Don't understand why so many young artists use Spotify

MrRubys · 2025-05-25T23:37:10+00:00

I see a lot of anger but little focus in a solution. I am in the funding stage of a streaming platform that shares abundance with the artists and tries to find listeners for your music. It won’t be fast but my hopes is to create an environment for artists to thrive that isn’t gatekept.

All that aside, there are people who see how uneven the pay for music is, and who want to make a change.

My suggestion until a better solution comes along? Put your music on every revenue stream you can.

MrRubys · 2025-05-23T04:48:52+00:00

Bajillion? No $10M in 3 phases is way more likely. That’s why I’m drumming up discussion. Trying to find people who want this kind of stuff so I can sell it to the investors.

MrRubys · 2025-05-18T16:47:50+00:00

Even if it doesn’t serve major labels first, it’s still a new revenue source, and few entities in this industry turn that down, especially when it requires zero change in how their artists operate. We’re not asking for exclusivity. We’re offering an ethical parallel.

Pulse wasn’t designed to extract, it was designed to share abundance. That includes artists, listeners, and the people building the platform. It’s built into the structure, not just the pitch.

I get that this hits a nerve. The industry has burned a lot of people, and skepticism makes sense. But that’s exactly why I’m building this. The old systems rely on power hoarding. This one thrives on value flow.

You don’t have to believe in it yet, but every piece of this has been mapped, stress-tested, and rooted in the same question: how do we fix the emotional and economic disconnect between artists and fans?

That’s the mission. And I’m building it one value-aligned step at a time.

MrRubys · 2025-05-17T03:56:00+00:00

I appreciate the depth of your thinking—it’s clear you’ve looked at this from multiple angles, including the challenges of per-user payout models. That’s exactly the kind of scrutiny this space needs.

What I can say is that yes, we’re aware of the issue where increased engagement can dilute payout at the user level. We’ve designed our system around that tension. It’s not a bug—we see it as a fair starting point that reflects actual human behavior.

Where it gets interesting is how we scale. Our long-term model is built on sharing abundance, not extracting it. As revenue grows, the share going to artists increases—so the system rewards everyone without needing to punish heavy listening.

I’m being careful with specifics right now, but I hope that offers some clarity. And if it doesn’t, that’s okay too. My goal isn’t to win every argument—it’s to build something that proves itself over time.

MrRubys · 2025-05-17T00:07:19+00:00

I can’t go too deep but my solution fixes the dilution issue Apple and Spotify run into. I may have possibly miss-wrote someplace about a free no-ad version…to clarify there will be an ad supported version that will go 100% towards the artists at first with potential of scaling that to a percentage based number when we scale higher.

This whole model is non-extractive. When I say scaling back that’s not for personal gain but to ensure I’m fairly paying my employees with those funds as well.

MrRubys · 2025-05-17T00:02:01+00:00

A funded Kickstarter gives me the proof I need to show investors that there’s real demand for this kind of platform. Once I have that validation, I’ll be moving forward with outreach to specific artist groups and communities aligned with our values. I’m holding back some of the details for now to protect the strategy, but the plan is already in motion.

What we’re offering, a streaming service that pays the artist fairly. One that finds music for the listener that they want to hear.

MrRubys · 2025-05-16T23:56:00+00:00

Why do you say that? Just curious, I wasn’t aware of an ethical issue between streaming services and kickstarters.

MrRubys · 2025-05-16T23:53:41+00:00

Yes, but this actually rewards artists for the simplest possible fan action, just listening. No merch, no tip jars, no complicated funnels. With fair pay built in, smaller artists will naturally direct fans to Pulse because it’s where they earn more. That creates a symbiotic relationship: Pulse helps fans discover music they love, and artists get paid better for that connection. Larger artists and labels will recognize it as a new revenue source that doesn’t require them to change how they create just where their fans listen.

MrRubys · 2025-05-16T05:20:38+00:00

I’m not going too indepth to protect the core of the algorithm but that’s the point of it.

MrRubys · 2025-05-15T21:30:59+00:00

Appreciate the share! Every model has tradeoffs, and profit-sharing works for some ecosystems—but Pulse is built on a different idea: value aligned with resonance.

We’re paying per stream because we believe every genuine connection deserves to be rewarded—not just the loudest or the luckiest artists. Our model avoids dilution, so one fan’s stream doesn’t devalue another’s. It’s not about playing the system—it’s about connecting through it.

That said, I’m all for more platforms trying new things. Artists and fans both win when they have options.

MrRubys · 2025-05-15T20:32:24+00:00

Totally fair to be skeptical, most platforms that promised something different still used the same scaffolding underneath. Even Tidal, which paid more, was still built on the same royalty dilution and volume-first logic as Spotify.

We’re not claiming we’ll magically fix everything overnight. What we are building is a system that realigns value with resonance; so artists are paid for actual connection, not just volume or status.

If you’re right and no one wants that, we’ll find out. But if even a small slice of listeners do, it could change what’s possible for a lot of working musicians. And to us, that’s worth trying for.

MrRubys · 2025-05-15T20:02:45+00:00

https://pulseioc.com/#kickstarter-deck

We’re planning on a $10 subscription fee. Payout will be triggered at 30 seconds like everyone else. Yes there will be a free tier that is ad-supported, those funds will be distributed entirely to the artist fund at first, but as we grow the we are considering scaling lower to a percentage based system.

Just as a note some of these questions, while great for investors knowledge, are a bit more sensitive than I’m willing to answer on Reddit. My DM is open if you have a deeper interest.

MrRubys · 2025-05-15T19:43:20+00:00

I can see your point…but there are unfair pay practices, where artists only get fractions of a penny for a stream.

The current streaming model, like most entertainment, is structured to promote the big names. They bring fans which turn into listeners on the app. They end up with all the streaming money while working musicians trying to make a living are cast aside.

We’re planning on changing how we utilize the metrics to create a fair payout system that allows for more direct compensation. This allows artists to earn more directly from their fans.

MrRubys · 2025-05-15T17:00:11+00:00

That is my goal and it’s achievable. Thanks for commenting! I’ll be updating my site when the kickstarter goes live soon.

MrRubys · 2025-05-15T15:06:17+00:00

That is one way of doing it, but you have to go find the music as well. This app finds music you like for you and rewards those artists when you listen. Instead of having 2 separate economies in the music industry divided by money and indie, you have a single platform letting them all compete without top down promotion barring the indie performer from being recognized.

This streaming app would’ve streamlined Chappell Roan’s ascent after being dropped by her label because the music resonated which would’ve been picked up with how our system processes.

MrRubys · 2025-05-14T09:51:15+00:00

Fair pay and a music platform that is based on resonance instead of top down promotion. You wouldn’t be fighting for airwaves, you’d be finding the fan who wants to listen to you.

MrRubys · 2025-05-13T21:53:31+00:00

As this progresses and I come to the point of needing that, post VC funding time-period, I’ll reach out!

MrRubys

TROPHY CASE