OnlyFans, an online subscription service for creators, has launched a new creative fund for new artists. The platform appears to be expanding away from the NSFW content they’re best known for.
The website allows independent creators to produce content that is hidden behind a paywall. Users can become “fans” of the content through subscriptions, paying a monthly fee to see limited edition content. The website has become synonymous with explicit content, as many sex workers use the platform to sell pornographic content.
The site has stated that the service is for anyone to use, and SFW content is allowed and encouraged: “As far as we’re concerned, if you use social media and produce your own content, you should be using OnlyFans.” The website has been at the centre of various controversies, such as when Bella Thorne signed up to the platform and sold photos that were supposed ‘nudes.’ Subscribers claimed that the photographs were falsely advertised, and suggested that she had scammed them out of their money.
Now, the site appears to be broadening its horizons and looking to encourage more independent musicians to use its website.
OnlyFans have opened applications for its new creative fund, focused on boosting the creative industries. It will give a £20,000 grant to four individual artists, who will be selected by a voting panel. The panel includes OnlyFans’ CEO Tim Stokely, and rapper Stefflon Don. The move comes at a time where more and more competitors to OnlyFans have been launched, like the announcement that Twitter would start to implement Super Followers to its platform. Other judges include actress Suki Waterhouse and designer Henry Holland.
Applications are open to musicians in the United Kingdom, to promote the platform as being suitable for SFW content, like tutorials, music video previews and Q&A content with artists. All applicants need to do to apply is to upload a 90-second video of themselves, explaining who they are and performing one of their songs. In an interview with The Independent, judge Stefflon Don stated that she become involved in the fund because of the financial difficulties artists are facing during lockdown:
“Music is an industry you have to work incredibly hard at anyway and with live gigs off the table it’s been tougher than ever,” she said over email. “My hope is this gives musicians inspiration or a channel to earn a wage, and for the winners who will get the grant, I’m excited to see their possibilities in the industry and see the entries.”
Artists who are interested can apply here, with entries closing at midday on April 12th GMT.
