Tarzan Economics

Author Will Page is the former chief economist at Spotify. He helped create the structure of its catalog and argued in support of a global music copyright. He also believes that the music industry thrived only when it stopped fighting online piracy. This is only one example – he offers many – of the necessity of adapting to changes in markets and practices. In engaging, quirky prose, Page covers the challenges affecting many sectors and advises business leaders to behave like Tarzan traversing the jungle: Be willing to let go of one vine – an outmoded business model – and grab another.

Tarzan Not Dumb

Tarzan economics refers to the fictional character who traveled the jungle by swinging from vine to vine. Page coins the phrase “Tarzan economics” to describe the legacy music industry, which clung to a profitable old vine – compact discs – and refused to grab a new one – digital music. An early target of disruptive technology, the music industry learned to pivot the hard way.