wikiloops transparency report on 2018

It's that time of the year again,
and I do feel obliged to keep up the tradition of the wikiloops transparency reports.

So, here it is, the 8th issue allowing insight in the ongoing quest of operating the wikiloops project.
The previous years reports are all still available in this forum, too, should anyone want to dig even deeper.

I have once more wrapped the report in pdf-format for a more convenient read,
you may check it out here if it is of interest to you:

https://www.wikiloops.com/forum/images/transparency_report_2018.pdf

As always, feel free to comment or ask questions if you like,
and:
happy jamming on wikiloops in 2019 :)

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*shoot* I notice i forgot to mention TeeGees epic limerick contest of 2018 in my report... my bad, I did enjoy that quite a bit ;)

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First of all 3 thank yous 1) for the report 2) for creating Wikiloops 3) for continuing it despite the difficulties.




LOl yeah that was fun :) , I am sure there will be more of that in 2019 ;) I mean we already had Shoutbox Yodelling, Limerick in the forum, what can go wrong :D

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Thanks again Dick for the great amount of time and energy you spent developping such a wonderful project. I feel that I am part of a family.

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Wikiloops' path is definitely not on easy one to walk ... be it network giant companies aiming to monetarize every move we lemons/humans take or any other tech ambush they all set up so the smaller communities can be wiped and absorbed into bigger ones easier to *ahem* sell as valueable commercial targets ... yes whatever the difficulties were wikiloops is still up and as long as it will be we can :

- still dream we are free to diverge and decide our own world
- continue to enjoy the music freely shared
- keep on collaborating with amazing like minded talented friends

For all this I need to thank you Dick for all your efforts, and your family should be systematicly associated for they also made it possible in a way. The supporting members are also a key to this project so thanks to any single of them !

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Thanks Dick, for providing the transparency about Wikiloops' development in 2018, and, well for creating Wikiloops in the first place and to keep it going through all the trials and tribulations.

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Waow, glad to see that green positive result, I don't understand much to accountancy but it looks like a fresh bottle of Champagne on the table ready to be opened !

A special new year bony hug to you Dick !

:)

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An excellent report with a mixed bag of results. Although Richard didn't wish to beat the drum for a funding drive doesn't mean that members can't.

The report and set up doesn't attempt to return to Richard, or his family their investment in carrying this project through tough times. Any other founder/investor would be paying themselves back and certainly taking a profit. It's my belief that we still owe on this and should be generating that return especially since the project is at best in "break even" territory. Check the Forum for an idea on this and please think of ways in which you may be able to help as well.

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Yes - what the others said/wrote already. Thanks for everything, and if you have an idea on how I can help besides financially (which I'm doimg), shoot me a PM. You know that I tried to come up with some ideas in 2018... ;)

Cheers,
Wolfgang

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As always, an eloquent and characteristically forthright report from you. Whilst it's sad to note the drop in users last year (I have to say, I've noticed a drop in 'thumbs' for tracks, along with general adds, but put that down to either losing followers or passing listeners not bothering to thumb), the overall finances appear actually more balanced with less strain on yourself, even if the financial gain/loss is minimal. So at least, from what I can see, WL is *relatively* self-maintaining now, even if there's basically nothing to invest once costs are deducted.

The internet is a fickle and transient place, full of people wanting instant gratification. By its nature, music is not instant gratification but the product of years of practice and time - anathema to me, of the whole modus operandi of the internet these days. And my general sense over the last year is that traffic has become more transient with people looking for specific things and being disappointed in not finding exactly what they want - namely their favourite songs minus their instrument. Then there's the musical snobs who think Wikiloops is some kind of system to rip off musicians by stealing and 'their best creative work'. Apart from being utter you-know-what, frankly, WL is vastly better off without those kinds of conspiracy theory-chasing, misguided fools.

Google crapping all over your search ranking with their arbitrary, computer-generated rules [read: lawyers got involved] clearly has not helped you in the slightest. People may bang on about AI being the next great thing but no amount of so-called AI seems to truly understand context - 'backing tracks' being de-ranked a case in point. Hey ho.

So I feel the purpose of 2019 is to perhaps follow the 'crowdfunding' model. I don't mean get money but to perhaps encourage the user base to promote Wikiloops everywhere they can. I feel a bit daft making that comment because I have nothing to do with social networks - a choice I made several years ago - but I have plans to help in what way I can which you already know about but recent family circumstances have delayed me for now.

Following on from the above, perhaps increase Wikiloops ability to let users drive and refine the content. Restrict it to paid-up members rather than a free-for-all but I remember mentioning on one of the threads about allowing user to refine search results by altering what instruments are actually present (drums being a particular foible), tagging tracks better, etc. Yes some initial dev work but lower maintenance for yourself longer term?

Enough from me. All I can say is thank you, Dick, for this site and your continued hard work to maintain and improve it. And, of course, your unwavering commitment to keeping Wikiloops open to everyone and free from commercial exploitation.

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