Here is one persons opinion on Vivid…They are no longer the industry’s leader their content has not changed in lord knows how long and they have been surpassed by the studios in which you have mentioned. In their hay-day the contract stars they had been fresh young and made people want to watch. Now they have contract stars very few can name and with the departure of the only fresh blood they had Meggan Mallone this person here doesn’t think Vivid will last very long and soon be passed by up and coming studios like Bluebird Films. I mean can you even name Vivid Contract stars anymore Shit Lia 19 would have been great contract star when she was actually 19 years old I mean who wants to see her naked anymore with all her shit being online for years upon years. Don’t get me wrong she’s hot but in porn years she’s a MILF. Go to http://vivid.com/vivid-girls/ half the girls aren’t really vivid girls, they were once upon a time, the others have rounded the mountain to MILF stars or are close to it. AJ Bailey is hot but at 25 shes a hop skip and a jump away from MILFdom. Where the excitement where is the new, fresh HOT young Starlets. Where are the Amia Miley’s , Capri Anderson’s, Natalia Rossi’s, Andy, San Dimas’s, Gracie Glam’s , Heather Starlet’s (chicks that actually do hot scenes) and half the roster at Metro Talent Management in young hot talent. This isn’t the late 90’s anymore this is 20fucking10. Vivid needs to open their eyes look around and SEARCH for new hot talent and utilize that talent rather than being lazy and letting some 25 or 26 year old or some shot out over exposed model walk through the door down to Directs office . And lay off the Milfs I mean they are hot Milfs don’t get me wrong but new fresh up and coming talent is where they need to be. Vivid needs their Jesse Jane. And this is just one fans opinion

Mr. Industry

Short answer: No. Not relevant.

It's not just the reasons you listed but the dumb stunts that Vivid's pulled over the years that's tarnished its image. Anyone remember Vivid rims (for those car enthusiasts who want their dubs rolling on wheels branded from a porn studio)? Their push into the makeup industry (because who doesn't want their woman to look like a whore)? Probably not, but they happened -- and it was so far from their core business, people just rolled their eyes when the press releases hit AVN and XBiz. But the dumbest idea they've had is getting into the celeb sex tape business. For a company that sells itself as an A-list company with (supposedly) the best girls in the business, there's nothing more amateur and D-list than the a celeb sex tape and the people that are in them. I think this whole thing hit a peak with Vivid offering a contract to Octomom. If you were one of the contract girls, it sent a clear message that an unattractive, worn-out, mentally unbalanced attention whore with eight kids was made of the same stuff you were.

All of that the thrashing of a company that realizes it no longer makes good movies, a company that no longer can (or will) make the next superstar and that has no good ideas left, so it has to come up with stunts to stay relevant.

But then again, what does Steve Hirsch care? He's made his money. If he closed the company tomorrow, it's not like he'd have to worry where his next meal was coming from. He can afford a stale movie lineup from a company that's a black hole for its contract girls (as in, you never really hear about them after they sign with Vivid) and to slap his company's name on anything that catches his fancy for the moment.

As a huge supporter of Pop Porn's few releases to date (finishing up Jersey Shore later tonight most likely), I mean the following with all due respect but Vivid is STILL more relevant than most of their peers and will be several years down the road when most of the companies mentioned no longer exist (at least in current form). While I'm admittedly a contrarian by nature, the fact remains that whatever issues they have had with contract performers, look at their peers to see far worse. How many ladies has DP gone through in the last couple of years? How many people enjoy watching porn with obligatory condoms like Wicked (they don't bother me but I get a slew of hate mail any time I praise one of their movies)? NSDS is better known for their compilations than anything else but take a real look at some of their parodies to see how churned out they can be. A&E are best known for their toy lines, many a lot of fun, than their couples-friendly porn (with exceptions for their handful of big yearly award winners) and Evil/JJV are both distributors of smaller directors (most of whom are great at what they do to).

So, in this age of decline, exactly what makes Vivid relevant? Let's start with Tristan's works as they bring in a whole new audience, the director constantly in the press and touring to spread her message. Follow up with their wise decision to dump PT in favor of B. Skow, Skow's Brand New Faces easily the best newcomer series on the market today. He has brought a gonzo sensibility to the company without lowering their standards into the generic-porn market, his starlet showcases much better than what they had before (it doesn't hurt that most of his work is measured not only in quantity but quality as well). That they have recruited Axel Braun to handle big name parodies or their pseudo-celebrity releases have gone on to outsell almost anything else on the market keeps Vivid's name out there in the public eye, all of these factors bringing new people into trying out porn.

Let's face it, the under-appreciated PopPorn titles did not garner tons of accolades and awards like they should have, though had the Vivid marketing team been pushing them I can almost assure you the results would have been different. They don't cater to the most jaded of raincoater aficionados like Elegant, Evil or Jules do but I rarely see anyone from those companies on national television (except when they have legal troubles). Vivid sponsors events outside of the industry too, has their own clothing line, and have been in transition of late while they try new partnerships that might keep them afloat when others simply bail. You can argue that Vivid is not as relevant as they used to be but they can still "make" a star or keep one's career shining long after they would have disappeared elsewhere. I know it sounds cliched but there is more than a little truth to the saying that if you haven't watched Vivid lately, you haven't watched them at all.

Vivid still has Savanna Samson and Sunny Leone. The only true stars left. Well Sunny Leone works for other companies and I don't know how that's allowed. I don't know how she swung that contract. But those are the last two stars left. Meggan Mallone was really the future. But she didn't renew her contract this November and is dating their director B Skow. I don't even know why Nikki Jayne is even still called a Vivid girl anymore. She barely shows up at industry events and wasn't even at this year's AEE convention and award show. That alone used to get you booted from Vivid. But maybe because she was once engaged to Derek Hay, she's still there. And then there's AJ Bailey and Lia19. Lia's first release was recently and she wasn't with any men. Who gives a woman a Vivid contract and allows her to get away with g/g ??

I've talked to others about this and we've come to the conclusion Steve Hirsch isn't really running Vivid anymore and the ship is a shadow of its former self. They didn't even have a single Vivid girl in their Throat movie. A big budget feature and you don't even put your own contract girls in the movie? That shows what little faith he has in them. They even allowed Briana Banks and Monique Alexander to leave and it seems they were pushed out.

I am not some hardcore weed smoking industrial analyst, but I have watched my share of porn. I do appreciate reading these comments and I also liked the fact we are being solicited for our thoughts on the question. I am not a Vivid fan today. Watch very little of their videos. Not that their output is bad, but it just does not interest me.

But the question of relevance is not found in any one persons opinion. I vote each day for those studios I think matter, with my wallet. Vivid matters because it has money. It matters for example as mentioned here in the comments it staked out a huge plot of land at the AVN awards, because it could afford too. Vivid will matter until it no longer can afford to produce movies due to a dried up revenue stream.

Porn is like any other business activity the bottom line is profit. The more profit you have the more relevant you are. I don't mean this in a anti-capitalist spirit, because I like profit myself. The point here is the it takes capital to produce a movie and the quality of any given product is directly related to how much it costs to make. The simple fact is that money is the lubrication, pun intended, that gives us the huge fucking plethora of attractive women working in porn today - all for our viewing pleasure!

Vivid is relevant because it can entice new talent to fuck, on screen, for the very first time, for money.

You guys talk about Brand New Faces (BNF) like it actually gets updated or shot anymore! Half the Comp DVD’s that drop are from old shit you can see on the site since 08’. Vivid got lazy, whether DP girls leave or stay is irrelevant …You still hear about them! They still are the industry leaders in Marketing and Promotion of the Contract Girls and when they leave you hear about that as well! Meggan left and you hear nothing except a couple posts on gossip blog sites. And as it was mentioned above can you even name Vivid stars, they let the best one walk away in Nov. (and yes Brian the reason that Boxcover is hot is it has Meggan Mallone on it) As for Savannah that haggard porn whore does nothing anymore except appear on the Howard Stern Show twice a year to say she is still relevant just because you say it and have a name like VIVID attached to you doesn’t make it so (ask the hundreds of mediocre porn actresses that walk around LA calling themselves PORNSTARS…girl I haven’t heard of you!). What Vivid should do is shoot an all ANAL gangbang of Savannah have Jim Powers shoot it, and Porno DAN host it (it will actually get press) and send her packing. As for Sunny, as beautiful as she is, is a Vivid girl only in theory that’s why she can shoot with other companies.
And ask Playboy how well they are doing slapping their name on everything and forgetting about what actually made them Playboy. Is VIVID doing the same thing? How Ironic one sinking ship (VIVID) tries to save another (PLAYBOY) only time will tell how that works out!
When the dust has settled and the economic downturn of the industry is over Porn will still be here and I am sure VIVID will still be there as well it’s too big not to be however they may want to go ask some of those GONZO directors (recommendation Belladonna) what it’s going to take to shoot good content again.
As for getting a girl into porn now days you don’t need a VIVID to entice them. They come by the bus loads everyday to whoever can help them pay rent (thank you economy!) Who wants to wait for a 30 day payroll job when Reality Kings pays better, pays same day and you get more exposure! Vivid lost the battle, but the war isn’t over!

Mr. Industry

Ok I will have to address a couple of things,

1. TV stations: DP just inked a deal. RK just inked a deal, it’s only a matter of time before the rest will follow like a Brazzers (whether you like them or not) etc... and the rest of the major Mega Sites, and just like their porno they (Vivid) will be out done and out classed as they are still stuck in the 20th century * side note someone needs to tell Vivid Jenna Jameson retired and so did her whack ass porn.

2. 3D Porn: DP is already ahead of the curve on this one and will have the first if not the first the biggest release in 3D called a mega hit “Pirates 3D” this time around they are making a complete theatrical version’s to be released to the mainstream public, and though acting will probably be bad, with the exception of Evan Stones comedic relief, it can’t make me fall asleep any faster than “Throat: A cautionary tale” or the famed crossover star Sasha Grey’s “the Girlfriend Experience” so it will stand amongst the best porn has got to offer (except the popporn boys “Guide to Making Fuck” a classic!) and it will take up awards like no other!

3. Contract Stars: There should be a whole separate post on this one! But I will shorten it as much as I can. The old Hollywood system of production companies signing contract stars is once again soooo yesterday Vivid started it Vivid should end it. However, it does go to show you that what Will Ryder and the famed Douchbag Derik Hay were arguing about http://popporn.com/node/1441 is very important and more than just gossip column fodder, and the winner in my opinion goes to Ryder. Porn Girls want contracts. And Porn companies want contract stars (it’s cheaper). Pretty much if a company likes an actress and that actress makes them sell DVD’s Memberships, the companies will say we want a contract star! We will shoot you less give you an inflated rate and promote the shit out of you, so you don’t break our bank. So the “contract star” now shoots one or two scenes a month for $2000 and has a mass marketing and publicity package. Granted they get more money for dancing and appearance etc…yada, yada, yada. But some of those are included in their contract and they don’t get extra. They sign contracts to get paid less than if they were doing Gonzo, for more press. So press and marketing is very important to a model. Riddle me this: Vivid offered Miss Kagney Linn Carter a contract when she first started in this biz, Kagney would have brought that company up to par with her Jenna Jameson looks and amazing body and star quality, why didn’t she take it! Because who wants a 40,000 a year contract when you first start out in the biz. You make more than that in 3 months (or you did) something has to change. Contract stars with the exception of Jesse Jane are nobody’s anymore the stars of today are Gonzo Queens Jenna Haze, Belladonna, Sasha Grey, Johanna Angel and with up and coming stars like Andy San Dimas being groomed to take the reins. The day of the contract star are dying shit they are dead! That’s why Hustler did away with that shit! (Side note all these girls do I.R., anal and are no holds barred that’s what people want to see not some inflated tittied blonde porn girl that’s afraid to take a black dick or take it in the ass).

So back on point (had a rant in me) Wicked’s Milf Stars, DP’s ever quitting new stars, Vivid’s nobody stars, A&E well at least they reigned in Bree Olsen (she’s a baddass) and a chubby Heather Starlet look alike, they should of waited a few months and could have had the real thing! I say what contract stars???? Who cares who they have cause obviously the fans don’t they are overrated.

4. Brand New Faces- Obsolete –They have been outdone by other Newbie sites. Using the excuse that B.Skow is there only shooter for a Mega company like Vivid is a fucking cop-out. They have the means to hire a good director to make that what it once was. Stop making excuses for them, I am a hater let me hate! LMAO!!!

My companies in order of Relevance:

1. Brazzers love em or hate em in today’s porn they are the most relevant their unsightly practices could and have hurt the industry tremendously. (now to the good companies)
2. Hustler far superior to the rest, did away with the stupid contract system. Great product, great scenes
3. Digital Playground Adella or NO they have made the biggest impact on the business they have the most well known Contract Star to date, and it is a contract girls dream (if they can last) and only time will tell if Adella’s departure will affect them. It is too early to tell
4. X-play- I am winning awards bitches. Lmao
5. A&E although they do mostly toys no company has a Sex Machine named Bree Olsen that alone put them at 5.
6. Wicked although their contract stars looked better in 1999, I give em props for still using condoms but they are in serious need of some new blood!
7. Vivid the only reason they are at 7 is I don’t want to do a top 10 I have 420 time coming up ;-)

This is only one man’s opinion

Mr. Industry

Would you consider Playboy still relevant? They have a failing cable channel and a bankrupt company (all because they wouldn’t change with the times) According to your above statement you would. Relevance is not based on “just because mainstream media interviews them” who the fuck is the mainstream media to porn (I go to Popporn.com for my porno news) I would rather Porno Dan interview Steven Hirsch at least then you would get some real questions and real porn publicity. Everytime they interview Steven Hirsch or someone from Vivid it’s the same old shit BORING. I equate Vivid to the Actress that once was who turns to Playboy to get naked. In that last ditch effort to remain in the public eye! What’s that…wait a second Asher did buy 1 million shares of Playboy, they aren’t LIKE the old fading actress they ARE the fading actress!

Positive Role Model??? DON’T TRY TO CHURCH IT UP SON! They peddle smut (crappy smut but smut nonetheless) They are a porn company they are no better than the Swirlie Girls website! Bottom Line you still have chicks getting fucked on film for money!

BNF: Cumfiesta, Pure18 both newbie scenes the girls are not being tortured or required to do circus acts "My god man !"

As for Jessica and Savannah you have to be an old school fan of porn to even remember their names if it wasn’t for popporns.com blog about the LADAY GAGA video I wouldn’t of even known it was her (got to love the split second of airtime CROSSOVER AWARD NOM!) or that she still even did porno granted at least she still looks good for a MILF but more people know who LISA ANN is than Jessica. Last time I seen Jessica was on Pornicopia “going down in the Valley” on HBO 10 years ago! And she is not wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ahead of Belladonna, or Jenna Haze. As for Savanna JIGGA PLEASE!

Well Don this hater is done with his haterade and needs to get some sleep So I’m gonna watch some relevant porn (Codi Carmichael in Zero Tolerance’s The Doll House) jerk off and go to sleep. So I can live to Hate-on Vivid another day.

Till next Time

Mr. Industry (Hater Extraordinaire )

Mr. Industry,
I admit to being "old school" in the sense of remembering the past performers I enjoyed watching, having some semblance of history, and being able to compare things of various sorts. I like Bella and Jenna both, each of them usually providing lots of enthusiasm in their performances but neither of them have ever shown to be much good at acting. As far as Playboy, declining sales do not change that they are indeed still relevant in many ways, more relevant than the most profitable porn company in terms of public acceptance, knowledge, and capacity to generate public interest.

Role Models: Some people see things in stark contrasts while others can differentiate varying shades of gray. Vivid has been a far better role model since it was founded, warts and all, than most of the others (many of which have come and gone).

BNF: There are many companies offering discs and/or website scenes of newcomers. This has been a mainstay of the industry for even longer than Ed Powers or Randy West's series but few are capably shot and bring in quality performers. I have yet to be consistently impressed with Cum Fiesta, Pure 18, or any of the others out there as I have with BNF. There might be better selections if a specific fetish is needed by a viewer but in terms of straightforward sex, "guaranteed" at that, I'm always open to finding something better.

Lisa Ann Vs. Jessica Drake or Savanna: Apples and oranges, Lisa only really making any significant progress with her characterization of the former Alaska governor. Otherwise, if you compare the two in terms of acting, Drake is clearly more polished (and has been for a long time). That doesn't diminish the value of either of them in the movies they make, both having audiences more loyal than newcomers tend to generate.

Oh well, Codi's hot enough and the "Official Jersey Shore" parody was a lot of fun too. Have fun! :)

It's good to see you Black Six! Quick question though, I thought Vivid Alt was pretty much dead (McKay twittered about leaving Vivid and taking the "alt" with him) so: is she still directing for them?