Andrew Schulz Vs Netflix - Marketing lessons from a Genius Comedian

If you like standup comedy you most probably know about Andrew Schulz, and If you do you might have watched his standup special “INFAMOUS“, but what you don’t know is that Andrew made a 10 Million Dollars without even airing it on Netflix.

Here’s the full story:

In 2020, American stand-up comedian Andrew Schulz signed a deal with Netflix to produce a four-part comedy special titled "Schulz Saves America." However, after filming the special, Netflix decided not to air it, citing concerns about the content's potential to be offensive. Schulz disagreed with Netflix's decision and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Undeterred by Netflix's decision, Schulz decided to self-release the special on his YouTube channel. He launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the production and marketing of the special, and within a week, he had raised over $1 million from supporters and used it to buy the rights of his special from Netflix.

In May 2021, Schulz released the special on YouTube, titled "Infamous." The special was a critical and commercial success, garnering millions of views and positive reviews. Schulz's decision to self-release the special proved to be a savvy marketing move, as it generated significant media attention and buzz.

Andrew got brands like BetOnline to sponsor the video, and promoted them like a real champ!! According to reports, Schulz earned over $10 million from the YouTube release, far exceeding the amount he would have been paid by Netflix.

Andrew Schulz's decision to self-release his comedy special was a bold move that paid off. There are several valuable lessons for both artists and marketers like us. For artists, it demonstrates the importance of retaining creative control and the potential rewards of self-reliance. For marketers, it highlights the power of distribution channels and the potential benefits of embracing controversy.

If you are yet to watch the special, I highly recommend you do! Here you go!