XBIZ
A Tale of Two Markets
Two things serve to balance the entry into the Internet market by the "established" studios vs. the "no friggen' budget home made porn" guys who are already there in hoards.
XBIZ, XFANZ Join Forces With Exotic Erotic Ball & Expo
The 28th annual Exotic Erotic Ball and Expo has teamed with XBIZ and XFANZ for the 2007 show, which takes place at the Cow Palace in San Francisco over Halloween weekend, Oct. 26-27.
Processing Myths Destroyed
At the end of the day the most important aspect of your business is making it profitable and keeping it safe for longevity. You can have a beautiful site, market it well, and get all the traffic you need, but if you can't accept electronic payments your site is dead on the web.
Fractured Fairytales
A column or two ago, I postulated that those already established in the online adult biz should be looking over their shoulders because the video guys — meaning the studios — are coming online with a vengeance.
So Hot Right Now
The adult world is a lot like the fashion world. There are the Chanels and the Guccis — the visionaries — who brainstorm, research and spark trends that, once proven popular, are snatched up by smaller companies.
X3 – Excellence in Action
Among the celebrations of the anniversary of American independence, we launched the latest version of XBIZ — X3. Less than a week afterward, I flew to Las Vegas for the XBIZ Summer '07 Forum. Both of these events raise the bar even further, setting new standards of adult industry excellence.
Your Exit Strategy
Private companies do not sell easily. As the size of a business increases — by top line, bottom line or head count — the mechanics become more difficult and the field of likely buyers shrinks.
L.A. City Beat, Indie 103.1 Sponsor Erotica Film Fest
Alternative newsweekly Los Angeles City Beat and progressive radio station Indie 103.1 FM have joined the Los Angeles Erotica Film Fest as media sponsors.
The Genesis of Gonzo
Pinning down the precise moment of conception within any creative field is never a simple task. Events become generalized over time and survivors have the advantage of being able to rewrite history. Pornography is no different, so asking a seemingly simple question like who invented gonzo can bring forth numerous JFK-worthy theories.
Funeral Arrangements Announced for Lenny Friedlander
The funeral for New Beginnings owner Lenny Friedlander will take place Aug. 8. Friedlander will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetary in New Orleans.
WIA Profile: Lea Busick
Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
Taking the Heat
One definition of insanity, usually attributed to Albert Einstein, is "continuing to do the same thing over and over, and then expecting different results."
Trade Show Tips
Recently, XBIZ World magazine asked several adult industry players "What do you do to maximize the benefits of attending industry trade shows?" Here's what they had to say.
XBIZ Summer '07 Forum 2257 Panel Footage Online Now
Video coverage of the July 12 legal panel at the XBIZ Summer '07 Forum is online now.
Government-Sanctioned Copyright Infringement?
A little-known dispute between the island nation of Antigua and the United States may turn into a major headache for media companies, including those in the adult entertainment industry. Specifically, Antigua is threatening to withdraw its agreement to protect United States copyright and other intellectual property rights, as a result of the United States’ refusal to honor a World Trade Organization (“WTO”) ruling, finding it in non-compliance with the 1994 General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).
Design In-Depth
It only takes a few seconds for a web surfer to decide whether or not a site is worth clicking through; adult websites need to look as hot and fresh as the adult stars they highlight. There's more to a successful adult site than perky breasts and a round rear end — and that's why the industry has top-notch web designers to take care of the rest. We asked five of the top adult-website designers what turns users on, and what colors, fonts and software help flip the switch.
A Customer Service Plan
Have you ever visited a website and had a problem with it that you couldn't easily find an answer for? Perhaps you've joined a paysite and then lost your username and password or didn't know the cancellation process. Perhaps you ordered a product and wished to know its current shipping status or had a question about the return policy before placing your order. Maybe the video you just downloaded simply won't play on your computer.
Keeping Line Open on 2257
In October representatives of the adult industry, including several industry attorneys, sat down with officials from the FBI to discuss a host of issues surrounding the 2257 inspection process. While few details of the meeting were publicly disclosed, one thing that both parties emphasized following the meeting was a sincere desire to forge a line of communication between the adult entertainment industry and the federal agency tasked with regulating the industry's U.S.- based businesses.
CP Registries
According to the family groups, moralizing politicians and conservative evangelicals who populate America's Religious Right, drugs and gangs have taken a backseat to a more sinister threat to our children. This threat is often described as part of the very fabric of cyberspace, invading our homes through ever-faster Internet connections.
Brand Elevation
The strongest brands in the adult business have not attained the financial or market strength of their peers in mainstream businesses.