BUSINESS HAS CHANGED

​The landscape of business has undergone a profound transformation.

In recent conversations with my best friend, we've touched upon a topic that's gaining traction: the notion of demanding payment for sharing information, music, or films—an age-old strategy encapsulated in the phrase "The game is to be sold not told." Many argue that compensation should precede any sharing.

However, I firmly believe this approach is outdated and could ultimately undermine your business.

Most of us grew up with the belief that creating entertainment meant producing a product and then seeking out a major corporation to buy it, surrendering ownership of masters, publishing rights, copyrights, and artwork in exchange for an advance. These corporations would handle marketing, promotions (often at your expense), sales collection, and receive a cut from performances, merchandise, endorsements, and other related revenue streams. Essentially, a single entity would dictate how the public accessed and used your creations.

Today, I'm here to declare that this traditional model has fundamentally shifted.

The rapid exchange of information, audio, video, and business files among people globally, often without monetary transactions, has redefined how businesses operate. Direct access to consumers is giving rise to new business models, with governments and private industries swiftly adapting, while some sectors lag behind, clinging to practices from the 1980s.

Consider Russia's initiative to digitize and make accessible their entire library collection online, encompassing literature from various languages like English, French, German, and more. Similarly, countries like Africa, India, and China are making significant strides in joining the global internet community, thereby democratizing access to vast reservoirs of knowledge and information worldwide.

Previously, distributing products required engaging distributors who handled shipping, warehousing, and communication with businesses, often under contracts that allowed them to profit significantly from successful projects, should they be picked up by major labels. This was the accepted norm.

Today, the largest distributor of audiovisual content is Facebook.

In the past, creativity largely flourished through individual efforts across various fields like writing, music, dance, filmmaking, painting, and design. Collaborations were limited and personal style was paramount.

Now, creativity thrives on a global exchange of ideas. What was once termed "sampling" or "biting" is now integral to global education. Much of my own inspiration and ideas stem from interactions online with diverse individuals from different countries, all sharing common threads of thought.

We've become a society of "screen people," with millions engaging daily. Establishing an online presence with positive social media and search engine visibility has become indispensable for credibility and trust in today's market. Conversely, those with negative online reputations are quickly shunned.

The concept of piracy has evolved into what I call "Motivation Meeting Opportunity." If I possess a copy of your work and there's a demand to access it, I can distribute it freely. While controversial, this kind of file sharing is commonplace, particularly among younger generations who view the internet as a limitless source of free information, music, and video.

For years, copyright laws have troubled me, seeming antiquated and favoring those with money and influence. Major labels, publishers, and performing rights organizations have amassed billions while original creators often receive only a fraction of the profits generated through copyright enforcement. The internet is challenging these norms worldwide, necessitating new approaches and solutions.

The emerging paradigm favors "User Licenses" over rigid copyright laws, emphasizing agreements between users and licensors for product usage rights. This approach is gaining traction, especially with End User Licensing Agreements (EULAs) becoming prevalent in the entertainment sector worldwide.

Today's successful businesses prioritize open communication and the free flow of information. The outdated practice of withholding information until payment is received is obsolete in this new era. While some may cling to traditional notions, I embrace an open business approach, sharing knowledge, files, and business insights freely. In my experience, an open hand often receives more than a closed fist ever could. I'm not foregoing compensation, but I refuse to delay sharing valuable information and resources in anticipation of a future payday.