Who Owns the Audience? Platform Power vs. Creator Independence

As algorithmic gatekeepers control distribution, discovery, and monetisation, the question of who owns the audience relationship has moved from a business model debate to an existential one. Should creators have legal rights to direct fan relationships, and should platforms compensate those whose work trained the models now undercutting them? From email lists and direct subscription models to the promise and persistent limitations of creator-owned platforms, this session examines what genuine creator independence would actually require.