Announcing: 0% Platform Fees

Subvert's elected Board Approves Optional Contributions Model

Our approved platform revenue model allows purchasers to voluntarily fund platform operations at checkout. Instead of charging artist and label platform fees, this approach ensures our financial sustainability while implementing no artist or label platform fees.

This is the first major policy decision made by our newly elected board.

0% platform fees.

How It Works

When supporters purchase music on Subvert, they'll see optional contribution amounts at checkout: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, custom amount, or no contribution. The message is clear: "100% of your purchase goes directly to the artists. Optional contributions help keep Subvert community-owned and controlled forever."

But how do we actually sustain operations without guaranteed platform fees?

Why We Think This Will Work

There's proven precedent. One example of this model in practice is GoFundMe. They eliminated their 5% creator fee in favor of optional supporter tips and now average 7.5% contribution rates, higher than their old mandatory fees. Now, GoFundMe earns more per transaction than Kickstarter. Their CEO calls the business model "completely insane" but admits "it's still working."

Independent music runs on solidarity. This model often works in the context of charity, but we believe it can work in the context of solidarity too. We've already proven that people are willing and eager to support community-owned infrastructure. In our first 10 months, we have earned $140,000 from co-op memberships and zines.

We have diversified revenue. Co-op membership fees provide a baseline revenue stream that reduces our reliance on transaction-based income alone.

This will help us grow. We believe that this fee model will lead to more artist signups, more platform activity, and greater recruitment of co-op members.

Community-Driven Decision

This proposal has been discussed in our members forum since December. Members have shaped this policy through months of debate, questions, and refinement. The elected board's vote reflects extensive community input, not opaque top-down decision-making.

Measuring Success

There’s a chance this won’t work. That’s why we're committed to transparency about this experiment. By May 2026, we'll publicly evaluate the model based on contribution rates and overall platform sustainability.

If it's working, we'll continue and scale. If it isn't, we'll communicate openly with our community and seek input on alternative fee models and approaches.

Whatever the outcome, we'll make decisions democratically and keep members informed throughout the process.

A New Standard

Subvert is not only owned and controlled by its community, it will also be Bandcamp Friday every day. 

Effect on Platform Fee Vouchers

NOTE: For artists and labels who previously purchased Platform Fee Vouchers, we'll be contacting you about refunds, as these are no longer applicable.

Join and Shape Subvert's Future

If you've been watching from the sidelines, now is the time to join. Our next discussion: payment processing fees and processors. Help us shape policy and the future of the platform with 7000 other co-op members. 

Founding members get early access to the platform. Artist fees: 0%. Community control: 100%.