Amway Makes Ill-Timed Entrance Into The Music Business
Most of the e-mails I get just pass over me like a huge cloud of data smog, but yesterday, a weird note from someone saying that an Outro post from last month “was funny all over the map,” and that my “expressiveness, passion, and creativity are what actually inspired [him] to send [me] this email” stuck out, mainly because a) Jess wrote the post in question and b) I like to think that posts containing actual content are more worthy of e-high-fives than our slapped-together week-ending wrap-ups. (Not that I don’t mind flattery, but still.) The dude was pitching me on a company called Fanista, and his description of the site’s revenue-sharing model sounded a little pyramid-schemey to me. As it turns out, I have pretty good instincts! Because according to Hits, Fanista is actually an effort to get into the ever-less-lucrative business of distributing creative content by the multi-level marketing company Amway. (Who are not, it should be noted, name-dropped in the e-mail pitch at all.) The company’s M.O., at least according to the e-mail I got, after the jump.
Like you, I’m an ardent fan of all things entertainment. That’s one of the reasons I am so excited to be a part of a new company called Fanista.com. It is a web site made for real, impassioned fans. The site’s community is focused exclusively on music, DVDs, games and books, and is a place where members can share their reviews and opinions as well as shop. In its simplest form, Fanista.com is an attempt to replicate online what we all do in the physical world: champion the artists and entertainment we love. Also, like the real world, there is NO charge or subscription fee to do what it is we all do so naturally.
I’d really love for you to be one of the first reviewers. Why? Well, to be honest, we need you — someone smart, inspiring and articulate to help us build the foundation of the community. From what I’ve read of your writing, seems you fit the mold.
And we’re willing to reward you for your efforts if you’re interested. Through our unique “Common Interest Commerce,” or “CIC,” rewards program, users who become CIC members can earn up to two levels of commission: 5% of every purchase made by the friends they bring in, and, when their friends become CIC members, another 5% of every purchase made by the friends of their friends. Users can also earn insider perks and achieve social status for establishing themselves as tastemakers and “experts” when they share their voice and loves with the Fanista.com community at large. It’s our way of rewarding the people who help us build the community.
Fanista.com is a way for you to amplify your voice, to let others hear what you have to say, to influence the people around you…and to get something tangible in exchange for all of it. So, check it out. Sign up. Bring your friends. Earn some cash. Get other perks. Change the world — or at least help us try to pioneer a new model!
This “new model” sounds like an unwieldy combination of Epinions (web 1.0 holla!) and Amazon’s affiliate program to me. On the bright side, it has the advantage of being able to say “Well, at least we’re more legit than Burnlounge, right?”, out of the gate.
Fanista [Official site]
