pond5 now takes 65% of sales?

I feel the same way as many we should never get less then 50% as most have said we are the content creators, we spend much time creating good HQ content for sale, SFX and music should not be thought of as something that has little worth as it would seem from the new agreement we were sent, plus what drew me to the POND was the fact that this seemed like a good fair place to have and build my library, we set our own prices and split what we sell, and I never sell any sounds I record or create at a dollar, as I have seen at the last place I was at, that is just undervaluing what we do as creators and is completely wrong. I finally started getting some sales of my SFX here at prices I set, and with a 50/50 split and now it seems the POND is going against what it was founded on.

I will say this again as I have in another post, clearly states the following on the site ... Pond5 was founded by artists for artists. Our mission is to serve creative communities globally by giving them access to world-class content while also allowing them to monetize their creativity through our innovative licensing platform.

So what has happen, why the totally unfair and unacceptable changes from a company who was founded by artists for artists? How is this new change in the agreement good for the artists, It is not and that can easily be seen by the amount of posts steadily building from unhappy contributors who have seen the new agreement.

419046 => gdpr

My music contributions are few, and I sell even fewer. I disagree with this approach that Pond5 has taken, (and agree with what you wrote, GrantTregellas ... that would have been honorable) but I'm not going to delete my content. It would be silly and ineffective, except, perhaps, like the tiny spider that bit me yesterday furious that I disturbed it while berry picking, got smushed as I reflexively reacted, I would be at most like that spider (smushed) ... anyway, instead, I am now "at liberty" to take my offerings to other sites, both those who offer 50% and even those who offer less (there are a few). So I don't understand why Pond5 did this ... they are ENCOURAGING contributors to take their media elsewhere .. increasing their competition. This goes for non-Exclusive video as well.

Agree with those that have said it's just as much about principle, this is nothing more than ripping folk off for the sake of it, taking 65% of sales for what?! Hosting the music? Gtfo. I have hardly anything on Pond5 and have only had one sale so far as I've only recently started uploading, but I won't be uploading any more, and as soon as I have my stuff uploaded on another site it'll be getting pulled from here. Hopefully many others do the same and they have a rethink.

Moving this comment over from a different thread:

Yes, I'm also very disappointed in this rate reduction from 50% to 35%. WITH NO NOTICE. It's also bait-and-switch when in the same email they try to take a percentage of our (limited) publishing opportunities as well, claiming that we'll make more money in the long run. Joining and registering at a PRO --ASCAP, BMI, SESAC in the USA and equivalents elsewhere-- is a SIMPLE process folks.

Sorry, Pond5 (and CDBabyPro, SongTrust, TuneCore, and others): Be Real!! Composers and producers who can figure out DAW software like ProTools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton, and more, and all of the mixing and mastering plugins out there, don't need SUB-PUBLISHING agreements to collect what's ours.

Pond5 has a competitive platform and wants to grow, but it shouldn't expand by hurting the musicians/composers and sound artists who post their hard work on the site.

He Guys, I just wanted to start on Pond 5 but just read the new 35% agreement which like you guys totally put me off.
I don't hear anyone about Audioj.... that one was my other go to. Is it not good? If you guys know descent other markets please pm me! I understood that pond5 and audoj where the places to go and others weren't really interesting but reading thru this thread that doesn't really seem to be true?!

All the best especially to the people who are already here for many years.

I agree with Matt, Pond5 is the best site for selling SFX because of the possibilities for extended licenses. Pulling them from here would be cutting your nose off to spite your face, despite the unfortunate % drop. I would say again to everyone RAISE YOUR PRICES instead.

There is a need for a stock market revolution, just as Epic has taken action against Steam.

222485 => gdpr

I just removed all my tracks from this site. I don't see why I should continue to feed them even more money by raising my prices when they have no consideration for their composers. Besides there are way too many other options out there to make money with your music.

I can only imagine that their next step will be to convert P5 into a subscription only site. Which means you'll see even less money. Best of luck to all....