I agree, but it creates a conflicting economic issue for the artists who spend their time working on these creations.
The global economy is in a very awkward transitional state right now thanks to tools and networks of the information era.
I imagine a decade or two from now, the prevalent models for creative media outlets would be youtube + advertising views = payment to artists, subscription based netflix / spotify will still be around for niche markets, and as it is now - local copies of recorded media will be sold as physical artifacts bundled with other artwork that cannot be digitized like shirts or toys.
Great, so artists are reduced to "content producers" that learn to tailor their work - first and foremost - to the comfort level of advertisers.
That's not progress. That's a reversion to the medieval. It's like, "Sure, you can paint or write whatever you like - just as long as it doesn't run counter to the political agenda of the King or the Pope, and honestly, if you know what's good for you, you'll focus on who you're really working for, okay?"
I mean, the whole point of copyright was to get away from the suffocating effects of the patronage system, which was one in which a tiny handful of insanely rich and hugely self-serving players set the cultural agenda for everyone.
And by the way, if you think that advertisers are okay with having their brands associated with anything and everything that attracts audiences, you've clearly spent zero time dealing with advertisers.
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.
The global economy is in a very awkward transitional state right now thanks to tools and networks of the information era.
I imagine a decade or two from now, the prevalent models for creative media outlets would be youtube + advertising views = payment to artists, subscription based netflix / spotify will still be around for niche markets, and as it is now - local copies of recorded media will be sold as physical artifacts bundled with other artwork that cannot be digitized like shirts or toys.