Sassy adult trade publication ingenue XBiz has released its titillating expose’ of the porn world, The State of the Industry: Researched And Revealed. I breathlessly rang up XBiz president Alec Helmy and asked him the questions on everyone’s mind.
Gram: Why This, Why Now?
Helmy: The idea was inspired by the fact that a professional-level market study had never been conducted before. We also set out to study and report on the most significant trends impacting the industry today. The project took close to a year to fully execute.
Gram: Consumers can spend either $280 or $470 for this publication. What is the difference between the deluxe report and the summary (please say more nudity)?
Helmy: The Full edition is over 200 pages and goes into far greater detail than the Executive edition. (There are) more charts, graphs, and data filters (in the Full edition). (See preview here.)
At 200 pages and $470, the Full edition carries a greater page value, at $2.35 a page. The 35-page Executive edition costs $8 a page. That’s a $5.65 savings from every page plus, as Helmy pointed out, more charts, graphs, and data filters. One could take those charts, graphs, and data filters to Starbucks and easily purchase 190 pages’ worth of venti lattes with the savings.
Gram: I haven’t read more than the table of contents. Would you say there are useful surprises?
Helmy: The report reinforces what we’ve been reading/hearing about the state of the industry. What makes the content unique is that it’s purely based on the adult business community’s response to our market study survey questions.
Gram: Is there any sector of the population less trustworthy than the adult business community?
Luckily, Sarah LoPrinzi of “XBiz Research,” the firm created to generate the report, said in a stetement that “So how’s it going? Good?” was not the sort of question she asked.
“If we provided actual question phrasing and answer choices, the data from the survey would be skewed and influenced by human tendencies to change minds or decide over time to answer differently. Surveys are essentially snapshots of participants’ reality. How a participant answers may vary day to day. Invariably, our perceptions are influenced by whether or not a day or week has gone well.”
LoPrinzi has an impressive track record of energy and technology analysis. According to a biography obtained from The Internet, “LoPrinzi specializes in technology and intellectual property strategy and develops IP documentation and analysis studies for Fortune 100 companies, with particular emphasis on IT technology and algorithmically based inventions.”
One of LoPrinzi’s blockbusters was her 2005 “The Process Spectroscopy Market,” a report that costs $4500. Aren’t you glad the adult industry doesn’t use process spectroscopy and, following Max Hardcore’s incarceration, also doesn’t use sigmoidoscopy?
Gram: What is the value of this research to an industry veteran? To an interested investor? To someone wanting to break into the business? To an outside business reporter?
Helmy: It has substantial value for those who don’t have their finger on the pulse of the industry – and that’s the majority of folks out there.
Gram: Who is the audience for this survey?
Helmy: (The) primary audience is the adult business community, secondary are entrepreneurs, journalists/media, etc.
I’m not sure if this indicates that the primary audience for this report is also the target audience. If this is so, Helmy is saying that the “most of the folks out there” in the adult industry don’t have their finger on the pulse of the adult industry, thus the need for the Full edition.
My experience with adult trade publication employment is that the majority of people who read adult trade publications are looking for their names in print (this is similar to any trade publication). But LoPrinzi says that there is value for the casual observer, too:
“This industry’s business patterns provide valuable information to markets outside of adult entertainment,” LoPrinzi said. “Adult entertainment businesses employ unique technologies and innovative business models while maintaining a pattern of frequent change. Business professionals from all industries will gain new insight from our market research.”
Gram: Is this the sort of publication that will be produced once a year?
Helmy: We’ll gauge overall response to the study and decide.
Gram: I can’t wait! Final questions: Would you say the report ends like the Book of Revelation?
Helmy: No, it’s not apocalyptic literature.
Gram: Does it have a centerfold?
Helmy: Yes, featuring text and charts, graphs, and data filters.
Gram: Do you suggest reading it with the lights on?
Helmy: Yes, we don’t offer it in Braille.
Gram: Will it be translated into Arabic?
Helmy: We’re only considering Hebrew and Farsi editions at the moment.
Gram: Well, you’ve got the adult industry’s demographics down. But what about the Armenians who say they’re Mexican? And are you sending it to AVN for review?
Helmy: We can…
Gram: Is there anyone left there to review it?
Helmy: Mark Kernes?
Gram: Are you hoping for an Oprah endorsement?
Helmy: No, but we hope Obama will once he fixes the economy.
Gram: Will there be a signing?
Helmy: No, but we’ll be holding a special presentation at the XBIZ Conference ’09 in Woodland Hills.
The XBiz State of the Industry Conference (“The Adult Entertainment Industry’s Leading Trade Conference” – XBiz) will be held next week at the Warner Marriott in Woodland Hills. The Conference culminates with the XBiz Awards in Hollywood.
Previously on Porn Valley Observed: Porn screenwriting 101; Backstage at the XBiz Awards – a night of heroes
See also: XBiz Research, XBiz State of the Industry Conference
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