Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium.com, discusses Medium's subscription business and its growth. They also talk about Medium as a platform for great stories and the value of writing. Additionally, they address Medium's stance on AI and efforts to combat AI-generated spam. The podcast explores the challenges of detecting AI-generated content and the potential consequences of opting out of Google. Lastly, they discuss Medium's strategy of growing its subscription business and shifting away from the attention economy.
Medium values expertise and quality in online publishing, aiming to provide useful insights and advice rather than divisive or sensationalist content.
Medium's subscription model offers a sustainable business model that incentivizes writers and supports the future of online writing economics.
Deep dives
Medium as a Publishing Platform with a Subscription Model
Medium is a publishing platform that is now supported by a subscription model. The subscription fees are used to incentivize authors to produce high-quality content and to support the work of curators and editors who find and promote the best content on the platform. The purpose of Medium is to provide an alternative to the attention economy by offering substance and valuable content that improves people's lives.
Focus on Quality and Expertise in Online Publishing
Medium emphasizes the importance of quality and expertise in online publishing. Unlike platforms that promote divisive and sensationalist opinions, Medium values subject matter expertise and aims to provide the best possible advice and insights on various topics. Medium believes that everyone has something valuable to offer and wants to create a space where great stories and useful information can be shared, free from the need for extensive marketing or SEO strategies.
Medium's Target Audience: Professional Doers and Experts
Medium's target audience consists of professionals who have valuable insights and experiences to share. Medium recognizes that its readership includes individuals who are experts in their own lives and have unique perspectives to offer. The platform is inclusive and covers a broad range of topics, from gardening to equity. By focusing on quality contributions from professionals rather than relying solely on SEO or viral content, Medium aims to provide valuable and authentic content to readers.
Medium's Growth and Economics of Online Writing
Medium has seen significant growth in its subscriber base and is moving towards profitability. With a subscription model, Medium has found a sustainable business model that aligns its incentives with those of its readers. As the platform continues to grow and attract more subscribers, it creates a robust economic engine that supports writers and allows them to monetize their work. Medium's success demonstrates the viability of subscription-based online publishing and offers optimism for the future of online writing economics.
This week we had Medium CEO Tony Stubblebine, the CEO of Medium.com, a publishing platform that he has helmed for more than a year.
Medium has gone through a number of versions over the years. Pivots, if you will. But what has been a steady focus in Medium's life in recent years has been its subscription business. Medium offers a paid membership tier that costs $5 per month or $50 per year. And, Tony was willing to share, it's growing once again and is heading toward a pretty key milestone.
Why Medium thinks that everyone has something worth saying.
There's a little bit of media insider chat during this podcast, which we hope you enjoy. As always, we're back with our weekly roundup on Friday. Talk then!
Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
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