Despite the economic challenges of a crowded marketplace, the worldwide demand for porn is higher than ever. In 2006, the adult industry continued to expand into new areas of technology, while FBI visits and obscenity busts served as a reminder of the Bush administration’s right-wing agenda.
Adult starlets appeared on reality TV, while mainstream personalities such as Eddie Van Halen and Dustin “Screech” Diamond crossed over to porn. Jenna Jameson was immortalized in wax, Jim South's World Modeling closed its doors, Vivid went condom-optional and Pure Play Media went public. At year's end, Wicked Pictures released the first adult HD-DVD.
The following list compiles 25 stories that affected the adult industry this year. The staff of AVN would like to wish the adult community a happy and healthy 2007.
1) FBI Conducts Random 2257 Records Inspections
2) Playboy Acquires Club Jenna, Inc. , Opens First Club in 20 Years
3) ICANN Rejects Dot–XXX Domain for Adult Sites
4) Goalie Owner Eddie Wedelstedt Jailed, Company Sold to Investor Group
5) Sex.com – The End of an Era
6) Adult Industry Group Meets with FBI About 2257 Issues
7) JM Indicted on Federal Obscenity Charges
8) Pirates Sustains Record Sales Run
9) ’ Obscene Text’ Indicted In Pittsburgh
10) World Modeling Closes
11) Jon Dough Takes Own Life
12) Wicked Pictures, Dimension DVD Release Industry’s First HD-DVD
13) Vivid Signs Distribution Deal with Pulse
14) Penthouse Acquires Danni dot com Properties, JKP Assets
15) Owner of CashTitans Arrested, Charged with Obscenity, Racketeering
16) Michelle Freridge Leaves FSC Post, Diane Duke Steps In
17) Adult Stars Appear on Fox Reality Show
18) Paul Cambria Testifies Before Senate
19) The 2006 AVN Awards Show
20) Jules Jordan Leaves Evil Angel to Launch Distribution Company
21) Pure Play Media Goes Public
22) Jenna Jameson Immortalized by Madame Tussauds
23) Eddie Van Halen Collaborates with Michael Ninn on Sacred Sin
24) RLD Acquires Kid Rock/ Scott Stapp and Dustin Diamond Sex Tapes, Lawsuits Ensue
25) Vivid Takes New Direction: Goes Condom Optional, Launches Alt Imprint
Industry-related passings: Rudy Sutton, Rocky, Andy Dill, Matt Sterling, Robert McCallum, Michelle Urry, Don Lemmon (Asia Carrera's husband), Anna Malle, Candy Barr, Cory Ipson, Mary Byrne Gates, Frank Vette (Vicky Vette's husband), Jon Dough