Author Topic: Getty Images and Shutterstock are reportedly "exploring a merger" (Read 5853 times)

cobalt · « **Reply #50 on:** January 11, 2025, 00:13 »

They already have internal platforms where customers can see everything from all the different agencies they own. They already know how to deal with duplicates. Or they don‘t care about them like you can see on shutterstock with all the stolen duplicates.

Nothing about this is new, they both have owned several platforms and agencies for years.

Now they just have to add the shutterrstock companies content into the already existing internal getty platforms.

The different agencies will get a „shuttertock by getty“ label slapped on them, the way they do for unsplash or istock.

But from outside you cannot see that.

Of course it is possible they will completely overhaul their systems, with maybe also improving the getty upload system, but I wouldn‘t bet on it.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #51 on:** January 11, 2025, 07:17 »

Here's an update that I've just published on the Brutally Honest Blog, including a corporate crap rating from all the announcements, brought by AI.

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2025/01/11/getty-and-shutterstock-merger-what-it-means-for-contributors/

Pacesetter · « **Reply #52 on:** January 11, 2025, 07:27 »

Something I thought of earlier, could the association of Shutterstock with iStock do some damage to iStock's reputation among its customers and therefore have adverse impacts on its business?

alan b traehern · « **Reply #53 on:** January 14, 2025, 10:36 »

The end of the race to the bottom. Both collections will support each other and attract buyers, at higher Getty prices. This merger is going to be good for Microstock artists.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #54 on:** January 14, 2025, 15:04 »

I suppose if they're no longer competing against each other on price then they can work together to stabilise prices. Continual lower selling prices is not good for the agency either. As long as our percentage of a sale doesn't decrease further then this merger might not be bad for contributors.

wds · « **Reply #55 on:** January 14, 2025, 17:31 »

Let's hope so. The "race to the bottom" has gotten everyone (contributors and agencies) in trouble.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #56 on:** January 16, 2025, 12:55 »

If the merger goes as planned, GETY / SSTK will have 70% of the photo market. Because of the archives and the collections, they will also control some specific images. If they are the biggest and most complete agency, combined, they can also control the prices for their images.

Canva can't offer those images, and the free sites can't either. Some of Adobes images, might be unique as artists have stopped supplying IS and SS.

Interesting post by someone who knows: https://petapixel.com/2025/01/12/stock-photographys-crossroads-can-a-getty-shutterstock-merger-fix-it/

AI: The Elephant in the Room
"To stay relevant, Getty/Shutterstock must find ways to better integrate AI capabilities into their platforms."

amabu · « **Reply #57 on:** January 16, 2025, 13:15 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on January 16, 2025, 12:55

If the merger goes as planned, GETY / SSTK will have 70% of the photo market. Because of the archives and the collections, they will also control some specific images. If they are the biggest and most complete agency, combined, they can also control the prices for their images.

Canva can't offer those images, and the free sites can't either. Some of Adobes images, might be unique as artists have stopped supplying IS and SS.

Interesting post by someone who knows: https://petapixel.com/2025/01/12/stock-photographys-crossroads-can-a-getty-shutterstock-merger-fix-it/

AI: The Elephant in the Room
"To stay relevant, Getty/Shutterstock must find ways to better integrate AI capabilities into their platforms."

"70% of the photo market" Where did you get that number from? Plugged it out of thin air?

And Canva already has all Getty images!

SimonSays · « **Reply #58 on:** January 16, 2025, 13:36 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on January 16, 2025, 12:55

If the merger goes as planned, GETY / SSTK will have 70% of the photo market. Because of the archives and the collections, they will also control some specific images. If they are the biggest and most complete agency, combined, they can also control the prices for their images.

Canva can't offer those images, and the free sites can't either. Some of Adobes images, might be unique as artists have stopped supplying IS and SS.

Interesting post by someone who knows: https://petapixel.com/2025/01/12/stock-photographys-crossroads-can-a-getty-shutterstock-merger-fix-it/

AI: The Elephant in the Room
"To stay relevant, Getty/Shutterstock must find ways to better integrate AI capabilities into their platforms."

Precisely,
in an oligopoly where competitors will not compete until death/ equal money, the chances of raising prices instead of lowering them will increase. This situation might just work and hopefully also for us, the contributors.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #59 on:** January 16, 2025, 14:39 »

Quote from: amabu on January 16, 2025, 13:15

Quote from: Uncle Pete on January 16, 2025, 12:55
If the merger goes as planned, GETY / SSTK will have 70% of the photo market. Because of the archives and the collections, they will also control some specific images. If they are the biggest and most complete agency, combined, they can also control the prices for their images.

Canva can't offer those images, and the free sites can't either. Some of Adobes images, might be unique as artists have stopped supplying IS and SS.

Interesting post by someone who knows: https://petapixel.com/2025/01/12/stock-photographys-crossroads-can-a-getty-shutterstock-merger-fix-it/

AI: The Elephant in the Room
"To stay relevant, Getty/Shutterstock must find ways to better integrate AI capabilities into their platforms."

"70% of the photo market" Where did you get that number from? Plugged it out of thin air?

And Canva already has all Getty images!

Read the Blog post, I plucked it from there, and it was written by someone closer to the business and probably smarter than everyone in the forum, when it comes to understanding Microstock. I know he's way smarter than I'll ever be.

"This merger isn’t about ambition; it’s about survival. Together, Getty and Shutterstock will control an estimated 50-70% of the creative licensing market, but their challenges remain daunting."

" An Oligopoly Cemented

The stock photography market has long been an oligopoly, and the merger of Getty Images and Shutterstock will only solidify this. The key players remain:

Getty Images/Shutterstock (Merged Entity): Combining vast content libraries and operational scale.
Adobe Stock: Leveraging the Creative Cloud ecosystem for consistent growth.
Canva: While not a traditional competitor, its rise among casual users and SMBs impacts the lower end of the market."

I think he's right:

" What They Gain:

Market Power: Greater leverage with AI companies for licensing deals.
Cost Synergies: Potential operational efficiencies.
Pricing Control: Ability to stabilize or even raise nano-stock pricing.

What They Risk:

Debt Overhang: Both companies bring significant financial baggage.
Contributor Backlash: Lower royalties and exclusivity demands could alienate creators.
Innovation Stagnation: Focus on integration may delay much-needed transformation."

cobalt · « **Reply #60 on:** January 16, 2025, 15:42 »

Why would you think he is smarter than us?

Our income depends on stock, his doesn't.

And he is missing the important point: customers want ready made ai content, just like they want preshot images.

The agencies need a great ai media collection.

And they need a midjourney killer app.

danielstassen · « **Reply #61 on:** January 16, 2025, 20:59 »

I wouldn't classify this as an oligopoly, considering there are other agencies with a growing selection, such as Storyblocks and Artlist. Although they may not provide the same range of choices, they still compete.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #62 on:** January 17, 2025, 14:32 »

Quote from: cobalt on January 16, 2025, 15:42

Why would you think he is smarter than us?

I based my opinion on his credentials.

About the author: Vadym Nekhai is the former CEO of Depositphotos, where he started as the Chief Marketing Officer at the company in 2012. He served as Vice President of the organization after it was acquired by Vista Print, now known as simply Vista, from 2021 until 2024.

I think he might know how the Microstock business operates, from an insider view, knowing the agencies and the competition.