creative calculation" were this on a per click basis. Again though, only the larger artists would actually have enough people clicking to generate any semblance of money.
To a large part, PRS is suffering from 20th century thinking. 1 Play = bit of money. This is done on the assumption that each play helps the venue, movie etc increase their revenue. This is true in an offline world. The online marketplace has changed everything. With the advent of services like last.fm, spotify and of course YouTube, consumers now expect more for free. Realistically, even though it's not ideal, PRS should try and make google do more of its advertsing on offical videos, take down the pirate versions and do a similar scheme as Adsense so that musicians get paid when Google does.
Even with this scheme, the amount performers will receive is minimal. Instead, what is happening and has been happening for the past few years is that live entertainment is returning. Recording singles and albums are mere elaborate mechanisms to get people to part with their cash when going to an arena tour and buying tons of other merchandise.
We all have to work harder, but one thing's for sure. From a creative perspective, we're living in interesting times.
So, Google say they can't afford it. They approximately make $5 Billion (£3.65 billion) every 3 months, but YouTube is still their loss leader. If you've been noticing, on many music videos, a "buy on itunes" logo has popped up alongside other adverts so this obviously means that either Apple is paying Google for the service like an advert or Google makes money from each song sold by a click. I'm assuming the former but I may be wrong. Now some of these videos reach millions of views (were talking 10 + million) and some, only a few thousand. However I've clearly shown that Google is making money from these artists.
PRS wants what's best for it's performers and this is understandable so they want a chunk of revenue each time someone views a video. However, unless someone actually clicks on an advert, Google will make no money, so this seems unreasonable. PRS though are right to not trust Google which I am sure would do some "creative calculation" were this on a per click basis. Again though, only the larger artists would actually have enough people clicking to generate any semblance of money.
To a large part, PRS is suffering from 20th century thinking. 1 Play = bit of money. This is done on the assumption that each play helps the venue, movie etc increase their revenue. This is true in an offline world. The online marketplace has changed everything. With the advent of services like last.fm, spotify and of course YouTube, consumers now expect more for free. Realistically, even though it's not ideal, PRS should try and make google do more of its advertsing on offical videos, take down the pirate versions and do a similar scheme as Adsense so that musicians get paid when Google does.
Even with this scheme, the amount performers will receive is minimal. Instead, what is happening and has been happening for the past few years is that live entertainment is returning. Recording singles and albums are mere elaborate mechanisms to get people to part with their cash when going to an arena tour and buying tons of other merchandise.
We all have to work harder, but one thing's for sure. From a creative perspective, we're living in interesting times.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Getting There
So I finally think I'm getting there. I understand what I should be doing and how I'm going to get there. I really want to tell you more, but on the otherhand I have to be ever so slightly protectionist for my ideas. So here is my attempt at telling you what I'm doing without telling you what I'm doing and without waffling.
1. Get Organised. Soooo important
2. Get your products or services. Make sure they are what customers want and that you're comfortable with them
3. SELL SELL SELL
4. Have fun.
I will try and live by these four points. We'll see what happens
Until next time
1. Get Organised. Soooo important
2. Get your products or services. Make sure they are what customers want and that you're comfortable with them
3. SELL SELL SELL
4. Have fun.
I will try and live by these four points. We'll see what happens
Until next time
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Future of the Music Industry
Hi,
I know I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd discuss something of interest to my sector. The music industry for far too long has been filled with greedy folk who care nothing for the music they produce. Now up until about 5 years ago this was not a problem as they were getting all their money from CD's and consumers were prepared to pay extortionate amounts as they were holding something physical in their hands.
Now the whole arguments regarding onlinr pirated music are flawed. If I go into HMV and steal a CD, that stock cannot be sold to someone else. It's gone and needs to be replaced. If I illegally download a track off the internet it does not affect the supply chain in the slightest.
Does this mean I condone illegal downloading? Of course not. But the industry has to wise up. Why would anyone want to pay for an entire album when all record of it could be wiped away if a hard drive fails? Why would anyone pay anywhere near the same amount of money for a digital download compared to a physical copy?
Yes you do have the immediacy of getting what you want which in my opinion is fantastic, but if the record companies do not have the high production costs of the physical CD, the price should reduce to something fairer.
If this done so say the maximum amount of money someone would pay would be around the £5 mark for a chart album and there was a list of what you had bought in case of hard drive disaster (yes I know that almost all legal online music is now DRM free, but the systems of backup are not easy enough) then the industry would flourish online.
Most consumers realise that music needs to paid for. If a service is well thought out, easy to use and treats its customers with respect it will succeed. iTunes has not succeeded yet as most of the purchases are one off singles and not albums. This will come in time, but it needs some fresh thinking from an industry still stuck in the 1970s
Rant Over.
I know I haven't blogged in a while so I thought I'd discuss something of interest to my sector. The music industry for far too long has been filled with greedy folk who care nothing for the music they produce. Now up until about 5 years ago this was not a problem as they were getting all their money from CD's and consumers were prepared to pay extortionate amounts as they were holding something physical in their hands.
Now the whole arguments regarding onlinr pirated music are flawed. If I go into HMV and steal a CD, that stock cannot be sold to someone else. It's gone and needs to be replaced. If I illegally download a track off the internet it does not affect the supply chain in the slightest.
Does this mean I condone illegal downloading? Of course not. But the industry has to wise up. Why would anyone want to pay for an entire album when all record of it could be wiped away if a hard drive fails? Why would anyone pay anywhere near the same amount of money for a digital download compared to a physical copy?
Yes you do have the immediacy of getting what you want which in my opinion is fantastic, but if the record companies do not have the high production costs of the physical CD, the price should reduce to something fairer.
If this done so say the maximum amount of money someone would pay would be around the £5 mark for a chart album and there was a list of what you had bought in case of hard drive disaster (yes I know that almost all legal online music is now DRM free, but the systems of backup are not easy enough) then the industry would flourish online.
Most consumers realise that music needs to paid for. If a service is well thought out, easy to use and treats its customers with respect it will succeed. iTunes has not succeeded yet as most of the purchases are one off singles and not albums. This will come in time, but it needs some fresh thinking from an industry still stuck in the 1970s
Rant Over.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Trade Associations and Encouraging Entrepreneurial Spirit
So this week's been a bit hectic. I spent Tuesday at the NOEA (National Outdoor Events Association) Conference in Leeds which had exhibits from industry related businesses such as health and safety, big screens etc alongside their AGM and also sought to help me, build links with helpful folk. Just in case you're wondering, I have been a member of the NEAC (National Entertainment Agents Council) and they are now merging with NOEA due to time constraints of members. The question still remains though, apart from the networking opportunities what benefit do trade associations actually have?
When starting, the legal advice and also how to structure my business were invaluable. Once I have been going a few years though, the question will still remains as to its benefit. The way I see it it's like a club. If you're the member of an exclusive club you'll do favours for mates and hopefully vice versa. Ignore competitors at your peril. They can get you out of some sticky situations if you don't have something a customer needs.
And extending this idea of networking, I was lucky enough to be invited back to the University of Birmingham to be one of the few students to bring the first SPEED (Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education) programme to a close. This did just comprise of 20 or so people, but it was the event afterward that was far more interesting as we were all asked to describe our business experiences to students. We were described as entrepreneurs and it got me thinking. When do you turn from businessman to entrpreneur and is there any difference? If this were a beeb blog I'd be asking the hordes to battle it out in the comments section, but I think I might be a bit like Homer when he's the only member left in the stonecutters and so attempts to dress up monkeys and make them do war re-enactments. If you have no idea what any of the last sentence meant, don't worry about it. Here is where a more astute blogger would come up with some witty conclusion, maybe cite a Churchill quote, but to be blunt, they're just pretentious idiots.
Until next time,
Hayden
When starting, the legal advice and also how to structure my business were invaluable. Once I have been going a few years though, the question will still remains as to its benefit. The way I see it it's like a club. If you're the member of an exclusive club you'll do favours for mates and hopefully vice versa. Ignore competitors at your peril. They can get you out of some sticky situations if you don't have something a customer needs.
And extending this idea of networking, I was lucky enough to be invited back to the University of Birmingham to be one of the few students to bring the first SPEED (Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education) programme to a close. This did just comprise of 20 or so people, but it was the event afterward that was far more interesting as we were all asked to describe our business experiences to students. We were described as entrepreneurs and it got me thinking. When do you turn from businessman to entrpreneur and is there any difference? If this were a beeb blog I'd be asking the hordes to battle it out in the comments section, but I think I might be a bit like Homer when he's the only member left in the stonecutters and so attempts to dress up monkeys and make them do war re-enactments. If you have no idea what any of the last sentence meant, don't worry about it. Here is where a more astute blogger would come up with some witty conclusion, maybe cite a Churchill quote, but to be blunt, they're just pretentious idiots.
Until next time,
Hayden
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Expanding Horizons and It's Alive!!!!!
First things first. Last time I was ranting and raving about the lack of a website but now, like Frankenstein's Monster it has come to life and is attempting to take over the earth. Please check it out at http://www.xientertainments.com
I could go on and on and on about the wonders of my website but I feel as though as I may loose you half way through.
Also as we're in the middle of, y'know, that-which-must-not-be-named, I have decided to diversify my business and am looking to be the agent for actors as well. It is a bit of a different area to what I usually do, but the principles and expertise remain the same. This idea of diversifying seems to be a sensible way to get through these more difficult and am sure it'll pay off in the meantime.
Until next time
Hayden
I could go on and on and on about the wonders of my website but I feel as though as I may loose you half way through.
Also as we're in the middle of, y'know, that-which-must-not-be-named, I have decided to diversify my business and am looking to be the agent for actors as well. It is a bit of a different area to what I usually do, but the principles and expertise remain the same. This idea of diversifying seems to be a sensible way to get through these more difficult and am sure it'll pay off in the meantime.
Until next time
Hayden
Friday, 24 October 2008
Starting the Startup Blog
So, this is my first blog post. I first of all need to share with you my reasons for starting this. I am a startup business. Have I mentioned I'm starting? As an entertainment agent providing a whole range of performers for corporate and private events and in the past 6 months, everyone as a direct result of TV economics coverage, have been putting the frighteners on, telling me that more than usual, I'm bound to fail.
I don't believe it as there is always money to be made. I have therefore started this blog to show how a fledgling company WILL become a huge benevolent behemoth in a couple of years time.
So, what stage am Iat the moment? Well I'm just in the midst of getting my website live. Word of warning to the naive new entrepreneur don't fall into the flashy light trap. I picked my web design company as they are quite a large firm and I foolishly thought that means they get the job done. Oh how wrong I was and I have now been waiting since mid June to get a website.
This is where the screams of "you should've got a completion date from them" can be heard screaming across the interwibble, but I tried that and somehow ended up mesmerised by some marketing babble. BE CAUTIOUS
I've also been getting my product, in this case performers by any and every mean. I'm attempting to get all quality acts and it's easier said than done with quality also referring to how well they keep up contact etc. For those of you wanting to know where I get my performers from? I'm not telling you. However I have heard a certain northern entertainment agent can get you anything you want. ;) OK enough of the sell, this is me finished blogging for the moment saying good night, good luck and whatever you do, don't mention the R word (it makes matters worse)
Hayden
I don't believe it as there is always money to be made. I have therefore started this blog to show how a fledgling company WILL become a huge benevolent behemoth in a couple of years time.
So, what stage am Iat the moment? Well I'm just in the midst of getting my website live. Word of warning to the naive new entrepreneur don't fall into the flashy light trap. I picked my web design company as they are quite a large firm and I foolishly thought that means they get the job done. Oh how wrong I was and I have now been waiting since mid June to get a website.
This is where the screams of "you should've got a completion date from them" can be heard screaming across the interwibble, but I tried that and somehow ended up mesmerised by some marketing babble. BE CAUTIOUS
I've also been getting my product, in this case performers by any and every mean. I'm attempting to get all quality acts and it's easier said than done with quality also referring to how well they keep up contact etc. For those of you wanting to know where I get my performers from? I'm not telling you. However I have heard a certain northern entertainment agent can get you anything you want. ;) OK enough of the sell, this is me finished blogging for the moment saying good night, good luck and whatever you do, don't mention the R word (it makes matters worse)
Hayden
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