adamneely
patreon
1.8 Million Subscribers (and no one cares)
🕑 Added 2024-01-25 19:03:18 +0000 UTCI watched a video from the Corridor Cast podcast interviewing Freddie Wong 4 years ago, and it pretty radically changed my perspective on what I should be focusing on and why with regards to social media, and my goals as a musician/video essayist. I know he was at a transitional part in his career, and so his take is a bit cynical, but it did help me contextualize what the hell I should be aiming for with these videos and my musical goals.
Basically, there are two industries - the “Creator Economy,” and the “Music Industry,” and they do not play nice with one another. Success in one means nothing for the other, and I have always saw myself as a musician, bass player, and composer, not a YouTuber, so why would success on YouTube mean anything for me? I find great joy in playing bass with other people, I don’t find great joy in chasing algorithmic success. I find great joy in teaching and thinking, I don’t find great joy in numbers.
And while I deeply love making video essays, the format and the alienation from the audience is rough.
So, I’ve been quietly scaling back on YouTube for the better part of 2 years now, and it’s been one of the most freeing experiences. Now I only make YouTube videos when I have things I need to say, and I let other YouTubers say the things that I don’t need to say. Purposeful art and purposeful connections. I’ve been focused more on Sungazer and performing, and trying to share those performance experiences on YouTube when I can. I hope you guys enjoy what I do have to say when I make the videos that I do.
Thanks guys for the continued support over the years. This Patreon has supported me, and let me make what I want to make for the past 8 years, and has been a rock solid pillar in my life. I would have left a long time ago without you, and I
Adam
Comments
Phil Light
(Sorry for comment spam, I wanted a line break.) I wonder if you'd consider adding a subscriber tier on Patreon which is per-video, instead of per-month? I enjoy supporting you because of all the valuable teaching and inspiring you make for us here, but as you lean more into the traditional music industry model, I'd like to shift my funding in the same direction. I'd like to buy show tickets when you're in my area like I do with my other bands, and pay for videos when you make them. I love your work, thank you for continuing to do it even if the relationship to video is changing for you!
Phil Light
I became a patron on this platform several years ago because your videos are always really inspiring and helpful. (Although I make so much less music than I want to, I love to learn!)
