A prayer card for the founder of Mondragon “Work is the only prayer that is always answered.”

I'm tired of platform co-op hobbyists who argue against scale (as if it is some evil to be avoided) lack of growth isn't a strategy or moral choice it's preemptive cope for projects too afraid to try or actually succeed

Cooperative platform @transkribus.bsky.social hit 500,000 users

Resonate co-op has formally shut down. Credit to the team for trying something big and inspiring a lot of people

the harshest critics of @subvert.fm are righteous chatroom co-op purists father arizmendi, the founder of mondragon, was rejected by both leftist purists and religious purists. like him, i also believe in pragmatism, scale, just wages, and security for workers

The people who think @subvert.fm is a scam or too good to be true are American. They don’t interact with co-ops The gap in imagination is cultural

I love working for Subvert Cooperative LCA

Subvert is now expanding access to the platform. This update includes invitations to near 600 artists, marking a huge step in opening up the platform. This also marks the moment Subvert crosses 18,000 global Members. Thank you for your continued support. Not a member? Join the co-op at subvert.fm

the connection between catholicism and worker co-ops is too interesting to ignore the largest co-op was founded a venerable priest "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had."

We just invited 600 more artists into the @subvert.fm alpha

Subvert is now expanding its active / live Artists selection. After testing with some of our earliest and vocal Artist-Members, we’re now rolling out access to 50 more Artists - with more to come soon as we test, iterate, and prepare for full platform launch. Join the co-op at subvert.fm

The easiest way to combat feeling envy is to say to yourself "that person is good. i am good too."

Would love to see Mamdani introduce a local currency for NYC

My dad, Thom Robey, died last month. He was an architect. I wrote this for him. It's a meditation on labor, love, and legacy. It's about where I come from. culturesofownership.substack.com/p/elegy-for-...

I'm launching a newsletter in 2 weeks I'll be writing reflections about: -Cooperative legacy and heritage -Cultures of ownership -Alternative business logics -Theology of work -An inside look at building @subvert.fm Comment and I'll DM you a link when it's published

Your reminder that Daniel ek is a symptom, not a cause

Our platform is here for you to test. After a year of building with 15,000+ co-op members, our collectively-owned Bandcamp successor is live for testing at alpha.subvert.fm Join today to help test it before public launch.

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DIY culture is anti-credentialing Want to start a venue or a label? You don't need an MBA. You just need care, curiosity, and action. Who's the right person to start something like @subvert.fm? I don't know. The real question: If not us, then who? If not now, when?

@subvert.fm passed 12,000 co-op members My favorite forum comment this week: "We are trying to build a parallel ecosystem. Maybe we all need some time to take a breath in the midst of excitement and realize the responsibility."

Co-ops are common sense

Socialist Bandcamp (@subvert.fm)

“but we have bandcamp” is the rallying cry of relative-best apologists, the accidental status quo defenders willing to defend union busting and corporate ownership as long as it’s not spotify they don’t understand that critiquing the best option is how you get better options

Saw Corey Doctorow talk to Lina Khan last night about enshittification Loved the point about the limitations of founder virtue Founders may see themselves as omni-benevolent, but they’re not omni-competent. Corporate benevolent dictatorships are not durable

Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of Hollywood”

Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of science” So cool

Last month we traveled to Spain's Basque region to visit Mondragon, the world's largest worker cooperative. 92 co-ops. 70,000 workers. €11 billion in revenue. Spain's 7th-largest company. All collectively owned. Here are 5 lessons for building a "Mondragon of Music"

A co-op can be a social base for future institution building 🌐

In <5 years @subvert.fm co-op will own a multi-use building in nyc Mondragon of music

Market socialism is common sense

The founders to idolize are not Steve Jobs or Elon Musk - it's Jose Maria Arizmendiarrieta 92 cooperatives 70,000 worker owners €11 billion revenue a university All for the dignity of workers and community benefit. This is why there is a statue of him

I think what I’m doing would make 15 year old austin proud

I want to build a co-op I want to meet with members I don't want to go to a music industry mixer and shake hands with someone that works at suno

Music streaming discourse: “Spotify’s founder invests in a military contractor Instead, we should use YouTube music, a company owned by Google, a direct military contractor A true alternative way to continue paying $10.99/ month to access all music” 🤯🤯🤯

If your “alternative” to streaming is a company with -opaque deals -opaque ownership -undisclosed funding sources -no democratic corporate governance It might not be that much of an alternative

Hear me out. I think too much is blamed on Daniel Ek. By suggesting systemic problems are the result of flawed individuals, we obscure and further mystify larger systemic challenges Yes, ridicule him But also remember that solutions don’t come from cooler capitalists in charge

100 new members joined Subvert Co-op yesterday Each one owns as much of the company as I do

Music tech: The platform is not the solution Any startup is at best a future problem Solidarity is the only solution

Co-ops are a tool, not the end goal What matters most: -broad-based community ownership -democratic governance -less worker precarity -greater utility and material benefit -greater resilience, integrity, trust, and longevity

“Co-ops are great in theory, BUT…”

Our newly elected Board has approved our platform revenue model: Optional Contributions instead of artist and label platform fees. Supporters can optionally contribute at checkout. Artists and labels keep everything they earn. 0% platform fees. 100% community control.

Cooperatives are a means, not the end Success isn’t -forming a co-op It’s enabling broad-based ownership and creating material benefit for workers, and reducing precarity

From Caroline Woolard in "Ours to Hack and to Own": "So You Want To Start a Platform Cooperative"

Subvert has critics within the platform co-op space. Purists say we shouldn't: Raise money to pay workers Aim to be competitive Build a community before launching a product If this is controversial, so be it. Labor should be paid. Co-ops should win, not be noble experiments.

Resonate was a platform cooperative that was both venture funded and a crypto project I love resonate and think it's an important project But it's interesting to me that anti-VC and anti-crypto folks continue to pedestal it Is it just the passing of time- or nostalgic amnesia?

If market socialism sounds too scary, just call it economic democracy

I'm going to Mondragon in a month

im the product manager, community manager, customer service rep, head of business development, and intern at @subvert.fm

User-owned platforms are obvious. Do you see it yet?