"Jack Conte hates the word "influencers." As the CEO of Patreon, he would rather people call artists "creators" if what they do is build loyal fanbases willing to pay for what they do online. While platforms like TikTok encourage their power users to sell doodads on the TikTok Shop, Patreon wants people to buy into the platform's stars. To pay a few bucks a month to read what they write or listen to what they have to say."
"It's an idea that took root on a much earlier version of the internet. When Conte confounded the company with his college roommate in 2013, he was just trying to promote his band. Monetizing their videos on YouTube wasn't cutting it, and Conte needed a platform that would allow his fans to support the band through more than just streams. Thus, Patreon was born, allowing Conte to essentially turn his band-and many other artists-into subscription-style services."
"The company has charted impressive growth over the past decade and now pays out over $2 billion a year to creators who use its platform. And as the online creator ecosystem has morphed in recent years, Conte's vision has evolved along with it: He'd like to set the "TikTokified" internet on a different course, away from content optimized to keep people on their phones and toward one that keeps people connected to artists they love."
Jack Conte founded Patreon in 2013 to let fans support artists beyond ad-driven streaming revenue, turning acts into subscription-style services. Patreon now pays out over $2 billion annually to creators on its platform. Conte rejects the label "influencer" and promotes the identity of "creator" for artists who build loyal, paying fanbases. Patreon positions subscriptions as an alternative to attention-optimized platforms that prioritize short-term engagement and commerce. Conte aims to shift the internet from keeping people glued to phones toward sustaining ongoing relationships between fans and the artists they love. Conte also engages with topics like AI and cultural influence in that context.
Read at WIRED
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