LOS ANGELES — Last week’s XBIZ Show brought an elite group of industry insiders across all market segments to Hollywood for the annual trade event that reveals the current state of adult entertainment — and also defines its future.
Offering something for everyone, XBIZ 2017 united decision makers and company execs, with producers, performers, marketers and more, to provide a comprehensive showcase of services, tactics, technology, and business resources that points the way towards the industry’s evolution.
While XBIZ hosts other gatherings throughout the year, including its summer show in Miami and autumn event in Berlin, it is the Los Angeles series that kicks-off the new year — providing a perfect opportunity for attendees to polish their operational roadmaps for the months ahead.
For example, many website operators will return from XBIZ 2017 with “move to the most secure method of HTTPS and set it to default” higher on their priority list, following the Free Speech Coalition’s panel featuring Brian Wesolowski from the Center for Democracy & Technology; Chaturbate’s Shirley Lara, winner of the 2017 XBIZ Exec Award for Businesswoman of the Year; plus Firefox’s Selena Deckelmann; and Wired.com’s Zach Tolman; along with FSC’s Eric Leue.
This informative session was an example of how FSC’s proactive initiatives, fueled by Leue’s enthusiasm, helps the industry move forward — and along with recent positive developments in FSC’s ongoing battle over 18 USC ‘2257, underscores the coalition’s value.
From ASACP’s work to protect children online, to the joint industry effort by groups such as the FSC and APAC, along with a host of independent companies, performers, and producers, in defeating California’s Prop 60 while coming together to address the concerns of Cal/OSHA and more, today’s adult industry is becoming much more adult. Despite the past cynicism of naysayers, it is indeed possible to “herd cats” — uniting diverse interests when they stand on common ground.
Other hot topics at XBIZ 2017 were focused on mobile technology, haptics, Big Data, and the alphabet soup of emerging immersive technologies, including AR, MR, VR, and more. Want the short course? Check out OhMiBod and Kiiroo’s connected toys, Terpon’s VR webcam, RubyVR’s branded headsets, mobile usage, and one-click billing, then take it from there...
Need more? VR (especially cam- or POV-style VR) is not about porn, but about relationships. Make sure the performer provides plenty of eye-contact, and do not skimp on audio, as it is the primary source of spatial reference in a virtual realm. Or as HoloFilms’ Anna Lee noted at the XBIZ Show’s executive panel on VR technology, “When a model whispers in the VR user’s left ear, he wants to hear it in his left ear.”
This is the type of tip that is in abundance at all XBIZ events, where one small piece of practical info can make the difference between profit and loss in a porn production.
Of course there were many other business models and markets represented at this year’s XBIZ Show, with a common denominator best described as “positive optimism,” where despite the perennial fears that the industry faces when any new U.S. President takes power, forecasts for a better economy along with better offers based on new technology and better business plans, predict a renaissance for many industry segments.
For the first time in some time, the broad opinion was that it is a good time to be in adult.
As companies consider the new relationships, strategic information, and actionable data on current trends they garnered at XBIZ 2017, upping their game amidst growing competition, refreshing their sites, packaging, delivery and more, consumers will notice — and continue to find porn that is worth paying for.
We’ll see you at XBIZ Miami!