Jack Conte on the new wave of creator support companies (including his) we see emerging now:
The next decade of creative media technology companies will focus on building direct-to-fan connections and community strength.
As creators, we’ll still need the social platforms. We’ll still need those companies up here for discovery, for reach — we need that.
But those companies will be one component of the many tools that we have as creative people to help us run our communities and businesses.
That’s where the world is going. I’m sure of it. And, personally, right now, I feel a sense of responsibility through this. I feel a sense of responsibility because I remember what it feels like to be a creator on the outside of these platforms watching the Internet move in a direction that I don’t agree with, and that I don’t like, and that I don’t think is good for my community or business.
I remember that feels like. I remember feeling anxiety. I remember feeling fear. I remember being scared of where that was going, and what it meant for me.
I get a good feeling from Jack.
I get the sense that he’s not just a charismatic CEO giving the speech of his life at SXSW. It feels, in this clip, like he’s truly core-committed to giving you, as a creator, the access to your audience you deserve.
The results of the investments he’s been steering Patreon to make in that direction are impressive:
- community features
- video and podcasting
- no algorithm to deal with…
Not bad.
But, the biggest problem remains.
(And, unless you’re new to Platform Owner, you already know what that is):
You don’t control Patreon. Jack does.
Today, under his guidance, maybe Patreon is the most perfectly dreamy, multi-featured solution out there for building a solid creator business you can rely on (arguable).
But, that’s today.
Much in the same way landlords come and go, platforms get sold. CEOs leave. Policies change. Creators scream.
Just like the rest of Big Social (YouTube, TikTok, IG, X, Threads, etc.), if you spend the next few years posting inside Patreon, and a change or shutdown happens, you’re stuck.
I believe Jack’s heart is in the right place with what he seeks to do at Patreon. And, a nice landlord is better than a bad one.
But why have one, at all?
Especially when owning the digital land under your creator business is so entirely possible?
There is no true substitute for owning your own platform. (Just ask Jack.)
— Tang
Jack Conte’s owned platforms include Patreon, Pomplamoose, and JackConte.com.
