The same Internet that allows Netflix to help a small number of cinephiles discover an obscure documentary might also allow that filmmaker to be in touch with these same people directly, perhaps converting what Kelly termed “Lesser Fans” into “True Fans,” defined as those “who will purchase anything and everything you produce,” who “will drive 200 ... See more

This may sound dystopian to some, the plotline of a Black Mirror episode. But social tokens are part of a broader and fundamentally positive phenomenon: everyone is becoming an investor. Over time, wealth has accumulated with a select few—the investing class—while the rest of America rents time as salaried and hourly workers. Only one in two Americ... See more

This is a groundbreaking idea: tokenized fan communities reward the most devoted and earliest fans, rather than those with the most money. I’ll again use the example of Taylor Swift. For her Reputation tour, Swift pioneered a new model for concert tickets: only “verified” top fans could get a first pass at tickets, with the goal of ensuring ticket ... See more

Scout is a pre-seed and unannounced startup allowing fans to buy virtual trading cards of their favorite creators. An up-and-coming creator can issue a limited number of trading cards—say 100 cards for $100 each. Fans purchase those cards and unlock new levels of access: a weekly livestream with the creator, exclusive merchandise, backstage passes ... See more