Tyler, the Creator Launching His Own Network
Odd Future frontman Tyler, the Creator is launching his own version of “MTV or Cartoon Network,” he said.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the new network was announced at the Code/Media Conference in Dana Point, Calif., Wednesday (Feb. 18), and will launch by the end of June. The venture partners Tyler, 23, with media technology company Whalerock Industries, owned by Lloyd Braun, former executive at Yahoo! and ABC.
With his own channel, the L.A.-born rapper can overstep traditional media and social medial platforms to reach fans on his terms. “It’s my vision,” Tyler said explaining Braun’s involvement on the back end. His company will handle marketing, ad-sales, technological design, and other tasks behind the scenes. “He’s still there to deal with the stuff I don’t wanna deal with,” added Tyler.
Whalerock will take a portion of the revenue amassed through the network, although the specifics are unclear.
In the future the company may integrate bundle packages offered to subscribers through cable, or the likes of Apple TV. Tyler however isn’t sure that he’ll be getting paid, and he doesn’t really care. "It's not about the money for me. I wanted my own network. I wanted to do something cool. It's always about me doing something that I think is awesome."
Braun re-branded Whalerock, which was originally called BermanBraun, after buying out former business partner Gail Berman last year. He expects to launch 12 other performer-based channels over the next three years, Tyler being the first of the bunch.
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