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The a16z Show

The New Fan Club: Creators, Fans, and the Power of Markets (& Crypto)

The a16z Show

a16z

Software Eating The World, Technology, Innovation, Science, Disruption, Culture, Entrepreneurship, Business

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2020

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today’s episode, part two in our two-part series on the Creator Economy, focuses on the new potential revenue streams and fan-engagement models opened up by emerging decentralized technology. It's a new type of fan club, driven by crypto networks and aiming to give creators more power in the commercial sphere. Zoran Basich of a16z talked to two guests deeply immersed in these topics. Kayvon Tehranian is the founder and CEO of Foundation Labs, a platform for buying and selling limited edition goods. Think of it as a crypto marketplace that creates new revenue streams for creators, and financial incentives for buyers. Before that he was head of product at cryptocurrencies marketplace Dharma Labs, and he has long worked on making crypto more accessible to the mainstream. Jesse Walden is a former a16z partner who recently launched his own fund, Variant, which focuses on what he calls the ownership economy enabled by crypto. He also previously cofounded the startup Mediachain, which was acquired by Spotify, and is a former music promoter and manager whose focus was on helping artists stay independent. Kayvon and Jesse explain how the emerging crypto models differ from previous attempts to create new revenue streams for artists, and about the role of speculation and hype in creator markets. They also debate whether these new markets will largely be driven by financial motives, or whether cultural factors will be equally powerful in determining the growth of creator markets. And they offer advice to creators interested in exploring this new world, including important practical guidance on expectations and timelines.  Stay Updated: Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube Find a16z on X Find a16z on LinkedIn Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg   Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript

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0:00.0

The content here is for informational purposes only should not be taken as legal business tax or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any A16Z fund.

0:14.3

For more details please see A16Z.com slash disclosures.

0:18.0

Hi, welcome to the A16Z podcast, I'm Zoran.

0:23.0

Today's episode is about the rapidly evolving creator economy.

0:26.9

How artists and creators of all kinds can monetize their work,

0:30.6

connect with fans, and turn those fans into their most motivated and

0:34.2

enthusiastic marketers. This is part two in a two-part series on the

0:37.7

Creator Economy, and it focuses on the new potential revenue streams and

0:41.4

fan engagement models opened up by emerging

0:43.9

decentralized technology, which is also broadening the definition of what a fan even is.

0:47.9

We're talking 24-7 instant stock markets where fans as well as speculators can buy creative work or buy and trade shares in that work with the creator getting paid from those secondary deals.

0:59.0

It's a new type of fan club driven by crypto networks and aiming to give creators more power in the

1:04.7

commercial sphere.

1:05.8

We've got two guests that are deeply immersed in these topics.

1:09.0

Kavon Terranian is the founder and CEO of Foundation Labs, a platform for buying and selling limited-addition

1:14.6

goods. Think of it as a crypto marketplace that creates new revenue streams for creators and

1:20.0

financial incentives for buyers. Before that he was head of product at

1:23.9

Cryptocurrency's marketplace darma labs and he has long worked on making

1:27.4

crypto more accessible to the mainstream. Jesse Walden is a former A16Z

1:32.2

partner who recently launched his own fund variant which focuses on what he calls the ownership economy enabled by crypto

1:38.6

He also previously co-founded the startup media chain which was acquired by Spotify and he's a

1:44.4

former music promoter and manager whose focus was on helping artists stay

...

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