The Role of Audoo

Audoo is pioneering a solution that bridges the gap between digital and physical music consumption. In a world increasingly leaning towards digital, it's refreshing to see a company bring innovation into the tangible realm. They tackle the challenge faced by artists and creators whose music is played in public venues—such as coffee shops and malls—where businesses are required by law to obtain a Public Performance License (PPL). This license ensures that royalties are paid to countless recordings without the need for individual permissions from various copyright holders.

The challenge for Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) and Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) lies in accurately tracking which songs are played and distributing royalties accordingly. To address this, Audoo has developed an Audio Meter that plugs into a power outlet and connects via Wi-Fi to monitor the music played in real-time.

Thanks to the team at Audoo, I experienced an unforgettable night filled with live music from artists like Newton Faulkner and Jazz Morley. The technology seamlessly tracked songs played throughout the event, allowing artists to see where their music was featured and ensuring accurate royalty distribution to PROs and CMOs.

Insights from Songcamp

I'm particularly enthusiastic about Songcamp and their innovative collaborative approach to music creation. As a participant in the CHAOS camp, it’s inspiring to see how they harness Web3 technology to decentralize power away from traditional music industry gatekeepers. Their latest project, Present Material, exemplifies this vision.

In the current landscape, many independent musicians feel disillusioned by the opaque selection processes for radio plays and playlist placements, often controlled by major labels. A recent Spotify playlist study revealed that the Big Three labels—UMG, Warner, and Sony—dominate curated playlists, which significantly influence discoverability.

Present Material changes this narrative by allowing community members to curate playlists transparently through a decentralized storefront managed by an Ethereum contract. This new model empowers artists and fans alike, flipping the traditional streaming paradigm on its head. You can explore curated collections like Future Tape and OohLaLa for free.

Discovering Amplify.link and iiNDYVERSE

During a recent event, I was excited to learn about Amplify.link, a customized smart link service for musicians, founded by Ian Matthews, drummer for Kasabian. I’ve personally used their service for my single releases due to their innovative features and impressive growth in the Web3 space.

iiNDYVERSE, led by Bryan Georges, is another groundbreaking initiative. This Web3 consultancy aims to create shoppable experiences for artists and brands, effectively functioning as the “Shopify for Web3.” Bryan envisions a future where NFTs are earned through engagement rather than purchased, promoting a shift from renting to owning virtual assets.

The platform also encourages community engagement, allowing artists to build connections with their fans in meaningful ways.

Bridging Worlds with Tribly

Seth Power’s Tribly is yet another platform connecting Web2 and Web3 music, leveraging technology for crowdfunding and community engagement. Having been among the first artists featured on their site, I appreciate the support and patience offered by the Tribly team. Their platform utilizes smart contracts to ensure artists receive resale royalties, while fans gain ownership of the music and can actively contribute to an artist's success.

For those interested, you can check out my first Music NFT song, "MARRY ME," on their platform.

Reflections on Glass.xyz

I've been eager to join Glass.xyz, a platform aiming to transform the video landscape by focusing on quality content rather than mere view counts. They emphasize building genuine connections with super fans, reminiscent of Amanda Palmer's success story of raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign.

Glass is now multi-chain on Ethereum and Solana and is experimenting with various engagement strategies, including referral fees and live streaming.

As I look forward to the next edition, I’m keen to explore other emerging platforms and trends in the music industry.