Metalabel Q1.25 creator community update

When we judge something at surface level, we risk missing out on what’s really going on.

This is the lesson from so much contemporary creative work, where it’s the context, sometimes even more than the work itself, that creates value.

When we see the full scope of a work — not just the what, but the how, why, and where — that the picture and its intentions become clear.

The surface level of Metalabel champions the value of creative people and creative work, while putting forth an optimistic vision and energy for how things can and will be better.

But what’s going on underneath the surface? What’s the full context to what we’re saying?

Fundamentally we think the world still fails to value creative people and creative work for what we truly are and the value we bring. We see a need for the entire creative ecosystem to transform, and we see a path for making that happen. A way for power to shift, new structures of collaboration to emerge, and new norms that expand our view of what’s possible.

These aren’t just distant hopes and dreams. These are real things and plans we’re working on right now and will be talking more about soon.

First we want to walk through some of the recent products we’ve shipped to help build a useful bridge we can all use today to get to that future.

This quarter our updates to the product were designed to help your work be honored by an appreciative audience, equip creative people with greater financial and informational power, and to keep laying the groundwork for a world where creative people build power together rather than toil alone.

In groups we become stronger.

<3 Metalabel

Winter 2025 Product Updates

1. Release Lists: Distribution you actually own

First and most important: this week we’re introducing a new way to release and distribute your work without posting on social media. With the new Release List feature, when you release on Metalabel your previous collectors and followers now receive an elegantly formatted email showcasing your work with proper context and imagery. 

Unlike platforms that hold audiences hostage, your Release List belongs entirely to you — exportable anytime and completely under your control. No more dodging the algorithm to try and reach your audience.

2. Reimagined label pages

We've rebuilt our label pages to foreground the work itself and the people behind it, better highlighting the growing interconnected network of creators and labels in our space. The new design also creates space for a new "follow" button for non-collectors to get notified of your next release. See Hard Art's page as an example.

3. Numbers & people: More transparency

The new Release Dashboard gives you much more visibility into your work's economics. Track every transaction, fee, and expense. You can get to this from within your Creator Dashboard. Similarly, the new Audience tab reveals who's collecting and following your work.

4. Resources for creators

We’ve been hard at work building new resources for creative people to have success releasing and producing their work. Some recent creations:

— The 2025 Creator Playbook (Stop Posting and Start Releasing)
— Tips for printing and distributing printed material
— The economics of self-publishing a book
— The Anonymous Creative Futures Report sharing how creators are feeling about the creative ecosystem today and in the futrue

5. New Creative Era: A Podcast

We’ve also launched a new podcast: New Creative Era co-hosted by artist Joshua Citarella and Metalabel's Yancey Strickler exploring how they and other artists release work and develop their creative practices. We’re three episodes in, with more to come. Give it a listen.

What's on deck

Currently we're focused on improvements to discovery and categories, more powerful financial tools, and easier onboarding and access for release collaborators.

All of this and more will be rolling out in our upcoming Spring/Summer 2025 release, coming in the not-too-distant future. 

What are we missing?

We want to hear from you. What would make Metalabel more valuable for your creative practice? What tools are you missing? What existing features could work better?

Your input directly shapes what we build next. Share your thoughts.

More soon,
The Metalabel Squad