If you look at how creative media is being funded right now, we have microfunding/payments via kickstarter and direct sales on vimeo. Taking a look at the top

If you look at how creative media is being funded right now, we have microfunding/payments via kickstarter and direct sales on vimeo. Taking a look at the top youtube channels right now is not exactly inspiring, nor is the idea of watching other people play video games instead of actually participating. Youtube runs a successful model that is free for viewers/consumers, easy for creative video producers to start a channel on, and motivational as a business model because it pays out to people who get views. Just as easy today, many artists have storefronts on their own website that sell direct to fans. The important aspect of youtube is it is an entire ecosystem, and it facilitates access to discovery.