Can Web3 disrupt music streaming?
Streaming services can now integrate NFTs and smart contract payments
gm music fans,
Big news in the legacy music industry this week. A new deal will enable some music streaming services to integrate NFTs and even pay out royalties via blockchain. Will it be a game-changer?
Every Friday we bring you the biggest stories in Web3 music. Let’s get into it.
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1. Streaming services can now integrate NFTs
Behind the scenes of many music streaming services around the world is technology powered by a company called Tuned Global. This week they announced a new deal with Revelator that will enable NFT sales, token-gated content and even royalties distributed via smart contracts.
DSPs that work with Tuned Global will be able to plug into these Web3 features. To be clear, we’re not talking about Spotify or Apple Music here. Clients include streaming services in Thailand, Japan, Africa and Europe, as well as some apps in the US that use music like Lululemon.
Still, it’s introducing blockchain tech through the back door of the legacy music industry and laying the foundations for potential wider adoption.
Our take? We’ve always been skeptical about the top-down integration of NFTs and blockchain so we don’t expect to see any immediate traction from this. We tend to believe that change will come from the grassroots and independent music scene before forcing a change at the streaming level.
2. A ‘gameboy’ for remixing music?
A new project called Spores allows you to remix your favorite music NFTs on the fly. It’s like a gameboy for remixes — drag the cursor around to add reverb and stutter, change the tempo or pitch it down instantly.
The project was built by Kanye West and Rihanna producer Keyon Christ, and the access pass goes on sale today at 0.01 ETH. We’ll have a deeper feature on this next week.
BONUS: Ziggy Ziggy holders get access at a discount 0.008 ETH.
3. Metaverse sound systems with Steve Aoki
Steve Aoki dropped a series of fully-licensed soundscapes and virtual music players to use in your metaverse worlds or on-cyber galleries. The drop was powered by RELICS — the NFT branch of Monstercat Records.
Every week we bring you the latest developments from Lens Protocol — the Web3 social layer where a thriving music community is growing.
Here’s a tip that I use every day for discovering music across different Web3 platforms. Go to Futuretape — an app that aggregates music from all the big music platforms. They just added support for Lens so you can filter for all the tracks on Riff (Lens’ native music app) and listen through them in one place.
4. AI voice licensing in Web3
Artists in Web3 will soon be able to release an AI model of their voice through Kits.io. Other producers can then upload an accapella and have it transformed into the artist’s voice. All of this comes with complete control from the artist over revenue splits, monetisation and licensing onchain.
5. A new album format for NFTs
Super Collector has launched a new feature called RELEASES. It allows artists to sell NFT albums as a full bundle or individual tracks. Pitched as a Web3 level up from Bandcamp, the platform uses Optimism and a contract built by Decent. It’s open to all artists now.
Thanks for reading!
We believe a new generation of independent music will be born out of Web3 culture. Discover the best music here first. Follow us on Twitter where we share the best music every day.
Ziggy Ziggy Music Season 2 is supported by Spinamp and Lens Protocol.
Disclaimers: We may own NFTs mentioned in this article, have previous or current contracts with companies mentioned and may earn referral income from links to music NFTs. This newsletter is purely informational and should not be considered financial advice. Nothing in this content should be considered a recommendation to buy a particular NFT, only an expression of our opinion.