The Great Engagement Lie critiques the notion that social media engagement equates to success for indie musicians. It highlights how artists have become free labor for platforms focused on advertising, compromising their financial sustainability. The piece urges musicians to foster direct relationships with fans, valuing meaningful connections over superficial metrics.
The article emphasizes the importance of creating a diversified revenue model for independent artists, encouraging them to build multiple income sources interconnected through fan relationships. It advocates using tools like the Making a Scene Fan Passport Artist Ecosystem to manage fan data, merchandise, streaming, and licensing for sustainable growth, rather than relying on a single revenue stream.
The Making a Scene Artist Fan Passport OS aims to revive a sustainable middle class in the music industry by helping independent artists build direct relationships with fans. This ecosystem prioritizes ownership, trust, and free access for both artists and fans, transforming how creators engage and monetize their efforts through enhanced fan interactions and data management.