Blogs: Cult of the Amateur, Digital Narcissism or a Great Idea?
“Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.â€Â
Albert Einstein
At five to nine Monday on BBC Radio 4 a full frontal assault on user-generated content was made by the new self-styled (user-generated?) ‘anti-christ of silicon valley’.
Andrew Keen has written a book entitled ‘Cult of the Amateur‘, he discussed his belief that “the Internet is killing our culture and assaulting our economy”.
I have ordered a copy so reserve judgement on the book however Andrew said some pretty interesting things that went against the grain for me.
Andrew said that the traditional editor is being undermined (i.e. not paid). Music business is in free fall by corrupt user generated content. What? The music industry in free fall? Oh dear. People losing jobs? I’m so sad. No really, I am. But (and yes, I can start a sentence with ‘but’ if I want - no editors here) isn’t it about time for the music industry to tear itself up and start again. Even Alan McGee thinks pimping artists copyright is disingenuous in a digital age.
So what will Music Industry 2.0 look like? I have an idea.
User generated content is not in a ‘novelty phase’ as Appleyard, the other interviewee describes it. Its going to get bigger. If businesses can’t figure out ways to make money from it then they don’t deserve to be in business. Some kids will soon come along and make billions from their ideas because music industry 1.0 is too busy wondering what on earth is going on. I-tunes is for selling iPods not music.
Content is more accessible and its swelling. I would go even further to say that we are living in one of the most creatively inspired and revolutionary periods. Everything is in flux. The people that figure out how the future will look will make a lot of money. I haven’t seen any hard facts that user-generated content is damaging the economy but perhaps its just redistributing it more evenly? New big business will be small.
Keen describes this period in time as ‘a pretty stupid - temporary phase.’ He finds user generated content an ‘enormous threat - especially bloggery’, which is ‘potentially its destroying all forms of authority’. Hmm. He also argues that we are creating a media illiterate culture. He goes on to say that ‘giving laptops to kids is stupid’. Finally, calling blogs an ‘absurd kind of media’.
I believe that the ‘old’ model is broken for a digital age. Instead of complaining that there aren’t ways for journalists to make money (except for bitching in provocative books like this). They should join the revolution and start looking for ways. If we create relevant and compelling content the audience will find you and if its what your after: the money will follow. Or maybe Keen has something and I am being mediocre?
You can read more about Keen and his ideas on his blog! Or can listen to the programme here.
