While any musician or band may create an individual artist page on Forte’s platform and use it to build a new source of income for their creative work, there is a set of criteria that you must meet to become a member.
- Forte’s model is designed to achieve depth in a regional market and establish a strong industry network within that market. To do so, Forte must restrict membership within geographic boundaries and gradually expand in controlled stages. The current membership area includes New York’s Capital Region, North Country, and Hudson Valley, as well as Southern Vermont and Western Massachusetts.
- In order to grow community support and deliver meaningful and tangible benefits for the entire group of members, artists must demonstrate that their continued activity will add meaningful value to the Cooperative, both for the subscribers that support the platform and for their fellow members. This can mean reaching a certain number of subscribers for your individual page or other measurable criteria.
Check out all the ways Forte works for you as a member
- The “reservoir”
- All members benefit from the overall success of the Cooperative through the equal distribution of shares drawn from the collective pool of revenue left over after operating expenses at the end of each fiscal year. This pool grows with each addition to the roster and subsequent expansion in subscriber base and participation-based marketing, and has no upper limit.
- Platform for direct support
- In addition to equal rights to a share of the reservoir, each member-artist can benefit from the direct support of subscribers on their individual artist page. There is no upper limit to the number of direct supporters a member can have, nor a limit on what a subscriber can pledge. Collective fundraising is available when members pass certain thresholds of support and participate regularly for one quarter, or can demonstrate a similar fulfillment when coming to the Cooperative from a competitor platform.
- Collective networking services
- Connections between members are facilitated through the Forte platform, with an emphasis on mentoring, collaboration, and co-production. Members can discover new talent and expand their peer network through their monthly voting responsibilities, where information about each potential member and samples of their creative work are included.
- Audience building
- Members are exposed to the entire community of Forte subscribers and highlighted through internal publications, playlists, and events. Members must also recommend 1-3 fellow artists from the Forte roster on their individual page.
- Collective resource database
- The Cooperative maintains a community-built database of resources available to members, including educational assets, tech tutorials, and mentoring advice, that continues to expand as the roster grows.
- Template-based skills support
- Artist-members of the Cooperative have access to a collection of templates that offer instructions on different aspects of their craft, organized when relevant by price and complexity. These include digital marketing campaigns, home studio setup, live streaming, and data analysis.
- Content creation opportunities
- Forte is built on a foundation of shared content, and an evolving partner-network of video production teams and recording studios, as well as production opportunities offered by the cooperative itself, available based on location and need, is essential to that foundation.
- Professional consultations
- As Forte expands, the company will focus on compiling resources for members through databases and partnerships that cover basic legal counsel, contract review, marketing advice, social media strategy, and career planning specifically tailored for musicians.
- Showcases
- Members who operate independently but would like to pursue signing with an agency or building a management team can take part in regular Forte showcases that highlight unsigned talent for a limited group of partners. Members can also use these showcases for exposure to the network of partner venues.
- Support for arranging touring routes
- Members have access to a GIS-based resource for connecting with the extended Forte community, including lodging opportunities like hotel deals or homestays, and details about venues based on location, capacity, and programming. Membership can also help open doors at key venues along regional tour routes, and can, through mentoring relationships, include experience-based advice and potential opening slots on tour.
- Tech support
- Members that need support for live streaming or home studio setup can make connections and receive guidance through the Forte community.