Giving Up Control

I received a call from a colleague recently who pondered why music companies don’t release new albums along with concert tickets at the same time. That way, fans can download the music or buy it at a store along with tickets to the upcoming shows. He went on to wonder if there is concern about free downloading of music and movie torrents, why don’t studios simply release the film and DVD on the same day?

What? And Give Up Control?

Old model thinking is you can control the marketplace, behavior and spending. It is a fantasy. If you owned restaurant and people quickly found out that Thursdays are free food nights, how big would your line up be on Friday? Sure some would come back because you offered great food at a great price point, but could you control that?

Collusion vs. Solution

I have been in media and marketing for a long time. I know it doesn’t work this way. It’s not a simple solution but is it not a worthy discussion? The Ticketmaster/LiveNation merger has created a lot of heat because of the collusion ramifications, so merging a distributor with a concert company and a music label will create even more.

But let’s focus for a moment on behavior.

We all know stealing music is wrong, downloading movies is illegal, taking something that isn’t ours is improper and our moms taught us that years ago. But has that changed behavior?

If you found $1,000 in an unmarked envelope on the ground, what would you do? If I told you that you could download as much music as your heart desired without any consequence, what would you do? If you found a loophole to avoid paying income tax, what would you do?

Is it wrong or is it reality?

The topic of free is a big one right now. If you can get the same service or product for less money – or even free – is that your preference? Now flip it around and tell me you will offer me your service or product for less money or free.

The music labels are in trouble, that’s well documented but as one who adores music and wants it to continue to thrive, let’s look at solutions rather than trying to cram more genies in to more bottles.

How does this apply to your work? How can you better understand customer and human behavior in order to better meld your business plans with reality?

@knealemann

photo credit: rdhelectronicsinfo.com

Leadership

“People want leadership. In the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert to a mirage and when they discover there is no water, they will drink the sand.” ~ "The American President" 1995

The U.S. Presidential election has not been about the economy, conflicts around the world, mergers, banks, gas prices, the recession, or spending. It has been about looking for someone to lead.

It will be many more hours before Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States but the tension seems thicker today than in the last two years of campaigning. This is it, time to step up and prove all the things promised.

If the over 600 polls are correct, the Democrats will have the next four years to clean up the mess. If the polls are correct, there will be more people out today to vote than in any other election in American history.

This is not about whether people will lose their house or pay their credit cards. This is about leadership. The nicest car in the world is useless without a straight frame or axles, the best laid plans are empty without action, and it takes leadership and a vision to carry it off.

“Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things” ~ Peter F. Drucker

The mistake most make is to think one person in front of the line is leadership. If it takes a village to raise a child then it takes a team to build a company or country.

The Boss says “Go”; the leader says “Let’s Go” ~ H. Gordon Selfridge

Barack Obama is not making up a game plan on his own; he has a strong experienced team working with him.

Once the balloons fall and the champagne consumed, my hope is that what is left is leadership. And when we have strong leadership in anything we do, we're halfway there. If not, we will drink the sand.

km