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Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

subvert.fm

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Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#3
What exactly is meant by co-ownership in your case? What exact "Ability to influence platform policies and features" would I have and how are product/business decisions made? What is the organisation structure?

The phrase "Collective ownership" sounds romantic but it can mean many things, from very good to outright scam, depending on implementation.

Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#4
I'm glad to see new concepts emerge like this that challenge the governance and benefit of platforms by shareholder corporations for their own self-interested purposes.

I joined as a "Founding Supporter" of the Subvert co-op last night when I saw a post on my Twitter (X) feed.

I really hope to see more tech cooperatives in the future. The dominant paradigm of neo-fiefdom tech platforms is both tired and uninspiring.

Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#5
post #3

What exactly is meant by co-ownership in your case? What exact "Ability to influence platform policies and features" would I have and how are product/business decisions made? What is the organisation structure? The phrase "Collective ownership" sounds romantic but it can mean many things, from very good to outright scam, depending on implementation.

It's structured as a multi-stakeholder cooperative, from what I understand.

"Building an artist-owned platform is a complex challenge, but it’s one we are uniquely positioned to solve. Our growing coalition includes founders of Ampled, a project that helped pioneer the concept of cooperative platforms, as well as artists, music industry professionals, and specialists in cooperative law and platform economics. "

From a introductory blog post.

https://subvert.fm/blog/a-collectively-owned-bandcamp-succes...

More on the co-op model in the FAQ.

https://subvert.fm/docs/what-does-it-mean-to-join-the-co-op/

Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#6
How is Bandcamp doing nowadays? I know the backstory of it being bought by Epic, then Epic realizing they have no use for a music store and selling it off to Songtradr who immediately gutted it by firing half of the staff, but I don't use it enough to know if enshittification has set in yet.

Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#7
post #6

How is Bandcamp doing nowadays? I know the backstory of it being bought by Epic, then Epic realizing they have no use for a music store and selling it off to Songtradr who immediately gutted it by firing half of the staff, but I don't use it enough to know if enshittification has set in yet.

This sounds like enshittification itself, in its own way. Rotating hands to the highest bidder.

Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#8
post #3

What exactly is meant by co-ownership in your case? What exact "Ability to influence platform policies and features" would I have and how are product/business decisions made? What is the organisation structure? The phrase "Collective ownership" sounds romantic but it can mean many things, from very good to outright scam, depending on implementation.

It's structured as a multi-stakeholder cooperative, from what I understand. "Building an artist-owned platform is a complex challenge, but it’s one we are uniquely positioned to solve. Our growing coalition includes founders of Ampled, a project that helped pioneer the concept of cooperative platforms, as well as artists, music industry professionals, and specialists in cooperative law and platform economics. " From…

would this be like open-collective for musicians?

Re: Subvert – Collectively owned music marketplace

#9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's structured as a multi-stakeholder cooperative, from what I understand. "Building an artist-owned platform is a complex challenge, but it’s one we are uniquely positioned to solve. Our growing coalition includes founders of Ampled, a project that helped pioneer the concept of cooperative platforms, as well as artists, music industry professionals, and specialists in cooperative law and platform economics. " From…

would this be like open-collective for musicians?

I could see the economics working similar to OpenCollective, but different governance. I know OC announced a restructuring recently, but I don't think it's a co-op model.
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