Trent Reznor Using His Fans And Tiers Model To Save A Life
from the using-it-for-good... dept
We've certainly talked a lot about the various ways that Trent Reznor has been exploring creative new business models that center around connecting with fans and giving them a reason to buy, but he's now using the same concepts to try to help save a life. On Wednesday, he announced a program to get people to donate money to help Eric De La Cruz get a heart transplant, whereby people who donate certain amounts to the cause will get to hang out/meet with Reznor and other band members during his ongoing tour involving both Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction (which, by the way, hits Silicon Valley tonight, for those in the area -- though, they're not accepting any more donations for people going to tonight's show). As with the Ghosts I-IV model, there are different "tiers" of support available. In just two days, he's been able to raise nearly half a million dollars, once again showing the power of having a strong community and trying to do something good with it. It will be fascinating to see if there's more that can be done along these lines in the future as well -- turning some of these business models into helping out those in need.
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Filed Under: charity, donations, nine inch nails, tiers, trent reznor
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Masnick Effect
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Re: Masnick Effect
Reznor should raise money to support brain transplants of RIAA execs.
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Re: Re: Masnick Effect
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Re: Masnick Effect
Most people are very generous, even in this down-turned economy. The thing about serious social media users is that we stay more tuned-in to what is going on with others. That gives us an advantage to "be in the know" when others need help.
We cannot save the whole entire world, but when individuals get together through social media for heartfelt expressions of need...we come through...even for a hip, a knee, a blood drive, a flood, hurricane, bone marrow donation, Susie needs a new bike, help send a kid to Space Camp, it doesn't matter.
Don't think for one minute that if my beloved husband, Joe, needed a knee I would not be tweeting up my online media moguls like crazy asking for help. I would.
Ya know what? I would ask for help if we needed it and there is not one fiber of my being that believes they wouldn't come through for me and mine.
Joe would get his knee because, over time and multiple correspondences, I know in my heart that MY Tweeples...are some of the best, most loving, generous "Peoples" on the planet.
It's about building better relationships over time. My opinion is: It matters not "what" the need is. As long as it's genuine people will come through for you. We're human.
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It is completely obvious that any victory in the courtroom for the RIAA (if you can even call it that) will only plug a small hole in a leaking dam.
The music/movie industry needs change - they needed change 5 years ago, and now they are scrambling, while at the same time alienating its community base. Awesome stuff.
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Re:
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The RIAA model?
If you don't donate, does he then kill Eric?
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He's the greatest thing since...
THIS JUST IN:
"Trent Reznor saves puppy from burning building while working on complete, non-intrusive cure for leukemia, news at 11..."
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Trent Reznor isnt a genius
But the fact that they have worked so well is mostly due to the fact that he is Trent Reznor. His models only work because he was already famous... its the same thing as 'In Rainbows' (which, dont get me wrong is an amazing album).
These aren't valid business models for bands who aren't already hugely popular. And unfortunately, pretty much every band that is hugely popular got that way in the old system- you know, major labels, distribution, ad money and the like...
Show me a new business model for the music industry that works just as well for someone with 500 fans as it does for someone with 50,000,000 and I'll call you a genius...
That said, at least he's trying.
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Re: Trent Reznor isnt a genius
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Re: Trent Reznor isnt a genius
Bob, I addressed that argument in the presentation I did a few months ago:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20090422/0407024607.shtml
In it, I discuss Reznor's model, and then show how 5 other acts, small, medium and large are all using variations on the same model to be successful.
Show me a new business model for the music industry that works just as well for someone with 500 fans as it does for someone with 50,000,000 and I'll call you a genius...
You are probably defining "model" too narrowly here. But they are all using that same model: connect with fans + provide a valuable *scarcity* to buy. It works great. Big or small. Oh yeah, being good helps.
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Re: Trent Reznor isnt a genius
I'm not saying he's genius because he's showing himself to be a good businessman. Or that he's a genius because he does do interesting takes on music using some very non standard techniques from time to time. Just when you look at everything he's done and doing... yes he is a genius.
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Pookie
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just one
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Re: just one
Indeed. But should he not help at all just because it's only helping one person?
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Re: just one
Do you throw your money at something where you may never see any return? Or do you throw your money at one particular case where you are guaranteed to make a difference?
Just because there are other people who need transplants does not mean that you shouldn't help a single one. You make decisions like that when you choose a single charity or cause to donate to.
You could be saving peoples lives.. Are you in the bone marrow registry? Are you an organ donor? You could donate a kidney... etc...
You choose your battles. You can't fault Reznor for his choice.
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Re: Re: just one
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That being said, I heard that the RIAA is thinking of going after this if Eric actually does get the new heart, since the original creator wouldn't be receiving any money from the deal.
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tru dat
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Kinda Scary
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Re: Kinda Scary
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Re: Re: Kinda Scary
He did have a major part in Joseph in the Technicolor Dreamcoat in High School too. :-)
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how it all began
A few of us just started tweet soliciting anyone we could. We had a lot of visibility from tweets by Demi Moore and The Expert and handful of others celebrities. People caught on and someone close to Trent informed him. Trent Reznor tweeted for our campaign and then subsequently decided to help in more substantial ways.
Prior to Trent Reznor helping out the with the effort, the campaign attracted about $6k in donations. I would estimate that without Trent Reznor we would be about $10k now. I'm still trying to get the hard numbers on what Trent Reznor has contributed seperate from what the tweet campaign has done, but I think it may be baseless now since Trent's fans claim to have been donating generously independent of buying backstage passes. I've been trying to keep a "twlog" of the what's been happening here: http://www.tweet4eric.com/
E.Nacino
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