• David Bowie and Ron Roy's Business: In 1998, David Bowie became an Internet service provider with Ron Roy's help. After Bowie's death at 69, Roy was interviewed about how "BowieNet" started and its importance.
• 1998 ISP Environment: It was easier to become an ISP then with dial-up connections instead of deploying fiber or cable. BowieNet's dial-up service was $19.95/month in the US and £10.00 in the UK, and also a fan club with exclusive content. It had about 100,000 customers at its peak.
• The Venture "UltraStar": In 1996, Roy and his partner pitched the idea of an online fan club and ISP centered around David Bowie. The venture was called UltraStar, with Bowie as an investor and partner. It was sold to Live Nation in 2006.
• Bowie's Involvement: Bowie was very involved in the design of BowieNet, managing the relationship with a Web design company and securing technology partners. UltraStar focused on marketing and business development while bringing in more IT services over time.
• BowieNet Services: On July 17, 1998, BowieNet offered a customizable homepage, email, news groups, chat rooms, etc. Users got a CD-ROM with exclusive content and the latest Internet Explorer. It was an immersive portal with access to unreleased music and more.
• Business Model Shift: After a few years, BowieNet switched to a pure subscription fan club model as Internet users switched to faster connections.
• Roy's Views: Roy lost contact with Bowie after 2004 but stayed in touch with his management. He believes Bowie was ahead of his time in technology, seeing the power of sharing music and the decline of record labels. Bowie was an early innovator in this space.