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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

#51

Post by nchlswu »

bsphil wrote: post #17
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 highly doubt that Louis CK is the most popular working comedian. He seems really underrated, in my experience. Either way, I bought that show and loved it, probably will get this too.

Agreed. There is a huge chunk of the population that believes CK is the best working comedian today which definitely gave him some early traction (early adopters)

I would say something more along the lines that a person like Dane Cook has many more fans by the numbers and if he pursued a project like this it would potentially have done even better than CK.

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

#52

Post by theorique »

mikecane wrote: post #39
seanalltogether wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems like youtube or vimeo is missing a really big opportunity here.

Why should a comedian have to submit to a behemoth like writers do? To get on iPad or Kindle or Nook, you have to go through their stores and risk rejection or wind up giving them 30% (a fee I do not think is in any way justified just for hosting; they damn well can't market anything, just provide one listing out of jillions). I say more power to the comedians. Submit to no one, share with no one. I wish writers coul…

Writers can do that.

There's no requirement for a writer to submit content to Apple (iTunes store) or Amazon (Kindle store). A writer can format documents in .mobi, .epub and .pdf files and sell them through any digital storefront (either home brewed or something like leanpub among many others)

If a writer wants the exposure from being on the Kindle Store or iTunes Store, that's another matter. But there's no requirement that a writer sign up for such a distributor.

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

#53

Post by thomasknowles »

nachteilig wrote: post #49

Can anyone confirm the format? I'd like to toss him $5, but only if I can play it on my iPad.

DRM Free:

Thomass-MacBook-Pro:~ thomasknowles$ file Downloads/azizansari-dangerouslydelicious-hd.mov.crdownload Downloads/azizansari-dangerouslydelicious-hd.mov.crdownload: ISO Media, Apple QuickTime movie

anyone feel free to step up and add anymore info.

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

#57

Post by DannoHung »

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 this is awesome, I LOVE Aziz and he did it smart by announcing it when it was available (misstep on Jim's part if you ask me). Buying it tonight, watching it with my GF next time she's over.

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

#58

Post by jspaur »

dangrossman wrote: post #32

I just purchased it. That was simple as possible (enter e-mail in box, redirected to PayPal, redirected to page with stream and download buttons). There's a streaming limit (3 views) and download limit (5 downloads). The download is hosted on Amazon S3 where I'm barely getting 500k/s. The stream and download limits would then limit his delivery costs to ~$1.50 per customer with S3's bandwidth pricing. PayPal is takin…

worst case on pricing with S3 is $0.125/GB which is about $0.15 per download (or if you download all 5 times, $.70). The costs are actually decent here.

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

#59

Post by rmason »

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…

I've known and enjoyed Louis CK since he first broke on late night TV. Also know less well Jim Gaffican but I've seen a few of his specials. Even seen Foxworthy's 'drinking buddy' Ron White live.

Am I the only one here who has never even heard of Aziz?

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

#60

Post by diogenescynic »

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…

It's because a lot of comedians are writer/producer/director/editor of their content--a one man act. They aren't usually signing seven album contracts to a label or answering to a network. Usually they have an agent or manager who gets a cut for promoting them.
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