I’ve found a fully functional alternative to Patreon: a Telegram channel and track monetization using Telegram Stars (an internal Telegram token that can later be exchanged for TON cryptocurrency).

Why did I come to this? Because the hassle with Patreon’s tech support (predictably) dragged on. On Friday evening, yet another clueless support agent sent me a new templated response, suggesting nothing more than going to a library to record a video there. My explanations that I have a paper passport, which their AI can’t recognize no matter where I record the video—be it a library or the top of Everest—were completely ignored. My offer to upload high-quality passport scans was also disregarded. Brushing me off with the suggestion to go film a video in a library, the latest support idiot went off to enjoy their weekend with a clear conscience (since Patreon’s support doesn’t work on Saturdays and Sundays). But I’m not on a salary—I work 7 days a week.

So, monetizing tracks via Telegram Stars can be an alternative for advanced users. This week before Easter, with its four-day magnetic storm and Good Friday, was tough in every sense, yet it brought some progress in building my own structure.

DJ Bogdan Karasiov feat. Aurora - SaturNday (Free Teaser №1, 60 seconds)
Full track on my Telegram: https://t.me/bogdan_karasiov/1469

Duration: 4:47 mins.
 Format: MP3 with one looping GIF (I don’t see much point in creating a full video for such long tracks; they’re inherently designed for auditory perception).