Fighting for MySpace | Millions of Emails | 1

Business Movers

Wondery

History, Business, Entrepreneurship

4.8 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2021

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson had no intention of starting a tech revolution. But when their website, MySpace, took off in 2003, it changed social media and the internet forever. As MySpace grows into one of the biggest sites in the world and attracts media giants like Rupert Murdoch, Chris and Tom will have to fight to keep control of their own creation.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to business movers add free on Amazon music, download the app today.
0:07.0	To listen to business movers one week early and add free, join Wondry Plus in the Wondry app.
0:13.0	Download the Wondry app in your Apple or Google Play mobile app store today.
0:31.0	It's February 2001 and Chris DeWolf's office in Los Angeles.
0:36.0	DeWolf and his pal Tom Anderson make changes to an email newsletter they're about to send to millions of readers.
0:43.0	Chris heads up marketing and Tom works as a copywriter for XDrive, an internet startup that sells online storage space.
0:50.0	Chris is a born optimist with a look and attitude of a laid back Southern California surfer.
0:57.0	Tom is a quiet guy who prefers to be left alone to write, but today they're both on edge.
1:03.0	In 2001, the internet is nascent with new dot com companies flooding the market and disappearing as quickly as they show up.
1:11.0	XDrive is one of those dot coms and it's hemorrhaging money.
1:15.0	Leadership wants to make massive cuts so they brought in Carl Klesig a turnaround specialist to trim the fat.
1:22.0	Klesig, who has his sights set on the marketing department, peers in the doorway and steps inside Chris's office.
1:28.0	Alright guys, I'm going to get right to the point. Your marketing isn't pulling its way.
1:32.0	Chris is ready though with a counter argument.
1:35.0	I disagree Carl.
1:36.0	Our newsletter has over 6 million readers. We have millions of emails going out regularly. That's a lot of eyes.
1:42.0	Eyes on what?
1:43.0	The newsletter doesn't push XDrive's online storage services. Most of the time it has nothing to do with the company at all.
1:49.0	Random tips and little stories.
1:51.0	I don't understand the point. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's not working.
1:56.0	Then explain to me what you're doing.
1:58.0	Tell me why this newsletter, which seems to be your marketing team's primary focus, is good for business.
	...

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