Clubhouse Expands Payment Access to Creators

Clubhouse is accelerating the rollout of its first monetization feature for content creators, payments, following an initial testing phase. The platform began offering a limited number of creators the ability to receive funds from their audience earlier this month.

All donations received are directed entirely to the creators, as Clubhouse does not currently retain any portion of these transactions. Initially available to a test group of 1,000 users, payments have now been extended to an additional 60,000+ users within the U.S.

Rapid Development Amidst Competition

This swift expansion is occurring as Clubhouse faces increasing competition from established tech companies like Twitter, Facebook, Spotify, Reddit, Discord, and LinkedIn. Providing creators with readily available payment options may encourage them to remain on the platform.

By prioritizing creator retention, Clubhouse aims to mitigate the risk of losing talent to rival applications offering wider reach and similar features.

How Payments Function

During a recent Town Hall event, co-founder Paul Davison revealed that an additional 66,000 creators were granted access to the payment system this past weekend. Users can initiate a payment by visiting a creator’s profile and selecting the “Send Money” button located at the bottom of the screen.

A selection of pre-defined amounts, such as $5, $10, or $20, are presented, or users can specify a custom amount. The payment processing is facilitated by Stripe and currently necessitates the use of a debit or credit card.

Transparency Regarding Fees and Donations

Stripe will cover all transaction fees associated with the payments, ensuring creators receive the full amount sent by their supporters. Davison also cautioned against sending payments to Clubhouse team members, explaining that any such donations will be directed to charitable organizations.

This policy is linked to Apple’s App Store guidelines concerning in-app purchases and commission structures for donations and tips.

Eligibility and Prioritization

Clubhouse clarified that creating a “club” within the app is not a prerequisite for accessing the payment feature. Instead, the platform is prioritizing users who have demonstrated recent activity and maintain a clean record, free of violations.

The initial group of testers was largely selected at random.

Future Revenue Streams

In-app payments represent just one aspect of Clubhouse’s broader strategy to generate revenue for both creators and the company itself. Potential future features include creator and club subscriptions, ticketed events, and brand partnership opportunities.

Creator First Program Update

Clubhouse also provided an update on its Creator First program, designed to assist creators in launching successful shows on the platform. Participants will receive equipment, marketing support, and assistance with guest booking and income generation.

Over 5,000 submissions have been received for the program. A “pilot season” will commence on April 23, featuring 60 creators debuting shows over a three-week period.

The final Creator First program participants will be chosen based on feedback from a judging panel and the Clubhouse community, with the initial 60 finalists announced on April 23.