I think it’s definitely true that there's some undiscovered talent out there. But I think this article goes a bit too far in assuming that a significant number creators deserve an audience and an income that aren't getting it now, enough to create a creator middle class. I wish that was the case, but in the time I spent working in arts and entertainment I can’t support that view of the world.
Many people create art for the wrong reasons. Their goal is to be the center of attention, but they don’t have anything interesting to say, haven’t put in very much work, haven’t really considered why what they created is in the best interest of the audience, not just in the best interest of the artist.
If a platform goes too far in recommending content that isn’t very good, and taking resources away from its successful creators and redistributing them to its less successful, their viewers and talent will leave for another platform. For most of the long-tail creators, their best chance at a middle class income will be a day job off the platform, or in a job as support system for a successful creator that hires staff (crew, marketing, props, editing).
> But I think this article goes a bit too far in assuming that a significant number creators deserve an audience and an income that aren't getting it now, enough to create a creator middle class. I wish that was the case, but in the time I spent working in arts and entertainment I can’t support that view of the world.
Hmm, as someone working in the media in some fashion, I'd say there's a huge number of creators that deserve an audience and income who aren't getting it now. Those 6 or so lists of underrated gaming YouTubers I posted in the last few years should be evidence of that to some degree (though many of the people included did take off afterwards).
Every week or so I come across at least one creator who I believe should be much more successful than they currently are.
picarto.tv is an art streaming site. If you looked at the top hundred streams there the artists are all probably studio grade, but maybe a tenth of them actually make a living off their art.
A lot of people are making a lot of good stuff for free online and making pennies on it because in practice its not talent that is scarce, its eyeball access and virality. Your average webcomic artist today does not have the resources to exploit the psychology of target demographics the way Disney will for their next streaming show or the war chest to shove ads for it down throats until it reaches a critical self perpetuating mass of popularity.
That doesn't make the stuff they make less worthy of being enjoyed, though. They just can't spread the message by themselves.
Many people create art for the wrong reasons. Their goal is to be the center of attention, but they don’t have anything interesting to say, haven’t put in very much work, haven’t really considered why what they created is in the best interest of the audience, not just in the best interest of the artist.
If a platform goes too far in recommending content that isn’t very good, and taking resources away from its successful creators and redistributing them to its less successful, their viewers and talent will leave for another platform. For most of the long-tail creators, their best chance at a middle class income will be a day job off the platform, or in a job as support system for a successful creator that hires staff (crew, marketing, props, editing).