D.R.E.A.M. Case Study #1

Posit: Distribution Always Wins

or when in doubt, distribution will always be more important than the quality of any single piece of content.

Case in Point: BookTok

Holy shit this week’s indie bookstore bestseller list is all booktok titles pic.twitter.com/nToz7E7c8w
— Anne Trubek (@atrubek) June 14, 2022

To be clear: this is a list of bestsellers only from *independent bookstores*
— Anne Trubek (@atrubek) June 14, 2022

Note: Follow Anne Trubek - owner of BELT - one of the best small book publishers in the land. I also highly recommend her book: So You Want To Publish A Book.

What stands out to me: independent bookstores exist in part because people visit them looking for curated recommendations. You go for the shelves lined with index cards scribbled edge to edge with handwritten recommendations by employees. You go to discover something new. Sure, you also go with a book in mind or looking for a popular new release. But part of the appeal is the ability to explore beyond that one book you've got in mind.

Well... once again those who can attract (monopolize?) digital attention will overwhelm nearly all other cultural signals. Distribution wins. Content will mold itself towards the most popular distributor channel(s). It's becoming an immutable law of modern American capitalism. So say we all.

Prior D.R.E.A.M. Case Studies: None

Future D.R.E.A.M Case Studies: Netflix Home Page? Apple TV App for Sports Fans (iOS 16 y'all, I'm telling you)? 2000s era Drudge Report? or just @ me with any ideas!