> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://onemanandhisblog.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Of Paywalls and Cupcakes
- URL: https://onemanandhisblog.com/2011/07/of_paywalls_and_cupcakes/
- Published: 2011-07-01T18:37:07.000Z
- Updated: 2015-04-08T15:14:43.000Z
- Author: Adam Tinworth
- Tags: business models, cupcakes, monetisation, news international, paywalls, The Times

It’s the tail end of the day, and I’m just emerging from a long meeting with my boss. It was a good meeting, but I’m tired and ready for a weekend.

And then reception calls. A very puzzled security guy tells me there’s someone down there with some “pastries” for me. Uh, what?

As it happens, this:

!\[Cupcakes celebrating the Times paywall's subscribers\]([http://www.onemanandhisblog.com//100000](http://www.onemanandhisblog.com//100000?ref=onemanandhisblog.com) (1).jpg "100000 (1).jpg")

Cupcakes. Cupcakes spelling out 100,000 in fact. And why’s that?

Well, The Times paywall has crossed the [100,000 paying subscribers threshold](http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-a-year-behind-the-wall-the-times-has-101036-digital-subscribers/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com). And understandably, they’re celebrating. And they appear to be sending people who’ve written about it some cupcakes. Which is nice.

And, yes, this is something to celebrate. I have some issues with The Times approach, and some things I like. I can’t be a paywall-sceptic, because I work for a business that makes money off them. But, in a more positive vein, I am in favour of business model experimentation, and some stuff they’ve done is really quite smart. So, in a spirit of celebration and experimentation, I’m about to stuff my face with a cupcake or two.

If you want more cogent analysis of the news, can [I refer you to George Brock](http://georgebrock.net/the-times-the-paywall-puzzle/?ref=onemanandhisblog.com)?

Nomnomnomnomnom…