TechDirt Opens New Media Biz-Models Message Board; Offers $10k for Best Case Examples

Last week, media blog TechDirt launched a new message board  designed to pool the ideas and experiences of musicians, filmmakers, and writers experimenting with new ways to monetize and support their work. Additionally, TechDirt founder Mike Masnick is offering $10,000 to those who submit the best case studies and/or experiences they've had in building alternative business models.

"In thinking about this, we realized that what's really missing out there is a true community to help people figure this stuff out," Masnick said. "There's really no great place for a content creator to ask people how can they better connect with a fan base. There's really no great place out there for an artist to compare different store hosting platforms to see which ones might serve their needs better… so we built one."

Masnick blames a lack of infrastructure for the slow growth of a new market for artists, but he's more encouraged than ever about alternative business models. He also goes on to mention that artists have lacked the knowledge and understanding of these business models up until only recently.

"I think that more down on the ground, the direct-to-fan (movement) has only caught on realistically for the last year or so," he said. "It's been 10 years since Napster, but there was this eight-year period where few people knew what to do. People were shell-shocked. They were focused mostly on changing copyright law and there was little effort to find value. It's only been recently that people started to look for it."

Check out TechDirt’s new discussion platform here.