“A sense of ownership is like a sense of lunch.” - Corey Rosen, National Center for Employee Ownership

Subvert is launching this fall. Before we get there, we want to give an early look at what’s being built. Subvert Members get first access to explore the alpha stage platform later this month.

Artists need a solidarity economy. A solidarity economy needs artists.

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"

having a little meetup and chat today about music & co-ops with @austinrobey.xyz from @subvert.fm, the community-owned successor to bandcamp! 6pm! It's OK* studios! @paulch.in on the decks!

Next week we’ll be in Canada 🇨🇦 Sept 25-26: University of Toronto (Workers Governing Technologies) RSVP: creativelabourcriticalfutures.ca/blog/workers... Sept 26 Toronto: Music + Co-ops social & salon with @newfeelingcoop.bsky.social RSVP: luma.com/nn6dn7n0

Let’s talk about a co-operatively owned future for artists and music workers! Join me at the @subvert.fm & @newfeelingcoop.bsky.social Toronto meetup next week to dream about a better way forward together!

it's not enough to fight, we have to dream let's pair: frustration with aspiration protest with proposal diagnosis with prescription critique with construction

Toronto (Friday Sept 26) @subvert.fm 🤝 @newfeelingcoop.bsky.social This event brings together Subvert and New Feeling for a conversation about the future of worker and artist ownership in music. Join us. RSVP: luma.com/subvert

We're continuing to grow our cooperative network and reached a new milestone. 1,000 Labels. Independent labels, artists, supporters, and workers are all joining together to build something needed after two corporate sales: a collectively-owned Bandcamp successor.

enshittification | noun | when a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits

Community is something you find Solidarity is something you build Community is us Solidarity is us vs them

The solution is solidarity, not tech

Our elected board recently voted (6-0-0) in favor of adoption an Optional Contributions model instead of an artist and label platform fee. Here are statements from each board representative about their decision. Read the full statements on our blog.

Choose your fighter

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.

A world owned by workers

When can you use Subvert? The platform is almost ready. Our team uses it daily, and we're excited for you to start using it. We recently crossed 7,000 co-op members. Here's when you can expect access:

We crossed 5,000 Artist-Members of Subvert Co-op, making us the largest cooperative of musicians in the world. Platform testing begins next week. Founding Members get early access. Sincerely Ours,

I am a founding member of @subvert.fm who are building an artist-owned and run co-op platform as a bandcamp alternative. I hope more things move in this direction. you can sign up as a supporter/ally or join for free as an artist or label. subvert.fm.

BERLIN 📕📦💌 Our goal is to build an international network for solidarity, not a New York startup. As we cross 300 members in Berlin, making it our top city for membership outside of NYC, we want to prioritize building roots for an EU outpost.

Montréal 🌐 We’re approaching 100 Montréal-based members. Let’s connect IRL. Three stops in August to talk ownership, cooperation, and what we’re building together:

We just had our first real test of integrity as a company. It cost us $200,000. An investor committed funding to Subvert. Then they pushed for concessions - permanent voting board seats not subject to community election. We said no.

Co-ops are a business model for creating an economy of our own

Collectively owned Bandcamp successor

Cooperatives have thrived globally for centuries. Time to bring the cooperative legacy to online platforms.

Our first board elections have concluded. Thank you to everyone who participated in this historic moment for Subvert. Meet the elected representatives:

Can’t rely on the state Can’t rely on philanthropy Can’t rely on corporate owned platforms The goal is collective self-reliance

Episode "0" started things off great. I think this will be a dense resource for those of us re-imagining the habitual relationships between listeners, labels and artists. I'm thinking especially of people at @subvert.fm co-op. pocketcasts.com/discover/pod...

48 hours left to vote. Members: look for an email from OpaVote Voting Link

Subvert's first board election is live. Members: check your inbox for your ballot.

"It's not a technological solution. It's a social and economic reimagining." dadadrummer.substack.com/p/music-is-t...

We are highly excited about this emerging entity - a collectively owned alternative to Bandcamp.  The very birth of Alienation Index Lab happily coincides with the Subvert, not to mention the closeness of the ideas through which it occurred. We are happy to go with them. Would you join us?

With the upcoming release of @subvert.fm and proposed legislation on streaming royalties from @umaw.bsky.social, there's a lot of change to look forward to in our experience of music. When you're looking for them, there are many hard-working people trying to dig us out of this emptiness online.

Happy to now be a member of @subvert.fm. They're on a good mission.

When we don't own the platform: Platforms can be sold without our input or knowledge Someone else captures the wealth we create The rules can change overnight It's time for us to own and control what already belongs to us.

Building

SoundCloud's quiet policy change on AI training is a perfect example of why collective ownership matters. When artists don't control the platforms they rely on, core policy decisions can be made without any input or knowledge.

It’s true. I’ll keep what’s on Bandcamp there for now but all new releases will be on Subvert. Every artist should check out what they’re doing over at @subvert.fm

We're not building a New York startup. We're building a global co-op. A network for international solidarity. A Mondragon of music.

We reject US-centrism Our co-op network is global from day one

The best social network is the Subvert members forum.

Collective ownership as a growth flywheel: turning lurkers into advocates and users into co-owners

Solidarity beats speculation. Cooperation beats crypto.

A platform without a clear revenue model is a platform built on sand

solidarity not speculation

Just joined Subvert. Really excited for what’s ahead.

Members: Today is the last day for members to nominate themselves as a candidate in our upcoming election for Board of Directors. Nomination link in the last email update. DM/ contact with any questions.

Subvert's model for collective ownership is now complete - a tapestry of legal documents, agreements, and bylaws creating the foundation for a truly collectively-owned platform.