Em Rusciano is once again begging her fans to subscribe to her podcast as she continues to struggle to attract enough paid users to stay afloat.
The 44-year-old media personality has repeatedly pleaded with her fans following her departure from Spotify, the latest coming on Saturday.
In a video posted to Instagram Stories, Em told her followers that she desperately needed a break but couldn’t take one unless they signed up to pay for her Emsolation Extra podcast, which costs $89.95 a year.
‘I need to rest. I went hardcore. I found out in early April that I was leaving Spotify,” she began.
“So I planned and hurried and sorted things out and researched and attended meetings. And I feel like there’s momentum right now, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m taking a break… I just can’t right now’ Em continued.
Em Rusciano (pictured) is once again begging her fans to subscribe to her podcast as she continues to struggle to attract enough paid users to stay afloat
‘Get out, here’s the deal. Everyone get an Emsolation Extra subscription, you’re all watching now. And I’ll rest for a while,” she offered.
“Maybe that’s an incentive for you because you’re tired of me. I’m tired of myself’.
Em added that she knew she was “annoying” asking her fans to sign up over and over again, but admitted her “ambition trumps her self-awareness.”
The star previously had all of her production costs and wages covered by streaming giant Spotify, but has now been forced to turn to crowdfunding after parting ways with the company.
She set her goal at 4,000 subscribers, with a monthly fee of $9.95 or an annual subscription fee of $89.95, but has only reached 1,900 subscribers to date.
In a video posted to Instagram Stories, Em told her followers she desperately needed a break but couldn’t take one unless they signed up to pay for her Emsolation Extra podcast, which costs $89.95 a year
Despite still making about $15,000 a month with 1900 subscribers, Em said it may not be enough to keep her Emsolation podcast going.
“I feel a little weird constantly mentioning the subscription and I’m sure it annoys a lot of you, but then I remember trying to build something myself,” she told her followers on Instagram on Wednesday.
“I don’t want to go to networks anymore and beg them and audition and ask them to give someone like me a chance… So I need all of you who enjoy my stuff to make that happen for me. ‘
The former 2Day FM star also said the money isn’t just for podcasting, she dreams of making “an album and a TV show.”
On an episode of Emsolation that came out last week, Em said she hoped her fans were “proud” of her for becoming completely independent with her new subscription-based business model.
Get out, here’s the deal. Everyone get an Emsolation Extra subscription, you’re all watching now. And I’ll rest for a while,” she offered
“I literally won’t be able to do this if not enough of you decide to take the adventure,” she pleaded.
“My big fear is that I have to end Emsolation, and I think that’s why I was so worried about going out alone, because I’m endangering what I love most.”
She added, “I just want to make things and no TV station wants me and I can’t get other people to make the things I want so I just have to start making them myself.”
Em also explained her reason for leaving Spotify, stressing that she didn’t want a “big company controlling my content or brand.”
Despite still making about $15,000 a month with 1900 subscribers, Em said it may not be enough to keep her Emsolation podcast going
“For two years now, Spotify has been paying me to make the podcast for them and they’ve covered all my production costs, including staff wages, studio rent, all the things it takes to make Emsolation,” she explained.
“And now that I’m leaving them, I’m 100 percent solely responsible for funding this thing.”
Em admitted last week that her business executives tried to dissuade her from leaving Spotify, but she was determined to follow her gut.
However, it seems to have backfired with Em admitting that she hasn’t yet attracted enough subscribers to keep her show going.
“To be honest, I was a little upset about it, my feelings were hurt,” she said at the time.
The 44-year-old media personality has repeatedly pleaded with her fans following her departure from Spotify, the latest coming on Saturday