Good to see some debate around the idea of the moment: the long tail…Ever since Chris Anderson first wrote his article about the concept of “the long tail”, the idea that online content and retailers can have near-limitless inventory and the eroding of the “blockbuster” business model, the idea has been discussed widely online.
Now that’s he launched his book, Chris Anderson’s idea is getting a lot of attention in the mainstream media.
There’s (at least) two copies of the book doing the rounds at the Spannerworks office and the idea is stirring up real debate over email and over a coffee or a drink here too. It seems to catch the spirit of the age, not just in the specifics of the long tail effect, but in the more general sense that the explosion of innovation and new thinking around the web is really making itself felt. The world seems to be shifting beneath our feet.
Now though, we’re beginning to see some close scrutiny of not only the premise of the long tail theory but the numbers behind it.
Lee Gomes leads the charge in the Wall Street Journal, and feels that at the very least the business world should “wait before ripping up any business plans.” Well, yes, wait maybe - but watch closely and be ready to move when you have to…
If there is one trend that is clear in 2006, it is that the rate of change in media and business is fast - and speeding up.
Naturally Chris Anderson hits back via his blog.
