BowieNet: how David Bowie's ISP foresaw the future of the internet

Always a step ahead of the curve, he spotted the potential of the internet as a venue in which to make, share and expand upon art

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In the summer of 1998, a strange press release made its way out to technology and music publications throughout the world. David Bowie, the legendary musician and cultural provocateur, would be launching his own internet service provider, offering subscription-based dial up access to the emerging online world. At a time when plenty of major corporations were still struggling to even comprehend the significance and impact of the web, Bowie was there staking his claim. "If I was 19 again, I'd bypass music and go right to the internet," he said at the time. He understood that a revolution was coming.