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less of more

English translation: Selling smaller numbers of individual music recordings, but a much wider range of recordings.

19:18 Aug 17, 2007
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics / Expressions
English term or phrase: less of more
What does it mean if something is doing less of more, as in the book title "The Long Tail: Why the Furture of Business is Selling Less of More?"
Mahammad Kalfat (X)
Local time: 18:20
Selected answer:Selling smaller numbers of individual music recordings, but a much wider range of recordings.
Explanation:
The book is about the music industry.
See http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/10/060710crbo_books...
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:20
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +7Selling smaller numbers of individual music recordings, but a much wider range of recordings.
Jack Doughty
5 +2less products from a bigger range
David Litchfield
4boutique or niche selling
Refugio


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Selling smaller numbers of individual music recordings, but a much wider range of recordings.


Explanation:
The book is about the music industry.
See http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/10/060710crbo_books...

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:20
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 197

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cmwilliams (X)
4 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Can Altinbay
11 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Alexander Demyanov
15 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  TrueBaller
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  Edith Kelly
9 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Mark Nathan: It's a bit like selling cake crumbs instead of cakes
14 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Grace Anderson
1 day 11 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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21 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
boutique or niche selling


Explanation:
"The concept of the Long Tail is that globalization, new tools of production, and the Internet have made it possible to radically increase the supply and demand of niche products (in certain product categories). In traditional markets, based on scarcity of shelf space and limited product diversity, the vast majority of revenues are derived from a very limited number of products. In long tail markets, a diversity of products made by new entrants (via newly democratized tools of production and globalization), in combination with unlimited low cost shelf space (the Internet), and an accelerated word of mouth (the Internet) have radically expanded the supply curve. Additionally, this newly diverse supply has energized demand for niche products that meet specific needs. In a traditional market, hit products often get 80% of the revenue. In a long tail market, hit products get 50% of the revenue while the other 50% is shared by a plethora of niche producers." (definition from Global Guerrillas weblog)

Refugio
Local time: 08:20
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 35
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
less products from a bigger range


Explanation:
This means the idea of selling less (products) of more (variety) or in other words less products from each area but from a wider variety of product ranges.

The book considers the growth of large numbers of niche-markets.

See http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1401302378/103-1824639-8536630?...



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Note added at 26 mins (2007-08-17 19:45:15 GMT)
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As Jack says above, this is specific to the music industry

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Note added at 1 day20 hrs (2007-08-19 15:30:41 GMT)
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No, Mahammed, it is not a standard English phrase but am oxymoron, a phrase usimg 2 usually contradictory words or ideas. The title of this book uses this to make an impact - it is not designed to be instantly understood.

David Litchfield
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Morad Safe (X)
11 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  wendyzee (X)
2 days 14 hrs
  -> Thanks
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