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Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

azizansari.com

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Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#131

Post by vuvuzealot »

liber8 wrote: post #46
rkudeshi wrote: post #2

I know Louis CK was successful in this model, but at the time I expressed hesitation about others following his lead. He made a good amount of money, but given Louis CK is probably the most popular working comedian today, it didn't seem like ENOUGH money to justify the entire business model (assuming no one else would make as much doing the same). But now Aziz Ansari is doing it. Jim Gaffigan has announced plans to d…

I think you were wrong. Considering Jeff Foxworthy has sold over 15 million albums[1], recently had a primetime show in syndication, and managed to make three of his drinking buddies into 8-figure yearly draws, I would say Louis CK is not even close to the most popular working comedian around. He has a rabid base, yes, but I would argue he's not even a mainstream comic (ie I would bet 9/10 people off the street would…

Louis has a hit cable tv show, a deal for a network show on CBS and whenever almost any comedian is asked what other comedians they like are they usually reply in some form of "Louis, of course". Any fan of stand up comedy has at least heard of him.

He's not Jeff Foxworthy, but he's certainly "mainstream", although he's certainly not the most popular comedian around.

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#133

Post by kalleboo »

Why isn't there a standardized self-publish DRM-free platform for this stuff yet? I have lots of time I want to spend distracting myself, but not enough content to fill it without pirating.

Got a Rails 500 error after paying, but just refreshing the page got me through.

The page has a humans.txt, but it looks like it's just the blank template(?)

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#134

Post by alan_cx »

username3 wrote: post #68

Can I borrow someone's copy when you're finished with it? Update: http://azizansari.com/tos says, All downloads are for use on one device only. You may keep one backup copy of the digital content downloaded from this site on any digital media of your choice.

I assume he simply got "advised" to do that. I wouldn't mind betting that if some one kindly emailed him and explain why that is a problem, he might well see that it is changed.

You point if fair though. I dont see why you've been down voted either.

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#135

Post by alan_cx »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #28
paulhauggis wrote: post #21

I will be interested to see the results of this. My prediction is that it's a novelty and the appeal will eventually drop off when the sales do (IE: people torrent it instead of buying)

Why do you think that? Any reason other than the classic idealized economic model of humans as heartless, brainless utility maximizers?

Does there need to be another reason?

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#136

Post by kree10 »

trotsky wrote: post #16
untog wrote: post #7

It's interesting that all this has come from comedians. Perhaps not surprising, given that TV shows are owned by networks, and bands are largely indebted to record labels- I never thought about it before, but a comedian is far more of a "free agent" than anyone else- for instance, Aziz is one of the main stars in a hit NBC comedy (well, as much of a hit as NBC gets these days), but he's free to do stuff like this as…

Recording artists do solo projects all the time. Stand up doesn't require much in the way of production value.

They do solo projects, but I don't think that's analogous. Would Radiohead have been allowed to self-release albums while they were under their major label contract?

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#137

Post by ssharp »

liber8 wrote: post #46
rkudeshi wrote: post #2

I know Louis CK was successful in this model, but at the time I expressed hesitation about others following his lead. He made a good amount of money, but given Louis CK is probably the most popular working comedian today, it didn't seem like ENOUGH money to justify the entire business model (assuming no one else would make as much doing the same). But now Aziz Ansari is doing it. Jim Gaffigan has announced plans to d…

I think you were wrong. Considering Jeff Foxworthy has sold over 15 million albums[1], recently had a primetime show in syndication, and managed to make three of his drinking buddies into 8-figure yearly draws, I would say Louis CK is not even close to the most popular working comedian around. He has a rabid base, yes, but I would argue he's not even a mainstream comic (ie I would bet 9/10 people off the street would…

Louis CK is popular in the same way that a band like Arcade Fire is popular. Arcade Fire sells lots of albums and is highly respected by other musicians, but the band isn't as well known among most of America as a top 40 staple like Rihanna.

This represents sort of a "high" pop-culture, which would include popular indie music acts like Arcade Fire, TV shows like Mad Men and Breaking Bad, and comedians like Louis CK and Jim Gaffigan.

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#138

Post by beedogs »

noisebleed wrote: post #120
beedogs wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Neither does recording music.

I'm curious as to why you hold that opinion. It contradicts most things I've witnessed about either artform.

Because I've been a part of independent recording sessions with bands who released albums using their own meager funds. It doesn't have to take much money to record and produce a decent-sounding album anymore.

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#139

Post by mistercow »

delackner wrote: post #128
mistercow wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eliminating the middleman is not the point. Avoiding the negative consequences of having a middleman is the point, and eliminating the middleman is merely a means to that end. If you can be a middleman without (or with fewer of) those negative consequences, then you're working toward the same goal.

You're splitting hairs. Louis CK's special raked in more than a million dollars. The website cost him about 30k to produce. iTunes would have sucked up TEN TIMES that.

I did not say that iTunes was the answer. I said that a startup that offers inexpensive distribution services to entertainers and artists using this low-price, no-DRM model could be the answer.

Re: Aziz Ansari releases DRM-free standup special for $5

#140

Post by mikecane »

iamscanner wrote: post #91
mikecane wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>>There's no requirement for a writer to submit content to Apple (iTunes store) or Amazon (Kindle store). Maybe I wasn't clear. Sure, any writer can set up a site, but then you cannot give buyers the convenience they expect with automagic downloads to a Kindle, Nook, or Kobo device. (I exclude iPad. Apple made competing eBook apps download via browser. Which is not something eInk devices can do.)

That automagical download and convenience you're talking about is one of the things you pay that 30% for. It's your call whether you want to go through that channel or not - no one's forcing you.

>>>That automagical download and convenience you're talking about is one of the things you pay that 30% for.

Ah, thank you, sincerely. I hadn't considered that.

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