These 34 Creators Earned Over $150,000 Every on Patreon in 2016 – Meet Them!

Lastly, ”ravenous” and “artist” now not must be joined on the hip.

Patreon is, arms down, the very best place for creators to receives a commission. In 2016 alone, we celebrated 1000’s of artists and creators who earned life-changing revenue. It’s (insert expletive) superior that 34 of these creators earned greater than $150,000 every on Patreon, together with science nerds, sailboat captains, and serial procrastinators. They span each inventive class on the web — podcasts, music, movies, illustration, and extra, and each single considered one of them makes the world a little bit bit higher with their work.

Rattling. That. Is. Superior. Creators are getting paid. Artwork is being made. The world of constructing issues, following your ardour, and crafting the profession you need is alive and thriving, and we couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about rolling into 2017 with this momentum.

As we kick off 2017, we needed to pause and rejoice a few of our most profitable creators. The cool simply maintain getting cooler. As a result of followers pay creators each month, these artists will most likely make the identical financial institution (and extra) in 2017.

Movies and podcasts – 16,230 patrons

A pair years in the past, Greg Miller, Colin Moriarty, Nick Scarpino, and Tim Gettys stop their cozy jobs at IGN to department out on their very own and pursue their beloved side-gig, Kinda Humorous. Quick-forward to the top of 2016 — these guys have two booming Patreon pages with over 16,000 patrons, a full-time worker, and a decked out San Francisco studio the place they document all of the shenanigans.

“2016 was an insane 12 months for us,” Greg says. “We moved from a spare bed room to an actual studio, launched an animated sequence, and bought out a 1,000-seat venue for Kinda Humorous Reside 2. All of that is because of the overwhelming and never-ending assist we obtain on Patreon. We’re a 2-year-old enterprise that would by no means obtain the goals with obtain if we didn’t have a military of Finest Buddies supporting us every day.”

Instructional movies – 7,215 patrons

The Crash Course workforce doesn’t simply create free academic movies; they create smarter individuals. Based by the Inexperienced brothers of VlogBrothers fame, the Crash Course channel has over 5M YouTube subscribers and has turn into a one-stop-shop to study something and the whole lot: physics, gaming, U.S. authorities, psychology, and manner, far more.

“We do that as a result of we’re big nerds,” says John — half of VlogBrothers and New York Occasions best-selling creator — “but in addition as a result of we imagine that high-quality academic movies ought to be out there to everybody totally free.” Making it doable isn’t straightforward, so that they flip to their patrons on Patreon to make it occur. “You might be by far our largest income.”

Artwork – **8,731 patrons

Amanda Palmer — or, Amanda F*cking Palmer, as she calls herself — is a doer of all issues. “I hate timelines, deadlines… mainly I hate all traces. I simply need to make all of the issues.” And that, she does. Her TED speak has virtually 9 million views and her ebook was a New York Occasions best-seller. Apart from that, she makes music, movies, efficiency artwork, essays, infants (she’s a brand new mother!) and, most significantly, neighborhood. Amanda has practically 9,000 religious patrons, to whom she connects deeply with usually.

“It’s revolutionary,” Amanda begins. “I’ve gone by means of each iteration of content material distribution within the final decade, from preventing my manner off a serious label to efficiently utilizing Kickstarter, and I feel having a base of dedicated paying subscribers is the ultimate, sensible frontier for individuals like me who simply need to get on with the enterprise of creation. As artists, our freedom and talent to place out digital content-for-all on the web has been a blessing and curse, since we will obtain limitless distribution, but monetizing that attain has been a fraught thriller. This form of system actually provides you freedom from the intermediary: within the final 12 months I’ve put out albums, singles, music movies, webcasts, efficiency artwork, animation and all with none advertising conferences, with out having to work on another person’s launch schedule, and all with my very own price range from my very own followers. As a brand new mom it’s a blessing past perception, as a result of I need to keep in management and work at my very own tempo, with my very own arms on the gears of content material and timing. As an artist it’s extremely rewarding to make artwork for the individuals, instantly. And as a patron myself, I do know it’s additionally actually rewarding to know that my cash goes straight into the pockets of the artist and creators as an alternative of to the middlemen, who aren’t within the sustained profession of an artist as a lot as making a fast buck. This revolution goes to vary the best way musicians make music, there’s going to be much more inventive freedom, and I feel that’s a gorgeous factor given the difficult political occasions forward us.”

Online game streams – 5,537 patrons

Inside 48 hours of their launch on Patreon, Simple Allies had over $30,000 and 4,000 patrons. If that wasn’t loopy sufficient, this was shortly in spite of everything 9 members had misplaced their jobs at GameTrailers.com, the longstanding sport overview website that had ended their 13 12 months run.

Quick ahead to at present; they’ve virtually hit their 1-year-anniversary on Patreon and are stronger than ever. “Patreon has not solely given us the monetary stability to proceed doing what we love, but in addition offered us with methods to get nearer to our viewers than ever earlier than,” says Brandon, 1/ninth of the Simple Allies crew. “The response has been overwhelming.”

Science movies – 5,509 patrons

“Right here at SciShow, we hate not figuring out issues,” says Hank Inexperienced, a bunch of the more and more common YouTube channel. For lifelong learners and questioning minds, SciShow sheds mild on the curiosities of life, like “are you able to get an excessive amount of sleep?” or “ought to I put on sunscreen within the winter?”

The objective for the SciShow workforce is to “seize the awesomeness of this weird universe and make it straightforward for everybody to grasp and luxuriate in.” With over 500 million views and virtually 6,000 paying patrons, I feel it’s secure to say they’re crushing their objective.

A cappella music movies – 3,722 patrons

To say that Peter Hollens makes music is already too far of an understatement. As an a capella pop singer, each tune Peter releases is crafted by his voice (and a few claps), with no devices in sight. As a lot as he loves music, one minute spent with him will let you know that he loves his “Hollensfam” extra. And wow, do they love him again: his social profiles mixed home over 2.5 million members of the Hollensfam.

“Patreon has allowed me to develop my enterprise and firm so I can create extra content material, spend money on my wonderful workforce, and start to assist educate and encourage others to do what I do. 2017 can be my pivot 12 months to start giving again to my neighborhood and fellow creators,” stated Peter.

Journey movies – 1,276 patrons

With none information of crusing, Australian couple Elayna and Riley set out on a journey to journey the world on a 43 foot yacht — all whereas documenting the entire journey. Since setting sail, they’ve taken their 250,000 YouTube subscribers on journeys of a lifetime, by means of the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Atlantic, Pacific and extra.

“We began making films to share our journey with family and friends again in Australia. Now, we proceed to share our journey with the world.” The cash they obtain from their patrons helps them purchase new gear, restore the boat, and “feed ourselves once we can’t catch a fish. It’s YOU who make these films doable. We hope you benefit from the sequence.”

Science animation movies – 6,072 patrons

Three years in the past, Kurzgesagt, a science animation YouTube channel, was born by a small group of artists straight out of faculty. In 2016, that very same workforce grew to 10 individuals, made up of designers, journalists, and musicians. With a objective to make science look stunning — “as a result of it’s stunning” — Kurzgesagt boasts practically 3.5 million YouTube subscribers and 6,000 patrons.

Whereas the members nonetheless have “actual jobs,” they had been in a position to make use of their assist on Patreon to degree up their work. In 2016, they “invested far more time in scripts, design and animation. We labored on longer movies than earlier than, we talked with specialists for nearly each video, and on high of that, 2016 was our most efficient 12 months ever! All of this was doable due to assist on Patreon.”

Tech podcasts – 4,563 patrons

Hosted by podcasting professional Tom Merritt, the Each day Tech Information Present has provided listeners their each day dose of expertise information since 2005. Though Tom simply hosted his 2,940th episode, he doesn’t do it alone; he runs a crew of award-winning impartial tech podcasters who solicit viewers response to make the podcast pretty much as good as it may be.

“There can be no present with out our viewers and Patreon has made it doable for them to maintain us going,” Tom says of his 4.5k patrons. “I nonetheless can’t imagine how many individuals are keen to assist our present and I work tougher on a regular basis to deserve their religion in us!”

Weekly podcasts and movies – 5,059 patrons

The comic hosts of The Comedy Button podcast and video sequence have launched an episode to their devoted listeners each Friday since 2011. What’s the podcast about, you would possibly ask? Their web site will let you know that it’s “the very best podcast ever created by human beings on planet earth,” which their 500,000 month-to-month listeners can vouch for.

“Because of our success on Patreon, we’ve launched a slew of bizarre authentic sequence on our YouTube channel.” Though they name their very own movies “dumb,” the fellows is aware of that on the finish of the day, what they create for his or her followers actually does matter. “Comedy is crucial factor on the earth in these darkish and distracting occasions.”

Gaming and historical past movies – 3,718 patrons

I’m pondering Additional Credit ought to get some main additional credit score for his or her superior transfer in 2016; whereas their most important gig is producing high-quality movies in regards to the artwork, trade, and neighborhood of video video games, the EC workforce used their patronage to relaunch an outdated fan-favorite sequence, Additional Historical past.

“We created the primary Additional Historical past sequence in September of 2013, and we had been blown away by the response. The sequence received over 600,000 views and never a month glided by once we didn’t get a remark or an electronic mail asking, ‘Will Additional Historical past ever come again?’ However a lot as we needed to, we couldn’t afford it. Till Patreon. Patreon permits us to make Additional Credit a actuality, along with your assist.”

Excessive-quality weblog posts  – 4,436 patrons

Tim City, the author and illustrator behind Wait However Why, desires to rebuild your consideration span with long-form, thought-provoking content material. He’ll assume by means of something, from learn how to choose your life companion to how (and why) SpaceX will colonize Mars. He’ll even give a TED speak about his procrastinating thoughts and why it is best to spend extra time enthusiastic about yours (which 9.7 million individuals have seen, by the best way).

Since becoming a member of Patreon, Wait However Why has handed a whole lot of milestones, together with making a full-time rent. “It’s been a complete game-changer. Patreon now helps each me and our new, full-time supervisor of A number of Issues, Alicia. Alicia is wonderful and has already executed a ton to make Wait However Why significantly better and free me as much as give attention to writing. We’d be completely happy to maintain doing issues precisely how we’re doing them for a very long time, and now we will. We’d additionally like to do much more if it turns into doable,” talking of their upcoming stretch objective that may allow them to begin a weekly podcast, rent a second teammate, and extra.

Movies and movies – 3,286 patrons

Need bizarre movies? They’ve received a lot! The blokes behind Purple Letter Media have been “very lucky to have the ability to create snarky, bizarre movies that individuals really watch.” And watch, they do — their YouTube movies have a collective 168M views and counting, from function movies to Star Wars evaluations.

Though RLM employs a small workforce, they use each little bit of revenue from patrons to proceed leveling up their manufacturing, like upgrading gear, renting movie areas, or hiring actors.  

Podcasts and information – 3,149 patrons

“We had one other nice 12 months as journalists and podcasters, fuelled by our Patreon supporters,” says Jesse Brown, host of CANADALAND. Paid for in full by it’s viewers, the weekly podcast and information website is primarily targeted on media criticism and reporting, however makes time for enjoyable alongside the best way. Brown’s information to Canada (made full by a delicate, moose-snuggling Drake) is highly-anticipated for it’s mid-2017 launch.

“Direct assist from our listeners retains us accountable and lets us give attention to our content material and protection. Because of Patreon for current, and thanks, at all times, to the individuals who maintain us working with their beneficiant month-to-month assist.”

Movies, podcasts, streams – 1,830 patrons

The comedy troupe behind LoadingReadyRun has one objective and one objective solely: “we need to make you chuckle!” Hailing from Victoria, BC, Canada, the LRR crew has been releasing comedy shorts since 2003, gaining and sustaining a powerful following of joke lovers.

“The concept that we will assist ourselves instantly from our viewers, with out having to cost a price, with out having to chase contracts…is wonderful!”

Crusing movies – 1,121 patrons

Like our pals at LaVagabonde, the adventurous trio behind SV Delos are crusing world wide, inviting family and friends for the journey. “That is our story, a narrative of three souls crusing world wide. It’s a story about crusing and journey and journey. But it surely’s additionally a narrative about assembly wonderful individuals and making life lengthy pals. It’s a narrative of individuals residing their lives in an alternate manner, in shut reference to the gorgeous individuals and wonderful planet that we name residence.”

“Delos didn’t get this far by chance, or by any sort of magic. We received there due to all of the wonderful patrons on the earth. Due to you, we at the moment are full-time sailors and residential film editors. We now not need to roll burritos, work in places of work, or write code all day. Thanks, a lot.”

Due to you, we at the moment are full-time sailors and residential film editors. @svdelossailing Click on To Tweet

Documentary sequence – 2,995 patrons

Ever take into consideration what life was like precisely 100 years in the past? Indy Neidell, host of The Nice Warfare, takes you (and 490okay different historical past lovers) again week by week for an immersive have a look at the First World Warfare. Apart from Indy, TGW boasts a workforce of 5 Berlin-based workers, working full-time to ship compelling, academic content material.

“The assist we get on Patreon makes our present doable; we might be lengthy gone with out our patrons,” says Flo, a producer for the present. “2016 was by far our greatest 12 months and we had been capable of vastly enhance the present based mostly on suggestions we received from the neighborhood. And the most effective weeks of this unimaginable 12 months was our journey to Poland, the place we visited historic areas and produced some very distinctive episodes. That journey was really considered one of our milestones on Patreon and we’re trying ahead to 2017.”

Wow. Hugs and high-fives (perhaps even a number of f*** yeahs) to all artists and creators whose artwork was correctly valued in 2016 — not solely those listed above. The tides are altering and we couldn’t be extra excited to play a component in providing you with again the credit score and management you deserve along with your work. Cheers to a different unimaginable 12 months for makers forward.