While Groover is in the business of helping independent artists get known, Patreon proves that making a living from their music is possible! So our two platforms naturally came together to become partners; partners with each other and partners with independent artists ✨
Being a musician and earning money are rarely the same thing. However, let’s not forget that being an artist is also a job in addition to being a passion. A job that is good for musicians but also for the people who listen to their music. Without music, radio, media and many other outlets would have much less to offer – or perhaps they wouldn’t even exist 😱
Hello team ! In two words, what is Patreon?
Patreon is a funding platform that allows content creators and artists to be supported directly by their fans through a subscription system. Co-founded in 2013 by musician and videographer Jack Conte and developer Sam Yam, the platform democratizes subscription to allow online content creators to generate a consistent and sustainable monthly income.
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Can you tell us a little more about the evolution of the site?
Patreon continues to expand worldwide and provide services across the world. For example, in 2020 we launched the French Patreon site and since then, it has been continuously improved to make the user experience smoother and more enjoyable for French-speaking content creators. Today, there are more than 250,000 users in total on Patreon and more than 8 million contributors who support them financially every month. Patreon was initially very successful with musicians and videographers. But in recent years, the platform is also increasingly used by other types of creators: visual artists (illustrators, designers), podcast creators and tutorial creators, in particular.
Who can sign up for Patreon?
Everyone, without exception! The platform is free to access and it is very simple to create a Patreon page. Once it’s ready, the creator just needs to address their community and explain what they are offering (the benefits of subscribing) and create exclusive content regularly. Thousands of creators sign up every day to Patreon to connect with their communities and be financially supported without the need for advertising or sponsored content.
How do artists who sign up to Patreon earn a steady income?
As any content creator will tell you, building a strong and loyal community takes time and perseverance. The same goes for creators and their contributors on Patreon. These are relationships that are built over a long period of time, ideally over several years. The platform does not operate on a “project” model, as is the case in traditional crowdfunding. On Patreon, fans invest in a person whose work they appreciate, which is often long-term and will evolve over time.
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Who subscribes to Patreon?
People who love creation, artists and their content. You can really find everything on Patreon! Music lessons, horror podcasts, tutorials on how to code, how to design video games, chapters from unpublished books, and much more. Niche content and mainstream content both have the perfect playground to express themselves fully. And what makes this content so valuable is that it’s not available anywhere else! Exclusivity is Patreon’s strength. For musicians, it can be unreleased tracks, behind-the-scenes glimpses of their concerts and tours, live streams with Q&A sessions or privileged access to artists. A unique relationship develops between a creator and their community on the platform.
Is it possible to make a living from your music through Patreon? Do you have any examples to give us?
There are many artists who earn their living from their music via their Patreon page. For example, in France, Senbei makes music and beatmaking tutorials and gives access to sound databases. The metal band Dust in Mind and the rock band Halflives got closer to their fans by offering them exclusive access to their songs when their concerts were cancelled at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Other artists are a mix of genres, such as Cellofrag, who make videos about video games and playing the cello. Meanwhile, classical musician Esther Abrami offers workshops, gifts, and free concert tickets. With Patreon, musicians have found a foundation on which to build their communities and generate stable revenues.
Any future projects?
We are preparing several great projects that will see the light of day this year. In particular, we will completely rethink the user experience on mobiles, to make it more fluid and efficient. The design and navigation on the platform will be completely redesigned. We will also give creators the ability to stream directly via Patreon and upload their own videos. And that’s not all! It will soon be possible to have a white-label Patreon page: the creator controls all the graphic elements of his or her own brand (design, navigation, animations, pages) but the payment and subscription system remains managed by Patreon. This solution will allow creators who want to promote their own identity to have a one-stop subscription solution and not have to worry about payments, subscriptions, VAT… This will make creators’ lives easier! We can’t wait to tell you more in the coming months.
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– Translated by Betty Gonzalez Gray –