I am a contemporary composer/musician on the giant format('have to be on if your anybody') called SPOTIFY.... and others.... and my music is very good. We as musicians spend thousands of dollars on equipment, thousands of hours on single songs and hours submitting, protecting music and guess what.................. 99% of Spotify musicians(really talented good ones) get nothing..... seriously. I get checks for like $5 every 6 months and last year had up to 3000 followers per month. It is exactly what Jon speaks of in the music sphere.
Yes! I buy hard copies of music (many hundreds of cds) so that I am NEVER at the mercy of a streaming service that jacks up the price as high as it can go!
Way back in the early days of the www it was called "disintermediation" - it was a good thing - according to the creative destructive capitalism line of thought. You used to be under contract to a "recording company" who hired recording engineers and distributors up and down the line - all that's gone - and Spotify remains to rake in the revenue and you incur all costs to get it on the platform - is it owned by the CCP?
Physical media is no different - I own 5K+ classical CDs - very large portion of solo and chamber artist recordings now list the musicians as "Executive Producer" - Orchestral recordings are somewhat closer to the old model - still considerable support by European state radio entities, for example.
Somehow we need more creation and less destruction. Next time around?
It's odd .... I was in the top 1 million on the planet of monthly followers yet have no paycheck. My Distrokid distrubitor says to talk to Spotify which you cannot talk to ... it AI. My Spotify name is 'Frank Jeffries Unplugged'.... 2 months ago. I was at 2900 followers and should get lots of $ for this since I am in the top 1 percent..... but last month I got censured for this. In 1 day they knocked my followers down to 400 and I did this honestly by paying and submitting my music to Submit Hub.com which is honest to get good music on playlists and is hard to get 'approved' ...... its a mess Jon hits on the essence.
Well. I dont know about getting paid, but I can tell you how not to get paid. I can even tell gou bow to get no subscribers. I asked substack Should I keep writing if I do t have any views. It yook awhilr for an answer. It said yes....I dropped some chsnge in a homeless guys cup snd immediiatly felt bad. Coffee splashef out. " I apoligize" snd turned to lesve. ",Say can I get that quarter back?-"
For the staggering amount of cutting edge information, investigative journalism, punditry, and satire pieces, a subscription is a tremendous value and highly recommended. Thank you, Jon !
I disagree that you and other Substack writers should be giving us what we want. You should give us what we need. The truth. Many readers unsubscribe because a writer said something they didn’t like or agree with. Sometimes the truth hurts - keep reading.
Well thought out and well written. Checking, I found that I originally subscribed when you were writing No More Fake News in February 2015. Amazing. Keep up the good work.
Sean G: Some writers on Substack like Elizabeth Nickson (Absurdistan), say that Substack is under attack, folding, and on its way out. She's leaving for Patreon of all things. Sigh.
I like substack but like all things I like, the State will quash it and take it away.
I think you writers are magical. And that means more than I can even comprehend. Thankfully. I just know it is so.
Of coarse they would take that away.
Being able to float your own boat? They won't have any of that. Boats voyage. Many boats doing what boats do? Experiencing untold unique adventures! No a vacation anywhere won't suffice.
Hire me to do this job, no real thinking required, just train me and pin a badge on me and I will do as told, for my brainless paycheck. It's my responsibility now. I am somebody. Even as it harms others and unconstitutional. My oath is pure nasty shit.
That is what they are all about.
But I wouldn't know that censorship really even exists and laws are being passed through the very system that is here to protect and give justice to each Citizen from this very thing. Freedom of speech. Freedom of press. Freedom to...Imagine the best possible life each wants and bring it forward. Assemble or not. Either way. Come and go. Come back don't come back.
They aren't supposed to be that way on this land. But they are. They Wrote The Constitution to keep all of that at bay. It seems everyone and their brother wants to kill Freedom and Fair Financial Exchange and kill America. In every interesting way.
I place my gold and silver on you Writer! Wherever you are.
Is that right?! I agree (under attack) but I have not seen her say that - (can you post a link to that comment). The substack in question is: https://elizabethnickson.substack.com/
Brilliant writer and important ally. But yes, whether or not she said it, there are likely plans to tame in some fashion substack - hostile Blackrock funded buy-out? I think it's just two or three guy who own and operate; hosted on Amazon servers; zero ads - I have no idea what the business model is except modestly priced subscriptions.
RegretLeft: I left Absurdistan after reading Nickson's comments about setting up a Patreon account. I can't stand Patreon. It has censored people in the past during the Covid Panic.
Nickson is a brilliant writer and ally.
Nickson's comments about substack, Patreon, etc. were written recently but I'm not going back to look it up. It doesn't matter that much to me. The system is messed up. Why do we have to rely on a few brave men and women to set up these internet platforms to hear the truth?
Proud to be a subscriber and supporter of your fine work sir
I am subscribing! Thank you for using your words to put sense into the world.
I am a contemporary composer/musician on the giant format('have to be on if your anybody') called SPOTIFY.... and others.... and my music is very good. We as musicians spend thousands of dollars on equipment, thousands of hours on single songs and hours submitting, protecting music and guess what.................. 99% of Spotify musicians(really talented good ones) get nothing..... seriously. I get checks for like $5 every 6 months and last year had up to 3000 followers per month. It is exactly what Jon speaks of in the music sphere.
Stop using the spotify pimps.
I'm a listener and I've never used spotify or anything like that.
Yes! I buy hard copies of music (many hundreds of cds) so that I am NEVER at the mercy of a streaming service that jacks up the price as high as it can go!
Way back in the early days of the www it was called "disintermediation" - it was a good thing - according to the creative destructive capitalism line of thought. You used to be under contract to a "recording company" who hired recording engineers and distributors up and down the line - all that's gone - and Spotify remains to rake in the revenue and you incur all costs to get it on the platform - is it owned by the CCP?
Physical media is no different - I own 5K+ classical CDs - very large portion of solo and chamber artist recordings now list the musicians as "Executive Producer" - Orchestral recordings are somewhat closer to the old model - still considerable support by European state radio entities, for example.
Somehow we need more creation and less destruction. Next time around?
I subscribe to Jon and a few other good substack writers. People think writing is easy. It isn't.
Jon! You're right and I am getting my monies worth from you..! Absolute Fact... Thank you!
NSTAAFL (No such thing as a free lunch) if you believe there is you are delusional or in denial or a thief, but they sooner or later pay.
Good explanation of why we now directly pay the writers of our consumption information directly
Lunch is lunch. Not-a-lunch is not a lunch.
A song is not a lunch.
A poem is not a lunch.
A picture is not a lunch.
It's odd .... I was in the top 1 million on the planet of monthly followers yet have no paycheck. My Distrokid distrubitor says to talk to Spotify which you cannot talk to ... it AI. My Spotify name is 'Frank Jeffries Unplugged'.... 2 months ago. I was at 2900 followers and should get lots of $ for this since I am in the top 1 percent..... but last month I got censured for this. In 1 day they knocked my followers down to 400 and I did this honestly by paying and submitting my music to Submit Hub.com which is honest to get good music on playlists and is hard to get 'approved' ...... its a mess Jon hits on the essence.
Well. I dont know about getting paid, but I can tell you how not to get paid. I can even tell gou bow to get no subscribers. I asked substack Should I keep writing if I do t have any views. It yook awhilr for an answer. It said yes....I dropped some chsnge in a homeless guys cup snd immediiatly felt bad. Coffee splashef out. " I apoligize" snd turned to lesve. ",Say can I get that quarter back?-"
"Ok sorry" and I took off
great humor in that timing and addressing the roots of change. lol
For the staggering amount of cutting edge information, investigative journalism, punditry, and satire pieces, a subscription is a tremendous value and highly recommended. Thank you, Jon !
I disagree that you and other Substack writers should be giving us what we want. You should give us what we need. The truth. Many readers unsubscribe because a writer said something they didn’t like or agree with. Sometimes the truth hurts - keep reading.
Great value given, so much value received. Happy subscriber.
Well thought out and well written. Checking, I found that I originally subscribed when you were writing No More Fake News in February 2015. Amazing. Keep up the good work.
Long live Substack!
Sean G: Some writers on Substack like Elizabeth Nickson (Absurdistan), say that Substack is under attack, folding, and on its way out. She's leaving for Patreon of all things. Sigh.
I like substack but like all things I like, the State will quash it and take it away.
I think you writers are magical. And that means more than I can even comprehend. Thankfully. I just know it is so.
Of coarse they would take that away.
Being able to float your own boat? They won't have any of that. Boats voyage. Many boats doing what boats do? Experiencing untold unique adventures! No a vacation anywhere won't suffice.
Hire me to do this job, no real thinking required, just train me and pin a badge on me and I will do as told, for my brainless paycheck. It's my responsibility now. I am somebody. Even as it harms others and unconstitutional. My oath is pure nasty shit.
That is what they are all about.
But I wouldn't know that censorship really even exists and laws are being passed through the very system that is here to protect and give justice to each Citizen from this very thing. Freedom of speech. Freedom of press. Freedom to...Imagine the best possible life each wants and bring it forward. Assemble or not. Either way. Come and go. Come back don't come back.
They aren't supposed to be that way on this land. But they are. They Wrote The Constitution to keep all of that at bay. It seems everyone and their brother wants to kill Freedom and Fair Financial Exchange and kill America. In every interesting way.
I place my gold and silver on you Writer! Wherever you are.
You are a kind man, Sean Garrisson and an astute one.
Thanks.
Naw. I'm just a grouch!
Sean G: My wife and I paid our federal and state income taxes today. I am very grouchy.
oh gosh.
Is that right?! I agree (under attack) but I have not seen her say that - (can you post a link to that comment). The substack in question is: https://elizabethnickson.substack.com/
Brilliant writer and important ally. But yes, whether or not she said it, there are likely plans to tame in some fashion substack - hostile Blackrock funded buy-out? I think it's just two or three guy who own and operate; hosted on Amazon servers; zero ads - I have no idea what the business model is except modestly priced subscriptions.
RegretLeft: I left Absurdistan after reading Nickson's comments about setting up a Patreon account. I can't stand Patreon. It has censored people in the past during the Covid Panic.
Nickson is a brilliant writer and ally.
Nickson's comments about substack, Patreon, etc. were written recently but I'm not going back to look it up. It doesn't matter that much to me. The system is messed up. Why do we have to rely on a few brave men and women to set up these internet platforms to hear the truth?
In a throw away society this is truly value delivered for the money spent; a rarity indeed.
Agree 100%
My mother used to say: You get what you pay for.