Isaac Hayes III: Reshaping the Digital Content Landscape

Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture

Isaac Hayes III, a visionary entrepreneur and tech innovator, joins Tom and Jeffrey to talk about the journey behind Fanbase, a platform poised to change the game in content creation and monetization. Imagine a space where creators can truly own their narratives and get paid directly for their influence—Isaac shares how this idea became a reality. He opens up about the moment he saw the need to bridge the gap between social media platforms and Black culture, inspiring him to create Fanbase’s subscription model, which challenges the norms of traditional engagement.

From the music world to the tech space, Isaac’s journey is full of lessons in resilience and ingenuity. He delves into his experience bootstrapping Fanbase without traditional venture capital, drawing connections between the power dynamics of record labels and venture funding. With insights into pivotal choices—like bringing on CTO Ramiro Cánovas—Isaac takes us behind the scenes to see how Fanbase’s unique subscription model was built to offer monetization opportunities similar to streaming services.

We explore the future of content creation and what a decentralized model could mean for influencers, brands, and the broader tech landscape. Isaac sheds light on his journey to raise $10 million through equity crowdfunding, highlighting how ownership and community support are reshaping tech. Plus, he shares his perspective on a key issue—music rights and how they’ve been handled in recent years, including his thoughts on the controversy surrounding music use in the Trump campaign.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of innovation, equity, and the power of creators to shape the digital future.
"Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Creative and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/

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1. Empowering Creatives With Fanbase Platform (00:00:00)

2. Revolutionizing Subscription Services in Tech (00:08:15)

3. Unpacking Social Media Business Models (00:16:30)

4. The Evolution of Content Consumption (00:27:38)

5. Decentralizing Television With Fanbase Platforms (00:39:41)

6. Future of Subscriptions and AI Integration (00:45:02)

7. Empowering Black Business Through Equity Crowdfunding (00:49:12)

8. The Future of Crowdfunding and Investments (00:57:15)

9. Navigating Music Rights in Politics (01:09:58)