In the wake of an increasingly competitive and unpredictable content landscape, many social media creators are now seeking stable income by turning to subscription-based platforms like Patreon and Substack. This shift is coming at a time when the creator economy, which peaked in September 2021, faces challenges like a slowdown in paid partnerships, algorithm-driven volatility on social platforms, and a reduction in online viewership post-pandemic.
Research from the Bank of America Institute indicates that while the creator economy has grown, the average content creator in the U.S. still makes much less than a full-time employee in other industries, with their income averaging five times lower. This is because the algorithm-driven platforms have created a concentration of earnings among top-tier creators, making it difficult for many to rely solely on traditional ad revenue or brand deals.
In response, creators are seeking more reliable sources of income. . There’s Patreon and Substack that also provide a direct-to-pay route for creators who’d like to charge users subscription fees for exclusive content; Patreon has paid over $8 billion to creators since its founding in 2013, and Substack now hosts over 4 million paid subscribers. These platforms enable creators to bypass the unpredictability of social media algorithms and foster more direct relationships with their audience.
Creators such as Molly Burke, who has over 4 million followers, are using platforms like Patreon to help cover essential expenses like rent. For Burke, while brand deals remain a major income source, the subscription revenue from her followers provides a predictable backup. Similarly, the Try Guys, a popular comedy group, have launched their own subscription service, “2nd Try,” where they place most of their new videos behind a $5-a-month paywall. In just three months, this move has helped them reach profitability.
Subscription services are proving to be crucial in helping content creators navigate the volatility of the digital content economy. By providing more consistent income streams, platforms like Patreon and Substack are becoming central to the financial sustainability of creators, offering a way to reduce dependence on fluctuating brand deals and algorithm-based content distribution.
