The system is mostly pay to play. However, it is not really art that's the problem. It is the platform on which to display your art where things get complicated. It's rather like first have the talent to paint a Mona Lisa, then have the talent and time to shove it in everyone's face on social media in the hopes someone recognizes how great you are. In the meantime, crowdfund and keep track of all your accounts so the newly formed IRS gun mafia doesn't come knock on your door requesting your nothing.