While I have not seen the actual Hitwise study the WebTwitcher post is based on I believe it confirms they pyramidal structure of most creative content - work is created by the few and seen by the many, not withstanding the Web 2.0 concept that we can all be content creators and view each other's work.

"…Research just out by Hitwise has indicated that although the number of people visiting web 2.0 inspired sites (think YouTube, Flickr etc) we’re really a bunch of couch surfing voyeurs who are around to spy on what others are doing, rather than actively participating. The data collected by Bill Tancer (analyst at Hitwise) showed that just 0.16 percent of visits to YouTube are from those creative people uploading their homegrown videos for the rest of the us to see. Which leaves a whole lot of us hanging around for the spectacle alone.  The research also identified the grand total sum of only “two-tenths of one percent” of visitors to Flickr that were actually uploading photos."

The more things change - the more they stay the same.  It's like that in the Art World too…. I grew up in a world where about 10 - 20 Artists dominated the Art World) and while things opened up a lot in the last 10 years, the pyramid remains, just how you got there is different and maybe, the base is wider and more diverse.

"…That for the most part we just want spoon feeding content from those who actively participate? Possible (there’s nothing like sitting back to watch with glee as your local hoodies remake Mary Poppins). That the average web user doesn’t automatically know how to use a new service intuitively? Also possible (if it’s difficult to learn, people won’t bother).

Lack of broadband used to be an issue, but as reported earlier this month, Ofcom’s recent stats indicate around half of us have it now. So perhaps this is becoming less of an issue."

When I got involved with Internet marketing after 9/11, I noticed 90% of all the emails I got, and the visibility that came with it, were from, maybe 10 people, including Cory Rudl, etc.  And when we go to see movies (we don't as much because we can view them at home better than at the cinema) it's really 10-20 actors and actresses that have to be in a movie, or someone who directs has to be one of the top 10-20 directors, or else it will be hard to draw a big enough audience to make the film successful at the box-office.

Yes, there are exceptions, but the pyramid has not really been replaced, it's been widened and with Web 2.0, each part of the pyramid can communicate with each other in real time.  Within all the interplay between people and groups that want to communicate with each other via the Internet (think Social Networks) and make targeted messaging - it still has not really changed that only a small percentage of people create what the rest of us tend to watch.

BTW, as far as Flickr, I must be one of the “two-tenths of one percent” of visitors to Flickr that were actually uploading photos" as I uploaded a couple of more photos and ordered more MOO Cards this week.