Technology Quote by Jonathan Taplin
““The stunning thing about a zero-marginal-cost digital distribution system is that we forget that it could allow artists to run a nonprofit distribution cooperative and keep a far higher percentage of their revenues than they do now. YouTube takes 45 percent of the ad revenue on its site simply for running the infrastructure, without putting up production or marketing money. At worst the cost to run the infrastructure is around 5 percent, at current revenue levels, so the rest of the revenue is pure profit. What if artists ran a video and audio streaming site as a nonprofit cooperative (perhaps employing the technology in some of those free Google patents)?””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing Digital Media Economics, 2023
Low‑cost digital distribution can empower artists, but cooperative models face coordination and funding challenges.
In simple terms: Artists could keep more earnings via cooperatives.
Key Takeaway
Explore nonprofit cooperative platforms.
Themes
economics
digital media
cooperatives
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
economic
technological
When to use this quote
- starting a streaming service
- artist collectives
- open‑source platforms
- fundraising
Key Concepts
business models
technology policy
Questions to Reflect On
- What incentives attract artists to cooperatives?
- How can infrastructure costs stay low?
A Different Perspective
Cooperatives need strong governance and capital.
