My Interview with Dave Nemetz: Founder of Bleacher Report, Inverse, and GM of Culture + Innovation at BDG Media.
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I had the great pleasure of interviewing Dave Nemetz, founder of Bleacher Report, Inverse, and GM of Culture+Innovation at BDG Media. Dave was kind enough to share his perspective on the changing world of media and entertainment and has some thought-provoking answers. In this time of uncertainty, Dave’s experience gives him a pretty unique point of view and some amazing insight. Make sure to follow him on Twitter at @davenemetz!
What do you think is the most exciting trend in media and culture today?
World-building. The most interesting media and entertainment properties are building deep, immersive worlds that continue to draw audiences in and make them feel part of something new and distinct. We first saw this with comic books and video games, most famously with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Prestige TV has gone further and further in this direction, creating rich mythologies around shows to encourage cult fanbases to delve deeper into online. But now we’re seeing it pop up in all sorts of places. Barstool Sports is effectively world-building. They have a language, culture, and mythology of their own making. From the outside it doesn’t make sense, but if you’re a fan, you ‘get it.’ I think we’re going to see more and more media and entertainment brands invest in world-building to deepen their connection with audiences.
How has the Coronavirus impacted your specific business and other businesses in your industry?
For BDG and the Culture+Innovation Portfolio that I lead, we saw an immediate pause in direct advertising when the pandemic kicked off and quarantine began. Most brands just didn’t know what was going to happen, so they stopped spending. Yet at the same time, our audience numbers have gone way up. This is partly because everyone was stuck at home and spending more time online, but also because of the topics that our brands cover. From Inverse with science and gaming, to Mic with social justice and culture, to Input with tech and lifestyle, these are all areas that matter more than ever in this current moment. Over the last month or so, we’ve seen advertising start to come back as sponsors start to adjust to the new normal and recognize the great work our sites have been doing to be a vital resource for audiences during this time.
When you founded Bleacher Report in 2007, what is something you took for granted about the industry that would not apply in 2020 at all?
To be honest, I didn’t know much about the industry when I started Bleacher Report. I had only recently graduated from college, and was effectively starting the company as a novice to media. So I didn’t take anything for granted, and I think that’s what helped me and my co-founders build a brand and an approach to digital media that was able to be so successful.
In 2020, I think we’re going to see real innovation in media and entertainment come from outsiders. Both traditional and digital media have consolidated into fewer and fewer behemoth players, and the middle class of media has been hollowed out. The people who are going to break through are the ones who aren’t beholden to the traditional ways of doing things, and who figure out how to make an impact despite not having the resources or the platform that the big incumbents have. I’ll bet on a scrappy upstart over a massively overfunded high profile launch like Quibi any day.
What is a modern media and entertainment company today that you admire, and why?
I’m a huge fan of the The Hustle (disclosure: I’m also an investor). I met Sam Parr when he was just launching it, and recognized immediately how he embodies the spirit of what they’re doing. They’ve gone from a one-off events business to a newsletter with a diehard following, to now a really interesting paid subscription business with Trends. I like the way Sam thinks about building his business, and planning many steps ahead. It’s impressive.
I also love 2PM, the content and community business focused on e-commerce and D2C that Web Smith has been building. They’ve become an incredible resource for me as I’ve learned more about the D2C world, and I’ve met some really incredible people through their community.
What’s the single most important piece of advice you would give to someone creating a business in this time of great uncertainty?
Uncertainty goes hand in hand with being a founder. So get used to it, even when the pandemic ends, the uncertainty never will. That said, dealing with this time of uncertainty is perfect preparation for building a business. It teaches you to never take anything for granted, and to be comfortable operating in a state where the future outcome is very unclear. It forces you to focus on the present, and on what you can control, which is the most important thing.
Quick fire questions…
A - What’s the best thing you have watched recently? (Film, TV Show, TED Talk, Youtube Video, etc.)
I binged all of “Bojack Horseman” during quarantine with my wife. I had missed it when it was on, but glad I came back to it. Unexpectedly, it’s one of the best TV shows I’ve ever watched. Both hilarious and full of relatable and hard-hitting storylines. Hard to pull off for a show about a talking horse. But it works.
B - What’s the best thing you have read recently? (Book, Article, Research Report, Tweetstorm, etc.)
I just finished ‘Yes To Life” by Viktor Frankl. It’s a companion of sorts to “Man’s Search for Meaning”, one of my favorite books of all time. It was a great reminder, especially during this difficult time in the world, that you can find meaning and purpose in spite of, and even because of, the most difficult circumstances.
C - What’s the best thing you have listened to recently? (Song, Album, Artist, Podcast, Audiobook, etc.)
I’m a huge Phish and Grateful Dead fan. Each day during quarantine, I’ve been using the Relisten app to stream shows they played “on this date” in years past. It’s been a great way to have constant background music that puts me in a good mindset without having to think too much about what to listen to. I just replayed a Phish show from 6/28/95 in Jones Beach, NY which features a 30-minute “Tweezer” that includes a rare “Dave’s Energy Guide” along with a jam on “Cannonball” by the Breeders. If you’re not a Phish fan, that probably makes no sense at all. But if you are, you know how mind-blowing that sounds. That’s world-building in action.”
*Thank you Dave!*