Dolly Parton, who rose from humble beginnings to the greatest heights of American music and became one of the country’s most philanthropic, unifying and beloved stars, has died. She was 80.
I love Dolly also, but Dollywood and Dolly, Inc. was her monetizing herself so that she wouldn’t be poor again. She was fiercely determined that the things done in her name were controlled by her… and she unapologetically monetized her name and image.
I can’t imagine Dollywood becoming any more commercialized than it already is.
I see no issue with using your own image to monetize yourself and help people along the way. I see a problem when money starts to get hoarded by the ultra-rich and they rape the IP and destroy anything that was worth anything.
i think the concern is that half of Dollywood is owned by a charity foundation that Dolly set up to direct funds to people in need throughout Appalachia and the south, people Dolly saw their governments failing and knew first hand how awful it was to be that poor. You think Dollywood’s commercial, just wait until you’ve experienced Busch Gardens or Disney World where environmental exploitation is done in the name of making a quick buck and performing brand synergies. Or what I’m scared of for Dollywood, private equity coming and squeezing all the value out like what happened to the nearby Great Wolf where all of the value to the people who benefitted from Dolly’s stewardship of her brand get cut out entirely.
as good as what she tried to build was, she unfortunately followed an empire builder model. i fear her estate won’t be as surehanded as she was, and the inheritor of her crown will squander all that was there and that it will all be left in ruins in 10 years
I love Dolly. Went to Dollywood back in April. I would hate to see her estate picked apart and monetized, but you and I both know where this leads.
I love Dolly also, but Dollywood and Dolly, Inc. was her monetizing herself so that she wouldn’t be poor again. She was fiercely determined that the things done in her name were controlled by her… and she unapologetically monetized her name and image.
I can’t imagine Dollywood becoming any more commercialized than it already is.
I see no issue with using your own image to monetize yourself and help people along the way. I see a problem when money starts to get hoarded by the ultra-rich and they rape the IP and destroy anything that was worth anything.
i think the concern is that half of Dollywood is owned by a charity foundation that Dolly set up to direct funds to people in need throughout Appalachia and the south, people Dolly saw their governments failing and knew first hand how awful it was to be that poor. You think Dollywood’s commercial, just wait until you’ve experienced Busch Gardens or Disney World where environmental exploitation is done in the name of making a quick buck and performing brand synergies. Or what I’m scared of for Dollywood, private equity coming and squeezing all the value out like what happened to the nearby Great Wolf where all of the value to the people who benefitted from Dolly’s stewardship of her brand get cut out entirely.
as good as what she tried to build was, she unfortunately followed an empire builder model. i fear her estate won’t be as surehanded as she was, and the inheritor of her crown will squander all that was there and that it will all be left in ruins in 10 years