YNOT – Lincoln, Neb.-based Melissa Money’s owners have shuttered the affiliate program, saying the online adult entertainment market has changed such that operating a solo-girl affiliate program is no longer cost-effective. The most recent activity on the program’s flagship website, MelissaMidwest.com, appears to have been a live cam show scheduled for Oct. 9, although the welcome message still refers to a “recent” top-10 ranking in Lycos that occurred in January 2004.
MelissaMoney.com and its sites — MelissaMidwest.com, FoxyJacky.com, SweetAdri.com, MelissaContest.com, MelissaCamVideos.com and PrettyMarie.com — are co-owned by Shane Harrington and his ex-wife “Melissa Midwest” Harrington, the focus of the MelissaMidwest.com website. In late January, the Lincoln city council denied Shane Harrington a liquor license for a mainstream nightclub he intended to open in the city. The council based the denial, in part, on Harrington’s continuing involvement with online porn, from which he admitted he earned $2 million in one year between 2003 and 2006. He also said he had invested more than $200,000 in the club, named Smooth, by the end of 2010 and was losing $25,000 each month the location failed to open.
The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission unanimously upheld the city’s decision in May. The nightspot opened in June as an alcohol-free dance club. Harrington said at the time he had not given up on obtaining a liquor license.
MelissaMidwest has generated continuous controversy in Lincoln since it debuted in 2003. Police cited Melissa Harrington for public indecency a number of times based on photos and videos appearing on her website. The Harringtons’ company, MalTech Inc., also was the respondent in a model’s 2010 lawsuit claiming invasion of privacy and breach of contract.
On Monday morning, links from the program’s promotable websites still led to MelissaMoney.com, and a website promoting a contest for new models remained live.
The notice on the homepage of Melissa Money reads:
[quote]Dear Affiliate,
The time has come where we have shuttered our doors. I want to thank you for the continued support over the years. We’ve maintained for as long as we could. The site is at a level where it no longer makes sense to sustain the operations of the affiliate program. No business lasts forever, and our time has finally come. I don’t really think this should be a shock, given the nature of the market and the acceptance for a solo girl site in today’s marketplace, particularly one as old as mine. There will be no more payments. I apologize sincerely for the lack of notice, delivering bad news like this is never going to be a happy occasion – or an easy decision. Our recommendation is you immediately pull your links, where appropriate. The end has come.
Once again, thank you for everything. May your future business endeavors be successful, and I am hopeful you understand. We are now out of business.[/quote]
