Subvert's First Annual General Meeting: September 19

Mark your calendars. Our first Annual General Meeting is set for September 19, 2026. This is the co-op's main moment for collective decision-making, and this post lays out what it is, what we'll decide, and the full timeline between now and then so you know exactly when to show up and how to take part.

This is workplace democracy in action.

We had originally floated July 11 as our AGM date, and we've moved it to September. The later date gives us more time to prepare, and it gives us time to ship product updates that let more members participate fully in the platform before they vote.

What the AGM is

At this meeting we'll do a few things: elect new board directors, vote on any resolutions that make it onto the ballot, present a State of Subvert, and answer questions.

Electing board members is a critical part of our representative democracy. Every director is an elected member, and each membership class elects its own representatives. The people who decide what Subvert becomes are the people who own it.

What we're electing

This AGM fills three additional board seats (going from 6 to 9). This AGM, we are electing one for each of three classes:

• One Artist director, elected only by Artist members
• One Supporter director, elected only by Supporter members
• One Label director, elected only by Label members

Your vote competes only within your own class, so the Artist seat is always chosen by artists, the Label seat by labels, and so on. If you belong to more than one class, you vote once, in the class you choose for this election.

We use approval voting for directors. Instead of picking a single candidate, you check every candidate in your class you'd be glad to see in the seat, one, a few, or all of them. The candidate with the most approvals wins.

Resolutions: how something gets on the ballot

Beyond elections, members can vote on resolutions, which are specific, concrete changes to the bylaws or governing documents. There are two ways one reaches the ballot.

The board can add a resolution directly. Several candidate resolutions are already taking shape from the governance discussion happening in the forum now, things like grandfathering membership-fee terms, correcting policy references in the bylaws, shifting worker-member admission to a worker-member vote, and proxy-voting protections. These are being shaped by member input even though they don't require a member petition to reach the ballot.

Members can also petition a resolution onto the ballot. Under the bylaws, this requires a written proposal submitted to the board, co-signatures from at least 5% of eligible members, and the concurrence of at least one-third of the board. The bylaws require member proposals to be submitted no less than 60 days before the meeting.

That deadline is July 21, 2026.

So if you have a concrete bylaw change you want members to vote on this year, post it in the governance thread in the forum, gather support, and we'll help you work through whether it's ready and finding a path towards getting appropriate ideas onto our ballot. The best ideas for resolutions aren't general product requests (like "better search"). What's better are specific governing-document changes (like "amend Article X to require Y"). The board and workers will be watching the forum and working with members to carry strong, well-supported ideas onto the ballot directly.

Who can vote

Any active member as of September 19, the day voting opens, gets one vote. There's no minimum membership duration, so you can join right up until voting opens and still take part. Joining after voting opens won't make you eligible for this cycle.

You're an active member if you've met your class's criteria and kept your membership current:

• Artist members: approved as an artist member, at least one release uploaded and maintained, and logged in within the past 12 months.
• Label members: approved as a label member, at least one release uploaded and maintained (yes - labels will be able to create pages very soon), and logged in within the past 12 months.
• Supporter members: an active supporter membership, and logged in within the past 12 months.

Like all cooperatives: one member, one vote.

Does turnout matter?

Yes. For the vote to count, at least 0.5% of eligible members need to participate. That's our quorum. It's a low bar by design, but it only clears if people show up. Voting is online, so showing up doesn't mean traveling anywhere.

The full timeline

How to take part right now

• RSVP to the event here.
• If you want to shape a resolution, join the governance thread in the forum and start the conversation before July 21. Not on the forum yet, here's an invite link for you: https://forum.subvert.fm/invites/LzWRBny1tx
• If you want to run for a board seat, watch for the call for nominees in early July.
• If you want to vote, make sure your membership is active and your email is current, since that's how the ballot reaches you.

Stay tuned for more updates soon.
Sincerely Ours,