Mapping subscription-based crowdfunding platforms

Abstract

In a context where the music industry is being transformed by digitization and platformization, subscription-based crowdfunding (SBC) is emerging as an increasingly popular alternative for artists to fund their work and maintain a direct relationship with their community. Nevertheless, SBC platforms remain understudied. This article offers a comparative analysis of the main SBC platforms by examining their operational models, monetization options, and communication tools available to creators. Using a corpus consisting of the following platforms: Patreon, Ko-Fi, Buy Me A Coffee, Ampled, Subscribestar, and Tipeee, this study highlights differences in terms of usage costs, diversity of funding modes, and possibilities for interaction with contributors. The mapping of SBC platforms suggests that Patreon, SubscribeStar, and Tipeee form a cluster characterized by high usage costs, a limited number of monetization options, and a variety of features that facilitate community engagement. Buy Me A Coffee and Ko-Fi offer a wider range of funding modes while maintaining lower usage costs. Finally, Ampled’s cooperative model (2019-2023) allowed this platform to distinctly differentiate itself from others by offering more agency to users, but it provides only one monetization option and few features facilitating engagement with the community.