SXSW 2012 - Free Is Dead. Fan Experiences are Priceless.

Free Is Dead. Fan Experiences are Priceless.
Event	Interactive 2011
Format	Panel
Organizer	Chris MacDonald – IndieFeed - Prsh.us
Description	We are all drowning in an overabundance of free and the music industry is only the first to suffer the consequences of digital abundance. The thing is, free is pretty damn tough to beat. But there is hope for creative professionals in new business approaches that take the opposite approach of free. Rather than focusing on monetizing digital bits, new models emphasize value through unique one-of-a-kind experiences, the kinds fans actually pay for. Is this the beginning of a renaissance that can sustain industries that rely on fan income, and is it scalable? Or are we simply on a detour toward the inevitable decline of profit in fan-centric industries?
Questions Answered	How bad is it for professional creatives? In other words, from the artist's standpoint, how unsustainable is the current course of relying on sales of digital project? What are companies and artists doing today to provide additional revenue streams for creative professionals? Are there concrete examples of experiences that are worth offering to fans? Can experience economy models keep creatives in the black financially? What roles do labels and traditional third parties play in this new landscape?
Level	Intermediate
Category	New Technology / Next Generation
Tags	experiences, Monetize, music

Free Is Dead. Fan Experiences are Priceless.