Imagine it's 30 years ago. You and your friends have a band. You put on shows regionally, sometimes hundreds or even a thousand people attend. You have dozens of regular fans who go to all your events, they make and share covers of your music and fan art.
That isn't millions of views. It's tens of thousands. On youtube that's nothing. But 30 years ago you'd feel it was a great accomplishment, and if it was all you achieved you could be happy with that.
As is has become more possible for a few of the most broadly appealing and unchallenged works to reach millions of people the goalpost has moved.
Plenty of valuable content will never reach millions of viewers-- the appeal is too niche. It's a worthwhile contribution to the world none the less, but it isn't compensated as such on youtube.
That isn't millions of views. It's tens of thousands. On youtube that's nothing. But 30 years ago you'd feel it was a great accomplishment, and if it was all you achieved you could be happy with that.
As is has become more possible for a few of the most broadly appealing and unchallenged works to reach millions of people the goalpost has moved.
Plenty of valuable content will never reach millions of viewers-- the appeal is too niche. It's a worthwhile contribution to the world none the less, but it isn't compensated as such on youtube.