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A closer metaphor might be developers open sourcing their software and charging for consulting/hosting/customization services around it. Just like the special e

A closer metaphor might be developers open sourcing their software and charging for consulting/hosting/customization services around it. Just like the special experience at a paid concert.

tedunangst 14y ago
I really think music and app store games inhabit the same entertainment orbit. When someone builds a consulting business around their 99c iPhone game, well, I'd love to read about it. The consulting model works for some software, but not all. (obviously, there are people who disagree and think it can.) it seems like a mistake to take a model that works for some software and decide it will work for all music.
- ZeroGravitas 14y ago
  Wasn't there an article recently about how the app stores weren't actually a rational use of time for most developers, who were doing it for love, not because it was more lucrative than working for a bank (or consulting?). And the big money makers were actually heavily advertised, disposable, fad-driven, low-brow games aimed at tweenagers and housewives. And the companies pushing these hit games were sausage factories that treated their creatives like dirt? Sounds like the music business does have a lot in common with app stores.
  - tedunangst 14y ago
    I agree with a lot of what you've said. People make apps in their spare time because it's fun, and maybe also a little because they have the dream of making it big time. They're not in it just for the money, but it's nice to think about. I bet lots of musicians play small gigs because it's fun too, but I'd hate for their only chance at "winning the lottery" to be "Congrats, we booked some big shows for you. From now on, you live in a tour bus 300 days a year."
    - ZeroGravitas 14y ago
      It's uncanny that you mention "winning the lottery", I nearly wrote that a fundamental problem with both marketplaces was that people dreamt of winning big and because they all secretly believed they would be the ones to make it, they were selling out everyone else (and 999 times out of a thousand their future selves) by accepting the winner takes all format of their industry rather than one in which more people make a decent wage. I left it out because I'm not 100% confident that there's solid economic theory to back it up, but it's strange that my gut instinct is 180 degrees from yours, where you welcome the lottery aspect of the market.
      - tedunangst 14y ago
        If you're living your life expecting to win the lottery, that's bad, but I think it provides a nice incentive to dabble in something. Or makes the dabbling a little more fun. (For some people.)

A closer metaphor might be developers open sourcing their software and charging for consulting/hosting/customization services around it. Just like the special experience at a paid concert.

tedunangst 14y ago

I really think music and app store games inhabit the same entertainment orbit. When someone builds a consulting business around their 99c iPhone game, well, I'd love to read about it. The consulting model works for some software, but not all. (obviously, there are people who disagree and think it can.) it seems like a mistake to take a model that works for some software and decide it will work for all music.

ZeroGravitas 14y ago
Wasn't there an article recently about how the app stores weren't actually a rational use of time for most developers, who were doing it for love, not because it was more lucrative than working for a bank (or consulting?). And the big money makers were actually heavily advertised, disposable, fad-driven, low-brow games aimed at tweenagers and housewives. And the companies pushing these hit games were sausage factories that treated their creatives like dirt? Sounds like the music business does have a lot in common with app stores.
- tedunangst 14y ago
  I agree with a lot of what you've said. People make apps in their spare time because it's fun, and maybe also a little because they have the dream of making it big time. They're not in it just for the money, but it's nice to think about. I bet lots of musicians play small gigs because it's fun too, but I'd hate for their only chance at "winning the lottery" to be "Congrats, we booked some big shows for you. From now on, you live in a tour bus 300 days a year."
  - ZeroGravitas 14y ago
    It's uncanny that you mention "winning the lottery", I nearly wrote that a fundamental problem with both marketplaces was that people dreamt of winning big and because they all secretly believed they would be the ones to make it, they were selling out everyone else (and 999 times out of a thousand their future selves) by accepting the winner takes all format of their industry rather than one in which more people make a decent wage. I left it out because I'm not 100% confident that there's solid economic theory to back it up, but it's strange that my gut instinct is 180 degrees from yours, where you welcome the lottery aspect of the market.
    - tedunangst 14y ago
      If you're living your life expecting to win the lottery, that's bad, but I think it provides a nice incentive to dabble in something. Or makes the dabbling a little more fun. (For some people.)