The Absence of True Value Exchange

In today’s entertainment economy, fans are treated as passive consumers rather than active participants. This misalignment is evident in several areas:

i. Marketing Costs Passed to Fans: Brands and creators traditionally pay for access to markets, yet in modern entertainment ecosystems, fans bear the burden of marketing costs through inflated prices for tickets, subscriptions, and merchandise. This absurd dynamic forces fans to subsidize campaigns designed to benefit third parties.

ii. One-Sided Reward Systems: Existing loyalty programs offered by centralized platforms are often superficial, offering little more than discounts or early access to events. These incentives fail to recognize the intrinsic value of fan contributions, such as sharing content, promoting artists, or providing feedback.

iii. Lack of Ownership: Fans invest time, money, and emotional energy into supporting their favourite creators, yet they receive no tangible ownership stake in return. Whether it’s purchasing concert tickets or subscribing to a streaming service, fans are left empty-handed once the transaction is complete.

iv. Absurdity of Fan Burden: Brands traditionally pay for access to markets, yet in today’s entertainment economy, fans effectively subsidize brand campaigns.

• Concert tickets often include "fees" that cover promotional costs borne by fans.

• Merchandise purchases fund artist visibility despite fans already driving demand organically.

• This absurd dynamic must change. Fans deserve recognition as the market they represent, with equitable rewards for their participation.

This absence of reciprocity devalues fan participation and undermines the potential for deeper, more meaningful connections between creators and their audiences.