Free Digital Products

...and the "Democratization of Media", among other things.

So while waiting for a meeting this afternoon, I picked up a copy of PC Magazine and read the article: "DRM-Free Music Spells Trouble". (As an aside, I thought it was interesting that both the author and the guy I was waiting for were named Lance.) Some interesting points that he brings up, but, as you probably know by now, I am quite against DRM. I'm fine with people requiring others to pay for things if they want to be paid, but DRM is not the way to go.

One of things that I think Lance overlooks in his article, is that media production is becoming less cost-intensive. This is what is called the "Democratization of Media". So now it's easy to create and rip-off digital media. But how does one get buyers even interested in paying for the right to listen to/watch one's media? This is one of the major problems facing this next generation. With so much content out there, the issue may be just as much people over-looking your media as downloading it illegally.

What does all that have to do with us?

I'm not sure. I'm much more of a "hobbyist" when it comes to media production. Sure, I create client projects that are very serious business, but the other stuff I do is for fun, to hone my skills, and to keep me "in the know". Most youth make media for the joy/challenge of it. It's not so much a big business for us. But, someday it will have to be if we want to do it for a living (or a partial living).

Perhaps such dreams are not to be. My wife told me that Scott Johnson works a job (or two?), but also does multiple podcasts, comics, and such each week. Those are things he does because he enjoys it, but it's obviously not pulling in enough dough to let him quit his day job.

What does all this mean? What am I talking about?

I don't know. I'm just musing at the moment, and considering the very real fact that Production-Now.com will likely never become enough to let me quit working another job for my "bread and butter".

~Luke Holzmann
Your Media Production Mentor