austin robey
@austinrobey.xyz
Building socialist internet 🌐 Subvert
@subvert.fm
@subvert.fm
Pinned
Reposted by austin robey
DIY culture is anti-credentialing
Want to start a venue or a label?
You don't need an MBA. You just need care, curiosity, and action.
Who's the right person to start something like @subvert.fm? I don't know.
The real question:
If not us, then who? If not now, when?
Want to start a venue or a label?
You don't need an MBA. You just need care, curiosity, and action.
Who's the right person to start something like @subvert.fm? I don't know.
The real question:
If not us, then who? If not now, when?
October 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
DIY culture is anti-credentialing
Want to start a venue or a label?
You don't need an MBA. You just need care, curiosity, and action.
Who's the right person to start something like @subvert.fm? I don't know.
The real question:
If not us, then who? If not now, when?
Want to start a venue or a label?
You don't need an MBA. You just need care, curiosity, and action.
Who's the right person to start something like @subvert.fm? I don't know.
The real question:
If not us, then who? If not now, when?
@subvert.fm passed 12,000 co-op members
My favorite forum comment this week:
"We are trying to build a parallel ecosystem. Maybe we all need some time to take a breath in the midst of excitement and realize the responsibility."
My favorite forum comment this week:
"We are trying to build a parallel ecosystem. Maybe we all need some time to take a breath in the midst of excitement and realize the responsibility."
October 20, 2025 at 1:46 PM
@subvert.fm passed 12,000 co-op members
My favorite forum comment this week:
"We are trying to build a parallel ecosystem. Maybe we all need some time to take a breath in the midst of excitement and realize the responsibility."
My favorite forum comment this week:
"We are trying to build a parallel ecosystem. Maybe we all need some time to take a breath in the midst of excitement and realize the responsibility."
Co-ops are common sense
October 15, 2025 at 6:02 AM
Co-ops are common sense
“but we have bandcamp” is the rallying cry of relative-best apologists, the accidental status quo defenders
willing to defend union busting and corporate ownership as long as it’s not spotify
they don’t understand that critiquing the best option is how you get better options
willing to defend union busting and corporate ownership as long as it’s not spotify
they don’t understand that critiquing the best option is how you get better options
October 14, 2025 at 12:30 AM
“but we have bandcamp” is the rallying cry of relative-best apologists, the accidental status quo defenders
willing to defend union busting and corporate ownership as long as it’s not spotify
they don’t understand that critiquing the best option is how you get better options
willing to defend union busting and corporate ownership as long as it’s not spotify
they don’t understand that critiquing the best option is how you get better options
Saw Corey Doctorow talk to Lina Khan last night about enshittification
Loved the point about the limitations of founder virtue
Founders may see themselves as omni-benevolent, but they’re not omni-competent.
Corporate benevolent dictatorships are not durable
Loved the point about the limitations of founder virtue
Founders may see themselves as omni-benevolent, but they’re not omni-competent.
Corporate benevolent dictatorships are not durable
October 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Saw Corey Doctorow talk to Lina Khan last night about enshittification
Loved the point about the limitations of founder virtue
Founders may see themselves as omni-benevolent, but they’re not omni-competent.
Corporate benevolent dictatorships are not durable
Loved the point about the limitations of founder virtue
Founders may see themselves as omni-benevolent, but they’re not omni-competent.
Corporate benevolent dictatorships are not durable
Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of Hollywood”
Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of science”
So cool
So cool
October 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of Hollywood”
Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of science”
So cool
So cool
October 7, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Today I heard “I’m starting the Subvert of science”
So cool
So cool
Reposted by austin robey
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"
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"
October 6, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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"
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"
A co-op can be a social base for future institution building
🌐
🌐
October 5, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A co-op can be a social base for future institution building
🌐
🌐
September 23, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Market socialism is common sense
September 19, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Market socialism is common sense
The founders to idolize are not Steve Jobs or Elon Musk - it's Jose Maria Arizmendiarrieta
92 cooperatives
70,000 worker owners
€11 billion revenue
a university
All for the dignity of workers and community benefit. This is why there is a statue of him
92 cooperatives
70,000 worker owners
€11 billion revenue
a university
All for the dignity of workers and community benefit. This is why there is a statue of him
September 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The founders to idolize are not Steve Jobs or Elon Musk - it's Jose Maria Arizmendiarrieta
92 cooperatives
70,000 worker owners
€11 billion revenue
a university
All for the dignity of workers and community benefit. This is why there is a statue of him
92 cooperatives
70,000 worker owners
€11 billion revenue
a university
All for the dignity of workers and community benefit. This is why there is a statue of him
Reposted by austin robey
I think what I’m doing would make 15 year old austin proud
September 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I think what I’m doing would make 15 year old austin proud
I want to build a co-op
I want to meet with members
I don't want to go to a music industry mixer and shake hands with someone that works at suno
I want to meet with members
I don't want to go to a music industry mixer and shake hands with someone that works at suno
August 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I want to build a co-op
I want to meet with members
I don't want to go to a music industry mixer and shake hands with someone that works at suno
I want to meet with members
I don't want to go to a music industry mixer and shake hands with someone that works at suno
Music streaming discourse:
“Spotify’s founder invests in a military contractor
Instead, we should use YouTube music, a company owned by Google, a direct military contractor
A true alternative way to continue paying $10.99/ month to access all music”
🤯🤯🤯
“Spotify’s founder invests in a military contractor
Instead, we should use YouTube music, a company owned by Google, a direct military contractor
A true alternative way to continue paying $10.99/ month to access all music”
🤯🤯🤯
August 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Music streaming discourse:
“Spotify’s founder invests in a military contractor
Instead, we should use YouTube music, a company owned by Google, a direct military contractor
A true alternative way to continue paying $10.99/ month to access all music”
🤯🤯🤯
“Spotify’s founder invests in a military contractor
Instead, we should use YouTube music, a company owned by Google, a direct military contractor
A true alternative way to continue paying $10.99/ month to access all music”
🤯🤯🤯
If your “alternative” to streaming is a company with
-opaque deals
-opaque ownership
-undisclosed funding sources
-no democratic corporate governance
It might not be that much of an alternative
-opaque deals
-opaque ownership
-undisclosed funding sources
-no democratic corporate governance
It might not be that much of an alternative
August 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM
If your “alternative” to streaming is a company with
-opaque deals
-opaque ownership
-undisclosed funding sources
-no democratic corporate governance
It might not be that much of an alternative
-opaque deals
-opaque ownership
-undisclosed funding sources
-no democratic corporate governance
It might not be that much of an alternative
Hear me out. I think too much is blamed on Daniel Ek.
By suggesting systemic problems are the result of flawed individuals, we obscure and further mystify larger systemic challenges
Yes, ridicule him
But also remember that solutions don’t come from cooler capitalists in charge
By suggesting systemic problems are the result of flawed individuals, we obscure and further mystify larger systemic challenges
Yes, ridicule him
But also remember that solutions don’t come from cooler capitalists in charge
August 27, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Hear me out. I think too much is blamed on Daniel Ek.
By suggesting systemic problems are the result of flawed individuals, we obscure and further mystify larger systemic challenges
Yes, ridicule him
But also remember that solutions don’t come from cooler capitalists in charge
By suggesting systemic problems are the result of flawed individuals, we obscure and further mystify larger systemic challenges
Yes, ridicule him
But also remember that solutions don’t come from cooler capitalists in charge
100 new members joined Subvert Co-op yesterday
Each one owns as much of the company as I do
Each one owns as much of the company as I do
August 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
100 new members joined Subvert Co-op yesterday
Each one owns as much of the company as I do
Each one owns as much of the company as I do
Music tech:
The platform is not the solution
Any startup is at best a future problem
Solidarity is the only solution
The platform is not the solution
Any startup is at best a future problem
Solidarity is the only solution
August 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Music tech:
The platform is not the solution
Any startup is at best a future problem
Solidarity is the only solution
The platform is not the solution
Any startup is at best a future problem
Solidarity is the only solution
Co-ops are a tool, not the end goal
What matters most:
-broad-based community ownership
-democratic governance
-less worker precarity
-greater utility and material benefit
-greater resilience, integrity, trust, and longevity
What matters most:
-broad-based community ownership
-democratic governance
-less worker precarity
-greater utility and material benefit
-greater resilience, integrity, trust, and longevity
August 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Co-ops are a tool, not the end goal
What matters most:
-broad-based community ownership
-democratic governance
-less worker precarity
-greater utility and material benefit
-greater resilience, integrity, trust, and longevity
What matters most:
-broad-based community ownership
-democratic governance
-less worker precarity
-greater utility and material benefit
-greater resilience, integrity, trust, and longevity
“Co-ops are great in theory, BUT…”
August 22, 2025 at 3:08 AM
“Co-ops are great in theory, BUT…”
Reposted by austin robey
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.
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.
August 20, 2025 at 1:26 PM
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.
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.