Here's what they had to say:
I'd say the obscenity busts. There have been a lot of obscenity busts this year. It's cyclical. We're back under this puritan Republican leadership. It's basically a witch hunt, but the business is so much bigger, and the outlaws are more scattered. They're going after people in Florida, there are bookstores being raided all over the place, you have Max Hardcore. I think that's the biggest story of the year.
— Kevin Blatt, Director of Public Relations, GameLink.com
In my opinion, the most significant development in 2007 is the relatively sudden surge in popularity of adult "tube" sites. With the Top 5 sites boasting Alexa rankings from No. 200 to No. 1,000, this medium is gaining notoriety within the industry at an increasingly rapid pace. The full impact of this emerging trend has yet to be determined but rest assured that many are keeping close tabs on the business model adaptability throughout the coming year. For the most part, tube sites are burning through cash monthly at exorbitant rates.
— Platinum Dave, CEO, Platinum Bucks
On the novelty end; we've seen an overall rise in the demand for quality. Education is becoming more and more important. The knowledge to back up what you're selling — and especially what you're creating — is key.
— Allain Rochel, Marketing Director, Stockroom.com
In relation to managing subscription-based membership paysites, the significant amount of momentum in file-sharing programs and more specifically "tube"-style sites, has provided a new business model that allows the consumers an abundance of free content on the Internet. Along with TGPs and link lists (that traditionally connect with paysite galleries) options for consumers have increased. In turn, the consumers have become savvier with their decision-making. Paysite owners are now forced to adapt to a new breed of competition — but competition in any industry is healthy. It is a natural evolution and I am confident that 2257 issues, the demand for higher quality exclusive content, content piracy and age verification will all be addressed in a sophisticated manner to operate in 2008.
— Albert Lazarito, Vice President Of Business Development, Silvercash
In 2007 I decided to get out of the adult business after seven years and return to my previous career as a tennis professional. Unfortunately I learned firsthand the uphill battle people in the adult entertainment industry face when trying to move onto other careers. I lost my job as a recreation specialist, a job I am eminently qualified to do, after an anonymous letter about my past was sent to my supervisors. It's a good time to speak out about issues of what is clearly persecution of those involved in the adult entertainment industry. The religious right has made its way into high places in government, and most people are afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation or negative repercussions. Until now, I never understood why people in the adult business felt they needed to use stage names. I never had a problem using my real name, because we aren't doing anything illegal or wrong. This is discrimination placed upon those of us comfortable working in the adult industry, by those on the far right who believe they are so righteous that they forget about a little thing called the 1st Amendment.
— Geoff Mena (a.k.a. Chef Jeff), IBangPornstars.com
