Joe Budden was one of Spotify’s first big podcast signings back in August 2018, with an exclusive on his popular hip-hop show. However, two years later Budden binned off the streaming service in public fashion, claiming “Spotify is pillaging. You pillage the audience from the podcast, and you’ve continued to pillage each step of the way”. Where would his show go next, though? Patreon, as it turns out.
The Joe Budden Podcast will now be launching on Patreon – including bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes material and a patron-only Discord. However, it’s more than just a distribution deal: Patreon has also given Budden a new job. He’ll be ‘head of creator equity’ for the company.
“I’ve seen firsthand that exploitation is everywhere in this industry – it’s become the status quo, and I’m tired of it. I’m tired of constantly fighting for independence, and I’m tired of proving my value over and over again,” is how Budden put it. “This partnership with Patreon marks a new era for the creative economy: one where independence comes first, and creators get paid – something that shouldn’t be revolutionary.”
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