Velvet Ropes Drop at Chicago New Media Summit

Today the Chicago New Media Summit dropped its invitation-only policy for the upcoming summit on September 15th and 16th. CNMS, the self-proclaimed, "TED of the Midwest", has increasingly come under fire for the policy, which was dubbed as elitist by some in the tech/web 2.0 community.

I remember a similar clash of new v. old media when I attended the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in 2000. With the Internet bubble bulging, traditional broadcasters felt they were being left behind by the faster-paced new media entrepreneurs. To compensate, NAB opened up a section of the exhibit floor to new media companies.

I was VP of business development for akoo.com, an internet radio broadcaster and search engine. We set up our 10x 20 booth in the new media section with all the other young, tech companies. In typical trade-show fashion, we had music playing, computer screens, raffles, games and give-aways to attract people to our booth.

In contrast, the old media section, which included most of the major broadcasters, cable and television production companies, had HUGE booths to emulate their posh Manhattan offices with receptionists, velvet ropes and waiting areas. No one was allowed in without an appointment. Periodically throughout the day, each old media company would schedule an autograph session by a broadcast personality simultaneously appeasing the "little people" and demonstrating their clout in the industry.

As I walked the exhibit hall, I couldn't help but chuckle at the elitism in the old media section and the naïve enthusiasm in the new. Each section wanted something the other one had. Old media needed the excitement and growth potential of new media. New media companies needed a viable, sustainable audience that would pay for something (or at least watch an ad or two).

The attitude of old v. new media is a reflection of the medium itself. As Marshall McLuhan said, "the medium is the message". Traditional broadcasters rely on the allocation of scarce broadcast spectrum to the few who could afford to pay costly licensing fees. For the most part, traditional broadcasters are an elite group who control a powerful communication tool.

On the other hand, the attitude of new media participants reflect the open nature of the Internet. Anyone with a computer, $15 webcam and and internet connection can participate. There are no gate-keepers or velvet ropes in the world of new media - just content and lots of it.

CNMS invitation-only policy was the equivalent of the velvet-ropes outside the old media booths at NAB. Dropping the policy is the right thing to do. I also suggest dropping the rigid CNMS music submission policy, which is much more like an old school record-label submission policy than a new media effort.

I applaud the vision behind CNMS. I hope they continue to embrace an inclusive attitude that reflects the openness of the Internet versus the exclusionary tactics of old media.

Besides, everyone knows that, in Chicago, only posers go to clubs with velvet ropes outside.