Visual artists are the backbone of our digital world. Their work garners attention, fuels engagement, and adds aesthetic value to online platforms. But while musicians and influencers can monetize their content through streams or brand deals, visual artists are often left out of this equation. Shouldn’t an artist whose work garners thousands of impressions be compensated?
In today’s digital age, impressions are a valuable metric. The more your art is viewed, the more value it brings to platforms, advertisers, and brands. Some platforms have started exploring ways to compensate visual artists for their work, such as pay-per-impression models, where artists receive a small payment every time their work is viewed. Another potential solution is to adopt blockchain technology to track impressions and ensure artists are compensated fairly, just like musicians are paid royalties(Kontentino).
Art platforms and social media sites could take a cue from the music industry’s model of performance royalties. By implementing tools that track impressions accurately, artists would finally get the compensation they deserve for the exposure their work generates. This would be a significant step toward creating a more equitable digital ecosystem for visual creators.
FYI, Ad serving companies have been tracking the impressions of their ads for years, X does the same and leverages those impressions to sell ad space. All while not sharing a shiny nickel, diabolical. What are your thoughts?