Since the digitization of music, the need to find new methods of access and distribution to music has become more prevalent. Since the birth of Napster, Kazaa, and Limewire, the music industry has taken a hit in terms of music sales. Listeners have easier access to content, while the creators of said content aren’t necessarily getting the bang for their buck.
So, how does introducing blockchain technology affect the accessibility and distribution of music? I turned to international house music DJ, Gareth Emery, and why his latest project, Choon, is the music industry of the future.
Andrew Rossow: What do you believe to be the biggest challenge in the music industry?
Gareth Emery: It's never really adapted to deal with the internet. Twenty years ago when Napster first appeared, the music business was one of the first to really be disrupted by this online world. The industry went from making money selling vinyl’s and CDs…to [digital] downloads, and now we are in a phase of streaming. Napster changed everything.
While there's been good progress made, the problem lies in the structure of the industry itself. "With each move forward, the artists get more and more sidelined, as music becomes more inaccessible and the structure remains antiquated." said the artist.
Emery: We have a system that was set up in the days of jukeboxes and sheet music. It’s completely unfit for purpose in a modern world–it’s incredibly long-winded, and there’s no way to really track the monies being paid to people, fairly.
Emery isn’t the first artist to take issue with payment distribution in the industry. We’ve seen artists like Taylor Swift and JayZ take strides towards bringing the artist and listener closer together without the need for middle institutions.
Emery: For me, the next evolution of the music industry is one where music is accessible and easy to get hold of, like it is now. [But] at the same time, one where content creators are getting compensated for their work, not the intermediaries laying claim to most of the income. Let’s not try and build on the infrastructure we currently have; it’s not a stable platform to build on. Almost any attempt to modernize the music industry has failed due to the large number of stakeholders.
Users and fans will be able to purchase music by using the NOTE token. It’s the music industry of the future,” said the DJ. The note provides for an immediate flow of payment, from the listener to the artist, with complete and utter transparency. The listener can withdraw it and either cash it out, or convert it into another coin (bitcoin) through exchange platforms.
More here:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewrossow/2018/03/03/international-music-dj-gareth-emery-brings-blockchain-project-to-music-industry/2/#785ef3f5552b