Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist • Hacker News Board

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#21

Post by confluence » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 6:21 AM UTC

jcampbell1 wrote: post #19

confluence wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to be careful with that list. You need to look not just at the direct products produced (which may not be disruptive in the classical sense), but also at the positive externalities that they effect. Apple made the computer personal when it was founded (or at least that is my impression). That didn't disrupt too many people, but think of all the secondary effects. People could learn to program, people could a…

I don't see your point. Your reference to "positive externalities" is the same as what I meant by "new value".

> If we list tech companies that massively disrupted non-tech industries, you come up with a list like:

It should be Fair to say that the popularization of software, hardware and search has disrupted quite a few industries via secondary effects - which is what companies on the second list have done (the ones you list as non-disruptive).

Google has destroyed the newspaper advertising model. Oracle has destroyed the big corporate/government back offices (not all). Apple destroyed a great many jobs (via popularization of PCs -> Lotus Notes/App development).

My point is that they are disruptive companies :).

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#22

Post by jonknee » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 6:23 AM UTC

DigitalSea wrote: post #20

It's a smart move. You're not the darling of the entertainment industry forever. One day the royalty payments won't be enough to pay the bills, the next flavour of the month has come along and taken your revenue stream, market and fans. Justin Bieber is setting himself up for life, venture capitalism is a good game to get into if you have the cash like Justin to make substantial investments in big tech startups. Anot…

> Justin Bieber is setting himself up for life, venture capitalism is a good game to get into if you have the cash like Justin to make substantial investments in big tech startups.

Did you miss the part about making $105M in the last 24 months? He's already set up for many life times.

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#23

Post by kamaal » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 6:35 AM UTC

citricsquid wrote: post #8

Justin Bieber blows my mind every time I read about him and I really respect him (mainly because his life is insane and he somehow hasn't screwed it up yet) but his success is much more his management and Justin Bieber (the brand) is a story of how good management can make a success. Just looking at how the entertainment industry works is fascinating, they can create such incredible brands in so little time. Take the…

>>mainly because his life is insane

Most kids are insane. Such insanity comes because they don't think before they act, they don't worry about risks and so creativity flows instantaneously. I know this as I was insane as a kid. I used to sing at every opportunity and occasion. I won awards at numerous occasions singing devotional songs in Indian classical music genre. I have sung in front of large audiences, in stadiums, before sporting events, tough competitions etc. In fact the only thing I enjoyed totally in school was singing and science exhibitions.

The only issue was 'video camera' was not affordable and accessible at that time. There was no Youtube and my parents thought singing and music won't help me make a living. I begged them to let me learn how to play an instrument. But they didn't let me go close to it.

You will be shocked how many kids are talented but never receive the appreciation and much needed direction they need in the early part of the their lives. A lot of talent goes wasted this way.

If Justin Bieber is what he is today, he is a insane kid who works very hard and enjoys what he does. But he has also had the advantage of getting the right direction and appreciation from people around him.

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#24

Post by csomar » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 6:44 AM UTC

jcampbell1 wrote: post #11

citricsquid wrote: post #8

Justin Bieber blows my mind every time I read about him and I really respect him (mainly because his life is insane and he somehow hasn't screwed it up yet) but his success is much more his management and Justin Bieber (the brand) is a story of how good management can make a success. Just looking at how the entertainment industry works is fascinating, they can create such incredible brands in so little time. Take the…

Off topic, but the whole notion that tech industries "disrupt" other industries outside of tech is confused. If we list tech companies that massively disrupted non-tech industries, you come up with a list like: * Napster * Wikipedia * Craigslist * AirBnB If you list companies that didn't disrupt non-tech industries, and created new value, you come up with a list like: * Apple * Microsoft * Google * Facebook * Oracle…

Microsoft Office disrupted traditional spreadsheets and probably reduced the number of employees required to do the work.

Facebook disrupted the traditional way of meeting friends and connecting with them.

Dropbox disrupted movable storage (Flash or Memory cards)

Someone else mentioned Google and Amazon.

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#25

Post by Axsuul » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 6:53 AM UTC

protomyth wrote: post #3

The music's world version of VCs is to own your own label and sign new artists. One of his was sitting at #1 on iTunes, so he seems to get the concept.

Props to Usher as well.

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#26

Post by rhizome » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 7:18 AM UTC

iag wrote: post #9

It's very smart for these celebrities to build a brand other than what they're currently doing. Not many singers can be hip for more a few years, and not many models can look better when they go past 40. It's good for these people to build a second career later on so if/when they need to switch, the options are open. Props to Ashton Kutcher to leading the way for venture investing. Smart move.

Have either of them been the first investor of something that succeeded yet?

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#27

Post by peteretep » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 8:20 AM UTC

rhizome wrote: post #26

iag wrote: post #9

It's very smart for these celebrities to build a brand other than what they're currently doing. Not many singers can be hip for more a few years, and not many models can look better when they go past 40. It's good for these people to build a second career later on so if/when they need to switch, the options are open. Props to Ashton Kutcher to leading the way for venture investing. Smart move.

Have either of them been the first investor of something that succeeded yet?

Why do they need to have been the first investor?

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#28

Post by corin_ » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 8:45 AM UTC

kamaal wrote: post #23

citricsquid wrote: post #8

Justin Bieber blows my mind every time I read about him and I really respect him (mainly because his life is insane and he somehow hasn't screwed it up yet) but his success is much more his management and Justin Bieber (the brand) is a story of how good management can make a success. Just looking at how the entertainment industry works is fascinating, they can create such incredible brands in so little time. Take the…

>>mainly because his life is insane Most kids are insane. Such insanity comes because they don't think before they act, they don't worry about risks and so creativity flows instantaneously. I know this as I was insane as a kid. I used to sing at every opportunity and occasion. I won awards at numerous occasions singing devotional songs in Indian classical music genre. I have sung in front of large audiences, in stadi…

"His life in insane" is not the same as "he is insane".

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#29

Post by corin_ » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 8:47 AM UTC

pdeuchler wrote: post #5

"These deals aren’t equity-for-endorsement trades. Bieber put cash into each one, and few of the companies have promoted their links to the singer. Spotify, which is still working to establish itself in the U.S., wouldn’t even discuss Bieber’s investment." "Bieber has come a long way in the finance department since I first broached the subject with him a bit over a year ago. 'I have a business manager,' he told me at…

Given the monetary value of his time you could argue it an investment on its own, but since he is investing cash I don't see any way this isn't "venture capital".

Re: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist

#30

Post by MortenK » Tue, Jun 05, 2012, 9:24 AM UTC

When talks fall on whether or not there is a bubble, a common argument is that we shouldn't worry until the cab drivers and waitresses start investing. I wonder if the argument in 10 years will be that we shouldn't worry about bubbles, until the pop singers and actors start investing.