

20VC: HitRecord's Joseph Gordon-Levitt on How Show Business Prepared Him For Life As An Entrepreneur, What Founders Should Look For Most In Their Investor Base & Why The Current Ad Model of Social Is Harming The World's Creative Spirit
Jul 12, 2019
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the founder of HitRecord and a celebrated Hollywood actor, discusses the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship. He shares insights on how his acting career shaped his startup journey and the importance of collaboration over self-promotion. Joseph reflects on the challenges of balancing his dual roles and the critical factors in selecting investors. He also critiques the current social media ad model's impact on creativity, advocating for a shift towards communities that embrace the joy of artistic expression.
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HitRecord's Origin
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt started HitRecord as a personal website to showcase short films and songs.
- It evolved into a collaborative platform after adding a message board where people wanted to create together.
The Power of Online Collaboration
- The internet's true potential lies in collaborative creation, not just content consumption.
- Making things together online was new behavior enabled by this technology.
HitRecord as a Production Company
- HitRecord transitioned into a production company, focusing on collaborative projects.
- They tackled legal challenges, partnered with publishers, and created a TV show, paying artists nearly $3 million.