# Digital Tip Jars TipCow Bridges the Gap Between Appreciative Music Fans and Artists By Meghan Young | Published 2016-05-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/digital-tip-jar References: [forbes](http://www.forbes.com/sites/bradauerbach/2016/04/19/how-an-austin-based-startup-is-using-the-tip-jar-concept-to-benefit-the-artist/) & [tipcow.me](https://tipcow.me/) The old fashioned way of showing one's appreciation when it comes to enjoying a [live performance](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fanbasefm), especially in smaller venues, has all but disappeared while the income these artists make largely remains the same -- but a digital tip jar can help. A startup based in Austin, Texas, which is rife with good music, has created a clever system to help audiences give back to hose who put on a good show. Dubbed TipCow, the digital tip jar essentially creates a [direct connection between artist and fan](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playlo). Once an artist signs up with the service, all they need to do is inform their fans via a stage shoutout or through social media. For the long haul, however, the digital tip jar hopes to expand in other ways. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 59% | Activity: 39% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Live Arts](https://www.trendhunter.com/livearts) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Digital Tip Jars:** Online tip jars for artists and performers are becoming more popular and have the potential to revolutionize the way artists make money from their craft. - **Direct-to-fan Platforms:** Platforms like TipCow are giving artists a direct way to interact with and receive support from their fans, removing the need for middlemen or traditional record labels. - **Innovative Payment Models:** Digital tip jars are just one example of a newer, more flexible payment model that provides opportunities for innovative business models around live performances and other types of creative content. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Music:** The music industry, including both up-and-coming and established artists, has a lot to gain by embracing digital tip jars as a way to increase income and foster closer connections with fans. - **Performing Arts:** From small theater productions to large-scale events, performers can benefit from utilizing digital tip jars to supplement traditional revenue streams and build stronger relationships with fans. - **Hospitality:** venues and event spaces that host live performances or events may explore incorporating digital tip jars into their services to support artists and incentivize high-quality performances. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Online Tip Collecting](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collect-tips.md) - [Social Media Tipping Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-media-tipping-features.md) - [Tip-Based Blogger Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tumblr-tips.md) - [Low-Pressure Donation Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/donation-apps.md) - [Simple Creator Support Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buy-me-a-beer.md) - [Asian Monetization Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiptip.md) - [Music Investment Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/music-investment.md) - [Website Donation Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sponsorapp.md) - [Live Music Booking Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gig-app1.md)