Oddbean

Currently, no. The network is too small. But are you suggesting that artists/creators should forever be doomed to relying on advertising revenue and centralized content platforms, that nostr can’t and shouldn’t be a better alternative to directly connect with audiences and cut out the middlemen?

Seems like the idea of "content creator/ influencer" is a centralized social media contruct that doesn't seem to make much sense outside of ad based revenue from views. That doesn't mean actual artists shouldn't be able to generate revenue directly from fans. More that all the bullshit 15 second drop shipping videos or sensationalized videos all these kids think is a career really has no fit on nostr and is a product of centralized social media as a medium.

Influencoors are very successful on centralized platforms because they’re getting paid by brands and stuff, and the platforms love that shit so they play along and boost engagement since it’s centralized and manipulable, and all those participants get rich and happy off the sad poor peasants Brands can do that here too… kinda. Primal’s an interesting example because they sort of are their own platform (see the whole de-platforming saga with @semisol @𝓞𝓷𝔂𝔁.𝓥𝓲𝔁𝓮𝓷 and @ralf and whoever else). But it’s a lot more of a challenge bc we don’t have to use primal. It still comes up into other clients of course but it’s just never gonna be as strong i don’t think Of course i hope someday enough people use nostr that general content creators can be on nostr only. But whether that will happen i have no idea What stands out to me here and now though, is that people do what i can only describe as “zap shaming” making the average user feel guilty for the amount they zap, and i think that’s counter-productive if anything. Some people are wholecoiners, some are whales, some have good jobs, some don’t even have a real utxo yet. It varies a lot. There is no amount that anyone should expect anyone else to zap. Subjectivity like this is just an unavoidable and generally unknowable component of value for value. So i don’t like zap shaming, i don’t think it helps anyone. Maybe i’m just an annoying bastard bc most of my zaps are only 7 sats and private. But i’m no whale and when something really impacts me i zap moar. I don’t see the issue here. Nostr’s adoption and success depend on other stuff a lot more imo

Influencoors vs. Creators/Artists— I don’t equate these categories. Fuck the influencoors. But civilized society would vanish without the artists/writers/musicians/etc that sustain and advance culture. Many artists make a living off their work, and often from creating multiple revenue streams off it. Nostr could potentially be a place where artists/writers/creators can generate a revenue stream directly from their audience, free of influence from advertisers and other sources of censorship. Zap shaming— No one should be shamed for what or how much they choose to zap, but that doesn’t mean we can’t assess the economic health of the nostr network. The current levels of zapping and the average zap amounts are not incentivizing much in the way of anything beyond being used as a fun toy. People will spend their time where they feel that time is valued. It could be that simply socializing and having fun with a few people is all someone is looking for. But those people have to be subsidized by users generating and spending real economic value, and unless nostr is a place where real economic value is exchanged, then how long will it last? It won’t happen today, so I’m not trying to say it’s now or never. But I think it’s fair to say that right now there isn’t obvious incentive for artists/creators to devote a large amount of time and resources to creating content here.

Oof good points. Not sure why i conflated influencoors with content creators. And yeah, right now an artist would be making a good decision by posting progress pics or final products etc. and probably get zaps. But it’s just a bonus. Hopefully they have a gallery or website or something where they actually sell their work.

Was just thinking about posting like this for creatr.nostr.wine. Not a professional musician, so quality varies from a full track or video playthrough to literally me last night recording with my phone riffing around. Will see how that comes around

I hate it that social media culture has conflated the term creator and “influencer.” One of the reasons I love nostr and v4v is because it just doesn’t seem to foster that “influencer” culture the way ad-driven social media does. Creators are free to create here, and not constantly trying to beat the algo or trying to achieve some particular level of reach/followers just so they can begin monetizing. And even then, on the other networks it would be from ad revenue which means you’re constantly trying to create in such a way that you won’t get deplatformed or deboosted. Nostr and v4v simplify it all and make it easier to be authentic. But at some point bills have to be paid, and probably sooner than the zap levels become viable enough to spend a lot of time creating here.

To be honest, I see zaps (or other p2p micro payment) as a last chance saloon for independent musicians making music outside of the mainstream. AI will destroy much of the income streams from TV/Library music etc. Streaming is a joke and gigging is tough! I don’t support putting music on platforms that show such disregard for craft. Do I pivot into a different industry is a question I constantly ask myself but I get so much joy from the process. Working with great musicians is an incredible feeling and I’ve helped create records I’m very proud of. To me self sovereign means way more than having a Coldcard. It’s agency over what I create and what I do. If it all goes tits up, at least I tried.

We're still so early on this stuff. Remember that we're building a new parallel system from the ground up. When Bitcoin's purchasing power goes up by another 10x, those 9 sat zaps suddenly aren't inconsequential. The increased purchasing power & value flow on here will draw more creators & more consumers. Nostr will orange pill more normies than Bitcoin Twitter ever did. Those that aren't poor but also not super wealthy on here, are going to keep zapping as they do now regardless of bitcoin price. I love every zap I get & yeah I get pretty chuffed when I receive a big one, even though I know I will just recycle it back in. I have a lot of respect for those creators that have come here before it makes compelling financial sense. They can see how broken the current centralised platforms are & want something better. It's all going to take a little more time though.