*By Christian Smith*
The internet is moving away from an ad-based revenue system says Jack Conte, co-founder and CEO of Patreon, a platform that allows people to pay for access to exclusive content from digital creators.
That trend is evidenced by the growth that Patreon saw in 2018, Conte said in an interview on Cheddar Wednesday, the same day the company announced it now has more than 3 million subscribers, or "patrons," with more than 100,000 creators on the platform. The company began 2018 with 2 million patrons supporting its content.
"I think what's driving this growth that Patreon is seeing, and I think membership in general, is the larger trend of the movement of the web from an ad-based system into a consumer payments-based system," Conte said.
Patreon's growth in 2018, however, didn't come without some controversy. Patreon came under fire for removing some content creators from its platform for engaging in what it defines as hate speech. Some critics claimed Patreon was restricting free speech, but Conte told Cheddar the company is upfront with creators about its anti-hate speech policy.
"We're serious about not allowing hate speech, and when a creator does that, we reach out, we tell them what's going on, and most of the time we're able to work with creators and sometimes we're not, but we draw a hard line on hate speech," Conte said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/creator-crowdfunding-platform-patreon-hits-three-million-subscribers).
General Motors will allow its electric vehicles to use Tesla charging stations across the country.
The Week's Top Stories is a guided tour through the biggest market stories of the week, from winning stocks to brutal dips to the facts and forecasts generating buzz on Wall Street.
Modelo Especial is now the top-selling beer in the United States, dethroning Bud Light after 22 years. In May, sales of Modelo Especial hit $333 million. That's up 15.6 percent from the same period last year.
Electric vehicles made by General Motors will be able to use much of Tesla's extensive charging network beginning early next year. In addition, GM will adopt Tesla's connector, the plug that links an electric vehicle to a charging station.
The Supreme Court on Thursday gave whiskey maker Jack Daniel's reason to raise a glass, handing the company a new chance to win a trademark dispute with the makers of the Bad Spaniels dog toy.
Cheddar News checks in to see what to look for on The Day Ahead with Chinese EV-maker Nio due to release its report and Jurassic Park is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its release. Meanwhile, 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts' debuts on Friday across the country.
Kelly Ann Winget, founder of private equity firm Alternative Wealth Partners and author of 'Pitch the Bitch,' a financial guide for those often left out of the male-dominated investment world, spoke to Cheddar News about her experience as an LGBTQ+ manager in the industry.
With wedding season underway, couples can get overwhelmed with finances and planning. Guests also feel stressed, especially when being invited to several weddings. Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst with Bankrate.com, joined Cheddar News to discuss setting up a budget if attending multiple ceremonies.
Tracking Consumer Spending Trends With Tanger Outlets CEO Stephen Yalof
Meta has introduced Whatsapp Channels, a feature aimed at making the app a "private broadcast messaging product."
