Does Microsoft’s (And Everyone Else’s) Future Media Integration Plans Kill The Indie Producer? Is Felicia Day A Star Or What?

Hey Paul,

Great post. It's nice to read something that actually gets you thinking. Also nice to see Rob taking the time to give a response.

Thanks,

Karl

Rob,

Thanks for the update - however generic it may be ;-)

Paul

Paul, Audio and video podcasting on the Zune digital media platform is here to stay and will be expanding to more platform devices and screens as has been stated generally by official statements. I cannot be specific, but can say that independent content producers of audio and video content will continue to have a place on Microsoft media distribution platforms. Rob Greenlee, Zune Podcast Programming Producer

Excellent question Paul! My feelings on the matter - if Microsoft, Hulu or any other major players exclude the indie producer - they're screwed in the future. Why? Because the model has been set for some time now. Companies need to open up the conduit. No longer are the large companies in control of content as a whole. They create content, most of it good quality, but they're no longer the only game in town. Additionally, with the digital tools and the creative talent that is presently found in the "networked economy," these large companies stand to lose serious dollars and credibility if they fail to recognize the shift and embrace it. Newspapers are just one example of not paying attention to change and the ability to adapt.

Apple also has this problem. Podcasting is just one conduit in iTunes. It's been very successful for them but what of indie movies? Why haven't they opened up the store? All they have to do is turn the switch on. Well, of course the labels are forcing their hand but I think that this too will backfire in time for both of them if they don't embrace the reality of the creative aspirations of a large population. Rather than embrace the new economy and find ways to profit - these giants simply want to control it and force everyone to do it their way. What has the RIAA gained from suing college students over file sharing? Absolutely nada! In fact, they're destroying their future customer base :) Simply asinine as a business strategy -

It'll be interesting to see where things head in the next 5 years. My gut feeling is that indie media is just about to explode in some new ways just as podcasting opened up the channel and some visionary is going to capitalize and some major media kingpins are going to fall - hard.

My 2¢