Jack Conte
Jack Conte (born July 12, 1984) is an American musician, filmmaker, and entrepreneur renowned as the co-founder and CEO of Patreon, a membership platform that enables creators to build sustainable income through recurring support from fans.[1][2] Born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County, California, Conte showed early musical talent, learning piano at age six from his father, an epidemiologist, and later self-teaching guitar and other instruments while composing songs as a child.[3][4] He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in music at Stanford University, graduating in 2006, and initially explored traditional performance avenues like open mics before embracing digital media.[2] In 2008, Conte co-founded the indie pop duo Pomplamoose with his wife, singer-songwriter Nataly Dawn, producing innovative video covers of popular songs that amassed millions of views on YouTube and established them as early pioneers in online music distribution.[5][6] Despite this viral success—with their videos, including a rendition of Lady Gaga's "Telephone," amassing over 100 million views collectively by 2013—Conte earned minimal revenue from ads, often just hundreds of dollars monthly, prompting him to seek alternatives to support independent artistry.[7][8] This frustration led to the conception of Patreon in February 2013, co-founded with developer Sam Yam, as a way for fans to provide ongoing patronage similar to historical systems but adapted for the digital age.[6][9] Launched in May 2013, Patreon quickly grew, reaching over 1 million patrons by 2017 and facilitating billions in payouts to creators, with the company achieving a $4 billion valuation by 2021; as of 2025, it has over 10 million paying patrons and has paid out more than $10 billion to creators through its model of tiered memberships and exclusive content.[1][9][10] Under Conte's leadership, the platform has empowered diverse creators—from musicians and podcasters to visual artists—by prioritizing direct fan relationships over algorithmic dependencies, reflecting his philosophy that "the future of the internet is about deepening relationships with fewer people."[5][3] Concurrently, Conte has sustained his music career, releasing Pomplamoose albums, touring extensively (e.g., a 2014 U.S. tour netting significant profits), and co-leading the funk cover project Scary Pockets since 2017, while also producing films and hosting creative podcasts.[2][11] His dual roles as performer and innovator have made him a vocal advocate for creator economies, influencing discussions on sustainable online patronage amid evolving digital landscapes.[12]Early life and education
Childhood influences
Jack Conte was born on July 12, 1984, in San Francisco, California.[4] Growing up in Corte Madera, a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Marin County, he was immersed in a creative household that fostered his artistic inclinations from an early age. His father, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, doubled as an amateur jazz pianist in a group called the Jazz Doctors, often sharing musical sessions with his son. Conte's mother, a nurse who enjoyed singing, also contributed to this environment by pursuing her own musical interests alongside jazz performances with her husband. Tragically, she passed away from pancreatic cancer when Conte was in his early adulthood.[13][3][14][15] Conte's formal introduction to music came at age six, when his father taught him blues piano techniques, sparking immediate creativity as he began improvising, writing songs, and jamming together. This early mentorship laid the foundation for his lifelong passion, evolving into structured piano practice that honed his technical skills. By his teenage years, Conte had expanded his repertoire as a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, mastering guitar and drums alongside piano, accordion, and even xylophone—proficiencies he described as "good enough to record" for his budding projects. These experiences not only built his musical versatility but also instilled a collaborative spirit influenced by his parents' joint jazz endeavors.[16][13] A pivotal teenage pursuit was his ambitious four-summer endeavor at age 17 to produce the Claymation music video "Black Hat White," a self-directed project that blended original compositions with stop-motion animation. This labor-intensive creation highlighted Conte's emerging interest in synchronizing music with visual storytelling, foreshadowing his later innovations in video production. Such hands-on experiments, free from formal constraints, solidified his drive toward interdisciplinary artistry before he pursued higher education at Stanford University.[13]Formal education
Conte attended Stanford University from 2002 to 2006, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music.[17][2] Upon enrolling, he initially explored interests in filmmaking and physics, having excelled in the latter during high school, but ultimately committed to music as his major to align with his lifelong passion.[3][18] During his undergraduate years, Conte engaged in various campus activities that sharpened his creative skills, particularly in film and performance. He participated in the Stanford Film Society (SFS) and Stanford Improvisors (SImps), groups that provided hands-on experience in video production and improvisational arts, laying foundational skills for his later multimedia work.[19] At Stanford, Conte met Nataly Dawn, a fellow student who would become his longtime collaborator and wife; their relationship began in 2006, coinciding with the end of his senior year.[3][20]Musical career
Solo beginnings and YouTube rise
Jack Conte launched his solo YouTube channel in 2007, shortly after graduating from Stanford University, where he began uploading original music videos as an independent artist.[21] Inspired by the Dogme 95 filmmaking movement's emphasis on authenticity, he pioneered the "VideoSongs" format, a novel approach that combined multi-layered live performances with precisely synchronized visuals, adhering to strict rules such as no lip-syncing for instruments or vocals to ensure "what you see is what you hear."[18] This innovative medium allowed Conte to showcase his multi-instrumental talents in a single, edited visual track, distinguishing his work from traditional music videos and attracting early attention on the emerging platform.[22] His initial releases established the VideoSongs aesthetic and built a dedicated following. In 2007, Conte self-released the EP Nightmares and Daydreams, featuring tracks like "Yeah Yeah Yeah" that experimented with introspective lyrics and eclectic instrumentation.[23] In 2008, Conte released VideoSongs Volume II (August 15) and VideoSongs Volume I (August 29), compilations of originals including "Push," "Eat," "Kitchen Fork," and "Bloody Nose," which emphasized the format's seamless integration of audio and video layers and further refined the style through complex visual editing.[24][25] These works, distributed via iTunes and Bandcamp, highlighted Conte's songwriting versatility, blending indie rock with electronic elements.[26] By 2013, Conte's channel had grown to over 337,000 subscribers, fueled by viral successes that demonstrated the appeal of his VideoSongs. Covers like his multi-layered rendition of the "Super Mario Bros. Theme," which amassed millions of views through its playful synchronization of instruments and effects, introduced him to gaming and pop culture audiences.[27] Original tracks such as "Gulf," an atmospheric piece on environmental themes, and the raw, emotional "Bloody Nose" also gained traction, each garnering hundreds of thousands of views and solidifying his reputation as a YouTube innovator.[28][29] Despite this popularity, Conte faced significant monetization hurdles on YouTube, earning only a few hundred dollars monthly in ad revenue despite millions of cumulative views—far below what his audience engagement suggested was fair.[7][30] For instance, videos generating thousands of views per month yielded minimal returns due to the platform's ad-sharing model, prompting Conte to question the sustainability of relying on algorithmic distribution and passive income streams. This frustration with the creator economy's imbalances ultimately inspired his shift toward direct fan support mechanisms.[3]Formation of Pomplamoose
Pomplamoose was formed in the summer of 2008 by multi-instrumentalist Jack Conte and singer-songwriter Nataly Dawn, who had met as students at Stanford University.[31][32] The duo, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, quickly established a distinctive indie pop sound blending jazz influences, quirky arrangements, and acoustic elements, with Conte handling guitar, keyboards, and production alongside Dawn's vocals and bass.[33] Their early work emphasized a collaborative approach to both original compositions and covers, adapting Conte's pre-existing "VideoSong" concept—where visuals are synchronized tightly with the music to create an immersive experience—for a two-person format.[34][35] From the outset, Pomplamoose prioritized online distribution through YouTube, uploading weekly VideoSongs that showcased their covers of popular tracks alongside originals, often produced in a streamlined process taking about a week from composition to posting.[35] Their debut release, a self-titled EP in late 2008, laid the groundwork for this strategy, followed by the 2010 album Tribute to Famous People, which compiled viral covers including a stripped-down rendition of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" that amassed millions of views shortly after its September 2009 upload.[33][36] In 2010, following their growing popularity, Pomplamoose was invited by Apple to record live studio performances in Cupertino, which were released as an iTunes Session EP.[37] By 2009, the duo had sold approximately 100,000 songs online, demonstrating the viability of their direct-to-fan model.[38] The Pomplamoose YouTube channel grew rapidly, reaching over 2 million subscribers by 2025, fueled by consistent output including annual holiday releases like the 2010 Christmas in Space EP and the 2018 album Winter Wishes, which featured original festive tracks and mashups. In July 2025, Pomplamoose released their album Photogénique, featuring original bossa-pop tracks in French.[39][40][41] Later milestones included the 2014 EP Hey, It's Pomplamoose, a playful collection of originals that underscored their evolving songwriting partnership.[42] This digital-first approach allowed them to balance duo projects with individual endeavors, maintaining creative control without traditional label support. Live performances became a key extension of their online presence, with Pomplamoose touring the United States extensively, including multiple shows at San Francisco's The Fillmore venue starting in 2014.[43] A notable 2014 tour spanned 24 shows across 23 cities in 28 days, blending high-energy sets of VideoSong material with crowd-pleasing covers, and reinforcing their reputation as an engaging live act rooted in the Bay Area scene.[33]Involvement with Scary Pockets
In 2017, Jack Conte co-founded the funk collective Scary Pockets alongside guitarist Ryan Lerman, whom he had known since high school, as a YouTube-based project dedicated to reimagining popular songs in jazz, funk, and R&B styles.[11][44] The band features a rotating ensemble of musicians, with Conte contributing on keyboards, guitar, and production, while Lerman handles lead guitar; their approach emphasizes groovy, improvisational arrangements that transform contemporary hits and classics into soulful, pocket-driven performances.[11][45] Scary Pockets quickly established a rhythm of releasing weekly cover videos on YouTube, often featuring high-profile guest vocalists to add fresh interpretations, which helped build a dedicated following through viral success. The project continued with releases like Best of 2023 in May 2024, maintaining weekly covers and live performances.[46][47] Key releases include their self-titled debut album in 2017, capturing early studio sessions, and the compilation Best of 2020, which highlighted standout covers from that year amid the global pandemic.[48] The project also incorporates live sessions and performances, extending their sound beyond digital platforms to stage shows that showcase the band's tight ensemble dynamics.[45] The band's growth has been marked by hundreds of millions of cumulative YouTube views, with individual videos like their funk rendition of Radiohead's "Creep" surpassing 2.5 million views shortly after release, demonstrating broad appeal for their genre-bending style.[49] Collaborations with artists such as Jacob Collier, who joined on keys for covers like Olivia Rodrigo's "good 4 u" and Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On," have elevated their profile within jazz and funk circles.[50][51] Influenced by acts like Postmodern Jukebox in their cover reinterpretations, Scary Pockets distinguishes itself through a heavier emphasis on funk grooves and live energy, solidifying Conte's role in bridging online content creation with sophisticated musical experimentation.[11][44]Other musical contributions
Beyond his primary band affiliations, Jack Conte has pursued a range of experimental solo releases that highlight his innovative approach to songwriting and multimedia integration. In 2008, he independently released the EP VS3, a four-track collection blending indie pop with introspective lyrics and experimental arrangements, including songs like "The Way It Was Before" and "Bloody Nose." This project exemplified his early DIY ethos, self-produced and distributed through personal channels to foster direct fan engagement. More recently, in 2023, Conte issued the full-length album Glider, a solo endeavor featuring atmospheric soundscapes and personal narratives, further demonstrating his evolution as a composer outside collaborative band settings. Conte has also made notable guest contributions to covers and reinterpretations, such as his 2011 VideoSong rendition of Lady Gaga's "Judas," which incorporated his signature visual storytelling and reimagined the track with added instrumental flair and thematic depth. This release garnered attention for bridging pop accessibility with Conte's experimental video format. Additionally, he has lent production expertise to jazz ensembles, serving as executive and audio producer for the SFJAZZ Collective's 2011 live album Live in New York: Season 8, where he oversaw arrangements of Stevie Wonder covers like "Do I Do," and handled video production and editing for their performance clips, enhancing the group's multimedia presentation.[52][53][54] In parallel, Conte has extended his musical influence through podcasting, co-hosting Dead Wax with guitarist Ryan Lerman since 2023, a show dedicated to dissecting influential tracks across genres, often featuring live breakdowns and historical analysis to illuminate songwriting and production techniques. He additionally hosts Digital Spaghetti, launched around 2024, which delves into creators' processes and frequently incorporates musical discussions, drawing on his expertise to explore sound design and artistic inspiration in episodes with filmmakers and performers. These platforms serve as outlets for Conte's broader musical commentary, complementing his hands-on projects.[55][56]Entrepreneurial career
Inspiration and founding of Patreon
During his early years on YouTube from 2006 to 2013, Jack Conte faced significant financial challenges despite building a substantial audience as a musician. Videos that garnered around 30,000 views each initially generated only about $200 per month in ad revenue, making it difficult to sustain his creative work full-time.[57][58] By 2013, despite his channel reaching millions of monthly views, Conte's ad revenue remained low at around $200 per month, with total earnings from ads and music sales insufficient to cover ongoing production costs and provide a stable livelihood without supplemental income.[59][7] Frustrated by the limitations of ad-based monetization, which rewarded volume over direct fan relationships, Conte conceived the idea for a new platform in early 2013. He envisioned a subscription model where creators could receive recurring payments from fans, fostering sustainable income independent of algorithmic ad shares or sporadic sales.[6] This approach drew inspiration from historical patronage systems, adapted for the digital age to empower artists like himself. In May 2013, Conte co-founded Patreon with software developer Sam Yam, launching the platform as a simple membership site designed for ongoing creator support.[1] The initial focus was on musicians and artists, allowing fans to pledge monthly amounts in exchange for exclusive content and access, addressing the instability Conte had experienced on YouTube.[3] The concept quickly gained validation through early adoption by prominent musicians, such as Amanda Palmer, who joined in 2015 and raised substantial funds to produce albums, EPs, and live events directly from her fanbase, proving the model's viability for creative sustainability.[60][61]Growth and leadership at Patreon
Under Jack Conte's leadership as CEO since Patreon's founding in 2013, the platform experienced rapid expansion, growing from a nascent service for creators to a major player in the creator economy. By 2020, Patreon had attracted over 250,000 creators and more than 8 million active patrons, enabling direct fan support through monthly memberships.[62] This momentum continued, with the company surpassing a cumulative $10 billion in payouts to creators by August 2025, alongside over 25 million paying subscribers and annual payouts exceeding $2 billion.[10][63] These figures underscored Patreon's role in providing sustainable income streams outside traditional advertising models.[64] Conte drove several key innovations to enhance creator tools and fan engagement, including tiered membership structures that allowed creators to offer varying levels of exclusive content and perks.[1] The platform also integrated merchandise sales directly into creator pages, enabling seamless e-commerce alongside subscriptions, and introduced community-building features like private forums to foster deeper connections.[65] In August 2025, Patreon introduced a new standard 10% platform fee for creators launching after August 4, aiming to simplify pricing while facing criticism from some creators over increased costs.[66] In response to the dominance of algorithmic platforms, Conte championed "anti-algorithm" approaches, emphasizing direct relationships over viral discovery; in a 2025 WIRED interview, he critiqued the "TikTokification" of the internet—where short-form, addictive content prioritizes engagement over creator control—and advocated for tools that empower artists to build lifelong audiences independently.[67][68] As Patreon scaled, Conte navigated significant leadership challenges, particularly the shifting landscape of social media platforms that increasingly favored algorithms and ad revenue over creator autonomy. He focused on long-term sustainability by resisting acquisition pressures and prioritizing creator-centric policies, such as lower fees and enhanced privacy controls, amid broader industry volatility.[58] This approach helped Patreon maintain independence while adapting to economic pressures, including the need to diversify beyond memberships into media and business tools.[69] Throughout his tenure, Conte balanced his CEO responsibilities with his ongoing music career, notably using Patreon to support his band Pomplamoose by sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content and live sessions with subscribers. This dual role exemplified his commitment to the platform's mission, as he continued performing and producing music videos while guiding Patreon's strategic direction.[70][3]Personal life
Conte is married to singer-songwriter Nataly Dawn. The couple met at Stanford University, began dating before forming Pomplamoose in 2008, became engaged in January 2016, and wed on May 25, 2016.[71][72]Discography
Solo releases
Jack Conte's solo discography consists primarily of self-released EPs, compilations, and albums produced independently, often utilizing his innovative VideoSongs format, where audio and visuals are captured simultaneously to ensure transparency—no lip-syncing or hidden sounds, with every audible element visibly performed.[73] These works were distributed digitally through platforms like iTunes and Bandcamp, emphasizing Conte's multi-instrumental talents and DIY production style.[74] His earliest solo release was the EP Nightmares and Daydreams, issued on May 21, 2007, featuring four tracks: "Starlight," "Tick Tock," "Yeah Yeah Yeah," and "Unfrozen."[23] The EP showcases Conte's indie pop sensibilities with electronic elements, self-produced in a home studio setting.[75] In 2008, Conte released three VideoSongs compilations, each integrating live performance footage with the music to create a synchronized audiovisual experience. VideoSongs Volume II, dated August 15, 2008, includes eight tracks such as "We Grew Up So Well," "Kitchen Fork," and "This Disaster," highlighting experimental rock and psychedelic influences.[25] VideoSongs Volume III, released July 13, 2008, is a shorter EP with four songs: "The Way It Was Before," "Freaks and Clowns," "Bloody Nose," and "Get Happy," focusing on concise, narrative-driven pieces.[76] VideoSongs Volume I, the final in the series, came out on August 29, 2008, comprising ten tracks including "Push," "Eat," "These Days," "The Giant," "Lonely Ghost," "Flavors," and "Passenger Seat."[24] These volumes were self-produced, with visuals shot to match the audio in real-time, allowing listeners to see Conte and occasional collaborators performing every element.[77] Also in 2008, Conte issued the EP Sleep in Color on September 25, featuring five tracks: "Hollywood Endings," "Like a Match," "The Greatest Hoax," "Now That's Sacred," and "Carousel Waltz."[78] This release blends indie pop with orchestral touches, produced entirely by Conte to explore themes of illusion and emotion.[79] Conte's sole full-length studio album, VS4, arrived on March 23, 2011, containing eleven songs such as "Make the Grade," "Time of Your Life," "Sinking Feeling," "The Time Has Come," "Off with His Head," "Local Hero," "Long Long Time Ago," "Ground War," "Follow Your Meat Heart," "Kiting," and "Everyone Likes Baseball."[80] Self-recorded and mixed, it expands on the VideoSongs ethos with dark cabaret and pop arrangements, released via his ShadowTree Music imprint.[81] In 2023, Conte released Glider on October 30, a collaborative album with the project Glider featuring 26 tracks including "Life in 30 Doradus," "The Cave Is Flooding," and "Ground War."[82] Among his notable solo singles, the mashup "First Day of My Life / Flim" (combining Bright Eyes and Aphex Twin) was released in 2008, presented as a VideoSong with integrated live visuals. In 2011, Conte covered Lady Gaga's "Judas" on April 25, reinterpreting it as a stripped-down, acoustic VideoSong emphasizing vocal and guitar performance.[83]| Release Type | Title | Release Date | Format | Key Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP | Nightmares and Daydreams | May 21, 2007 | Digital | Starlight, Tick Tock, Yeah Yeah Yeah, Unfrozen |
| Compilation (VideoSongs) | VideoSongs Volume III | July 13, 2008 | Digital | The Way It Was Before, Freaks and Clowns, Bloody Nose, Get Happy |
| Compilation (VideoSongs) | VideoSongs Volume II | August 15, 2008 | Digital | We Grew Up So Well, Kitchen Fork, This Disaster, Ten Thousand Feet Per Second |
| Compilation (VideoSongs) | VideoSongs Volume I | August 29, 2008 | Digital | Push, Eat, These Days, The Giant, Lonely Ghost |
| EP | Sleep in Color | September 25, 2008 | Digital/CD | Hollywood Endings, Like a Match, The Greatest Hoax, Now That's Sacred |
| Studio Album | VS4 | March 23, 2011 | Digital/CD | Make the Grade, Time of Your Life, Sinking Feeling, The Time Has Come |
| Studio Album | Glider | October 30, 2023 | Digital | Life in 30 Doradus, The Cave Is Flooding, Ground War |
| Single | First Day of My Life / Flim | 2008 | Digital | Mashup single |
| Single | Judas (cover) | April 25, 2011 | Digital | Cover single |
Releases with Pomplamoose
Pomplamoose's releases under the duo's name emphasize collaborative songwriting, arranging, and production between Jack Conte, who handles multi-instrumentation, guitar, and engineering, and Nataly Dawn, who contributes vocals, bass, and co-composition. Their output blends original material with covers, often debuting as YouTube VideoSongs—a format Conte pioneered where the video precisely synchronizes visual elements with the audio performance, creating a transparent production process.[35] The self-titled debut album Pomplamoose, released in 2009, compiles VideoSongs covers of tracks by artists like Radiohead and The Beatles, marking the duo's initial foray into digital distribution without a traditional label.[84] A standout single from this era, their 2009 cover of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," reimagined as an acoustic VideoSong, went viral on YouTube, accumulating over 2.4 million views within months and boosting their online following.[85] In 2010, Pomplamoose released the Christmas in Space EP, featuring holiday covers such as "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" alongside originals like "Always in the Season," all produced by Conte and tied to their VideoSongs aesthetic for seasonal YouTube uploads.[86] That same year, they recorded an exclusive iTunes Session performance in Cupertino, California, capturing live renditions of their covers for digital release, which highlighted Conte's role in adapting arrangements for intimate settings.[37] Subsequent studio albums shifted toward originals while retaining VideoSong integrations. Hey, It's Pomplamoose (2012) introduced Conte and Dawn's co-written songs like "Fly Away" and "Achin Heart," drawing from indie pop and jazz influences. Later releases include En Français (2020), a seven-track collection of French-language covers and adaptations co-arranged by Conte, Invisible People (2020) featuring original songs, and Daft Pomp (2022), a full tribute album to Daft Punk featuring 14 tracks with Conte's electronic production layering over Dawn's vocals. In 2025, they released Photogénique on July 16, a bossa-pop album with French influences. Annual holiday compilations, starting with Winter Wishes (2018), continue their tradition of Christmas covers and originals released via YouTube and digital platforms, with Conte engineering each to maintain the duo's visual-audio synergy.[87]| Release Type | Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Album | Pomplamoose | 2009 | Covers album; VideoSongs compilation |
| EP | Christmas in Space | 2010 | Holiday covers and originals |
| Studio Album | Hey, It's Pomplamoose | 2012 | First originals-focused album |
| Compilation Album | Winter Wishes | 2018 | Holiday series installment |
| Studio Album | En Français | 2020 | French covers |
| Studio Album | Invisible People | 2020 | Original songs |
| Studio Album | Daft Pomp | 2022 | Daft Punk tribute |
| Studio Album | Photogénique | 2025 | French bossa-pop |