Cybersocket, Inc.
| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 2023 |
| Headquarters | West Hollywood, California |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
| Products | Books |
| Parent | NSFW.Army (since 2021) |
| Website | www |
Cybersocket, Inc. is an American multimedia publishing company based in West Hollywood, California. It was founded in 1997 by Morgan Sommer and Tim Lutz.
Publishing
[edit]In 1996, Morgan Sommer left his job as a geophysical technician and relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles, where he began his career as a performer in gay adult pornography.[1][2] Five months into his career, he met Tim Lutz, who would later become both his business partner and boyfriend.[1] Together, they conceived the business idea of publishing a book that repackaged public domain information.[1][3] "We decided to focus on a niche market in order to give our new publication an identity that stood out from the massive amounts of printed material in the marketplace", Sommer stated.[3] They came up with the annual Cybersocket Directory, a paperback guide to gay pornographic websites,[4] which was first released in 1997.[3][5] The creators organized the information, utilized QuarkXPress, and compiled the first edition.[3]
The first directory proved successful; its sales were sufficient to support the creators, allow them to reinvest in the following year's edition, and upgrade their equipment.[3] After its release, Sommer ceased performing in pornography and dedicated his attention to building the company.[1] He retained many of his industry contacts; many of the companies he had worked for as a model became the first advertisers on Cybersocket.[1] After being suggested that their information would be more useful and searchable as a website, Blakey St. John, the company's webmaster, exported the organized data to the Internet and transformed it into a search engine.[3] St. John later partnered with Sommer and Lutz to establish Bionic Pixels, a web design and development company.[3][2]
The official Cybersocket website was launched in 1998, featuring an expansion of the Cybersocket Gay Net Directory, and reviews of gay pornographic videos and websites.[5][6] The company also publishes a free, consumer-focused, monthly periodical called Cybersocket Magazine that covers gay adult films, websites, performers, novelties, and events. Cybersocket Magazine has an audited national circulation of 70,000 copies per issue.[3] A free online version of Cybersocket Magazine was available.[7]
Adult Industry Events
[edit]In 2000, Cybersocket, Inc. established an annual event called the Cybersocket Web Awards.[8][9] In addition, Cybersocket regularly hosts B2B networking events for the gay adult entertainment industry in conjunction with major adult industry gatherings such as the XBIZ Conference,[10] The Phoenix Forum,[11] and the European Summit.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Behind the Scenes: Morgan Sommer". Intimate.io. April 19, 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved April 19, 2025 – via Medium.
- ^ a b "Morgan Sommer, Co-founder, Cybersocket". AVN. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis, Jason (April 26, 2006). "A Look at Cybersocket". XBIZ. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Cybersocket: The Gay Net Directory Magazine Subscription". The New Magazine City. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ a b Shaulis, Sherri L. (April 14, 2008). "Cybersocket Relaunches Website". AVN. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Cybersocket - GLBT". cybersocket.com. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ "Issue 17.12 Online Gay Porn Magazine". cybersocket.com. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ Rodriguez, Ariana (2012-12-19). "2013 Cybersocket Web Awards to Be Held in Conjunction With XBIZ 360°". XBIZ.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ "2013 CYBERSOCKET WEB AWARDS". Rolling-Blackouts. 2013-01-10. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ Javors, Steve (2006-10-26). "Cybersocket to Host XBIZ Hollywood Warm-up Party". XBIZ.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ "The Phoenix Forum 2009 Cybersocket Kickoff Party". AVN. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ "Photos from the Cybersocket party at The European Summit 2011". Pimps Promo. 2011-10-03. Retrieved 2014-06-07.