Stuart Halperin of CurtCo Media joins Sunny Ray to trace a career that began when movie studios first met interactive media. In May 1993 he co-founded Hollywood Online with Steve Katinsky, helping studios, TV networks and music acts market their work through services such as America Online and CompuServe before the consumer internet arrived. The business later became Hollywood.com. Halperin then jumps ahead to 2019, when he joined CurtCo Media, the former owner of Rob Report, and describes the luxury podcasts the company produces, including Cars That Matter and Travel That Matters. He explains why the team prefers authentic human conversation over AI generated shows, while still using AI for research and artwork. The centerpiece is A Life That Matters, or LTM, a planned club of about 500 members with assets from roughly 20 million to several hundred million dollars, for which the company is currently raising money. Halperin shares a practical fundraising lesson, that referrals beat cold outreach, and offers views on the real cost of AI content and on media for the very wealthy. He closes by pointing listeners to where they can reach him online.
Stuart Halperin went from marketing movies on AOL in 1993 to building a members club for ultra high net worth individuals.
What did you see first in the early internet days that others missed?
I was fortunate to connect with Steve Katinsky, who shared my passion for using interactive media to market and convey information. In May 1993 we started Hollywood Online, working with movie studios, TV networks and some music people. This was before the consumer internet, so we distributed through online services like America Online and CompuServe.
Who taught you the most about building an audience?
Honestly, my teammates at Hollywood Online. I'm not really a tech person. I'm more on the qualitative side, even after years at the convergence of tech and entertainment. Many people on our team were technical and taught me a great deal, especially Steve, who was far more of a tech person than I was.
What have you learned about the luxury audience?
I joined CurtCo Media in 2019. The company once owned Rob Report, which is about the best of the best: cars, wine, cigars, watches. Since then we've produced podcasts for a luxury audience, like Cars That Matter and Travel That Matters, and those shows taught me a lot about what that audience cares about.
Why launch a club for ultra high net worth individuals when there are already clubs like Soho House?
People asked us that, but the story goes back to Rob Report, which had a club capped at 500 members so everyone got personal attention. People loved it. Former members still reach out to our CEO, Bill Curtis, asking us to do a club again. Usually I have to convince people to join a startup, but here they're asking for it.
Who is the club for, and what will members get?
Ideal members have roughly 20 million to maybe five, six or seven hundred million in assets. Billionaires may feel they can get these benefits without us. Members get events, trips, social activities, a human who can handle hard reservations, an AI tool to help source things like a vintage Porsche, and a wellness component with a doctor as a resource.
What has raising money taught you about finding the right investors?
Cold outreach doesn't work. You'd have to be really lucky. It comes down to people we know, people who've experienced what CurtCo has done, or referrals. It may sound obvious, but success rises enormously if you mention the connection right away, like saying someone suggested I reach out. Pay attention to networking and getting referrals.
Are you using AI in your podcasts, and what does media for the very wealthy look like in ten years?
We use AI for research and some artwork, but at CurtCo we prefer authentic human beings holding the conversation. In ten years, I think media for the very wealthy is the same as for everyone else. They just look for content on their passions, whether that's private jets, yachts, ships or watches.
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