It's almost like Radiohead's pay-what-you-will business model, only this time, the goods come gratis. That is, completely free. Over the next week, readers of fantasy novelist and award-winning short-story writer Neil Gaiman will be voting on which of his eight publications should be put online for free. An electronic scan of the winning title will be offered on the HarperCollins site later this month, at no charge. Gaiman already offers plenty of content for free on his site, such as the first chapter of “Stardustâ€, and numerous short stories.
In his blog, the writer explains that this online effort really isn't too different from a kind of peer-to-peer sharing that's been going on for generations.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Free Online Content
- The trend of offering free online content to engage and attract readers and fans.
- User-driven Selection
- The trend of allowing users to vote and choose which content they want to see.
- Peer-to-peer Sharing
- The trend of embracing and utilizing peer-to-peer sharing as a means of distributing content.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Publishing
- The publishing industry can explore offering free online content to engage readers and build a loyal fan base.
- Media and Entertainment
- The media and entertainment industry can implement user-driven selection mechanisms to involve fans and maximize engagement.
- Technology
- The technology industry can develop platforms and tools that facilitate seamless and secure peer-to-peer sharing of digital content.
