Latest news with #JackConte
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
It's a living: Earning patronage on Patreon
Many creators on social media have a hard time making money from their work. Today, 12 years after the introduction of Patreon, the company says it's a source of regular income for more than 300,000 creators. Correspondent David Pogue talks with Patreon co-founder Jack Conte, and with podcasters and artists who gain income from subscribing patrons paying as little as $5 a month.
CBS News
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
It's a living: Earning patronage on Patreon
In 2013, musician Jack Conte made a music video called "Pedals." He spent seven weeks and $10,000 building the set: "I remember the blood, sweat and tears, the months of pain, and hours and hours, and days and days of creation," he laughed. The video quickly racked up a million views on YouTube. And for that success, YouTube paid him … $166. "I felt undervalued, I felt resentful," Conte said. "I started to feel like, 'I can't keep doing this.' I've told this story 10,000 times – I still get emotional, like, when I think about this. And I sat down at my kitchen table and I sketched out this idea for a better system, a better way for creators to make money and build businesses." He called that better way It lets creators (like artists, musicians, podcasters, and video makers) get funding directly from their fans on the Internet. Conte said, "Within about two weeks of launching, I was making six figures as a creative person." Here's how it works: Your biggest fans can pay you, for example, $5 or $10 a month. In exchange, you're supposed to offer them exclusive goodies, like bonus episodes, early access to new episodes, outtakes, or live interactions with you. "It's work; it's not free money," Conte said. "But you know, because it's such an incredible amount of income, it's worth it for most creators who try it." Caro Arévalo creates intricate nature paintings, and also posts videos on YouTube and Instagram. Like most internet creators, she pieces together an income from various sources. "I have my own online shop, where I sell my originals," Arévalo said. "I also have a Patreon, I have a YouTube channel. I do partner up with some brands, do commissioned work." During the Renaissance, Michelangelo may have counted on the wealthy Medici family for support. These days, Arévalo has her Patreon patrons, who bring her about $700 a month. The top-paying fans get to chat with her on a monthly Zoom call. One of Arévalo's subscribers, Alyssa Carroll, said, "I like the fact that with just a small monthly amount I can, in a way, help support somebody else follow their dreams." Patron Alyssa Carroll said, "You get to communicate with other like-minded artists. And you're able to, you know, share what you're doing." Arévalo said, "I get a lot out of Patreon, not only from the income that I'm making monthly, but also because I get to know people and they share their stories with me. And they are also inspiring me. So, I feel it's this, like, symbiotic relationship." Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle make the popular comedy podcast "True Crime Obsessed," in which they riff about crime documentaries. Asked how a podcaster makes a living, Hinds laughed: "Well, normally they don't! And that's really true." They launched their show in 2017 in the living room of Hinds' apartment. Today, they can be full-time podcasters, thanks to Patreon. They have a dedicated podcast studio and five full-time employees. They've produced more than 800 podcast episodes about our fascination with criminals. Gillian Pensavalle and Patrick Hinds recording their podcast, "True Crime Obsessed." CBS News "I'm a podcaster – it's still very liberating and weird to be able to say out loud," said Pensavalle. "Still doesn't make a whole lotta sense, but here we are!" "But we always say, 'Put us out of work! Stop killing people!'" Hinds laughed. "Look, if I have to go back to bartending and that means no one gets murdered next year, I'll do it!" Today, 12 years after Patreon's founding, the company says that it's a source of regular income for more than 300,000 creators. TV and movie star Alan Alda has a podcast, too, called "Clear and Vivid" – and even he uses Patreon. "It's probably opened the door to a lot of people who wouldn't be able to devote themselves as much to their art as they can this way, where they can be in direct touch with the people who support them," he said. Alan Alda (top, second from left, hosts a Zoom call for Patreon subscribers to his podcast, "Clear and Vivid." CBS News The proceeds fund his nonprofit, the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. The $45-a-month members get to join him each month for a video call. "We're talking to people in Australia and England, Germany," Alda said. "Sometimes they stay up 'til the middle of the night so they can talk to us at our time!" I said, "Who wouldn't stay up 'til the middle of the night to talk to you?" "I'm not sure I would!" Alda laughed. Musician Jacob Collier has more than 4,000 subscribers to his Patreon channel. Patreon/JacobCollier So, what's the catch? Patreon collects 5% to 12% of all the fans' contributions. The company has occasionally stirred controversy by shutting down the Patreon pages of purveyors of porn, hate, and misinformation. Patreon has competitors now, too, like Substack, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee. And co-founder Jack Conte points out that Patreon doesn't work unless you already have a following online. "Patreon helps you build a business. It works great for creators who are starting to find traction, have a couple thousand fans," he said. I said, "We've all heard of the starving artist." "I hate that term! I hate the term 'starving artist'!" Conte laughed. "If Patreon is successful, no one will use that term again. It will be gone from this planet. It will be a thing of the past. That's what I want." For more info: Story produced by David Rothman. Editor: Emanuele Secci.
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Apple's legal setback could be a big win for the creator economy: 'We are celebrating'
Patreon CEO Jack Conte said the Apple ruling marked a "good day for creative people inarguably." Hutton Supancic/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Apple was issued a potentially crushing setback in its ongoing legal battle over App Store fees — but players across the subscription creator economy are cheering it as a win. "This is a huge moment for creators and their businesses," a Patreon spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. "The iOS app is the No. 1 platform for fan engagement on Patreon, and we believe this ruling allows creators to get paid without giving Apple 30%." Patreon is a platform where creators can build subscription businesses and charge fans for paywalled content, such as podcasts or videos, and other perks. A judge on Wednesday found Apple had violated a 2021 injunction in its legal fight with Epic Games. The dispute started over the 30% fee Apple collects on in-app purchases. The 2021 injunction largely favored Apple, but it said the company needed to let developers inform users in their apps about purchase options outside the Apple App Store. Wednesday's ruling said the company failed to do that. It also said Apple violated the court's order by charging a 27% fee when links guide users to off-app purchases. An Apple spokesperson previously told BI that the company "strongly" disagrees with the court's decision and plans to both comply and appeal — a sentiment echoed by CEO Tim Cook on the company's earnings call. Apple did not respond to a request for further comment. Apps that help creators make money from subscriptions, like Patreon, Passes, Kajabi, and Mighty Networks, rejoiced at the changes. If more subscriptions are transacted outside Apple's ecosystem, it could mean more money for creators and platforms alike. Patreon said it's submitting an app update for review that will enable payment options outside of in-app purchases so creators can keep more money. Last year, the company said it was removing all other billing systems from its iOS app, and advised creators that they could either raise their in-app prices to cover Apple's fees or eat the fees themselves. Subscribers could also avoid the fees by signing up on Patreon's website. While "the dust has yet to settle," given Apple's plans to appeal, "this is a good day for creative people," Patreon CEO Jack Conte said on Instagram. Passes founder and CEO Lucy Guo told BI in a statement that "companies have had to charge more to creators because of these commissions, so this will put more money in creators' pockets." Mighty Networks CEO Gina Bianchini said, "We are celebrating over here at Mighty Networks." 'A more equitable digital marketplace for creators' The ruling could threaten Apple's App Store revenue, which is a major money maker for the company. Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Last quarter, the company's services business, which includes its App Store, accounted for $26.6 billion in net sales. While it's unclear how many prospective subscribers will forego the convenience of in-app purchases, Kajabi CEO Ahad Khan said the ruling points to a shift toward more creator ownership. "Creators have long relied on social platforms and tech giants to earn money, and it cuts into their earnings and even limits how they engage with their audiences," he told BI. "This ruling is another proof point of this shift toward a more equitable digital marketplace for creators."
