The future of music is collaborative.
The future of music is interactive.
On levels we’ve never seen before.
Big things in music this week across AI, web3 & more.
Here's a rundown:
𝟭. 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘅 𝗔𝗜: Grimes is splitting royalties 50/50 with successful songs that use her AI vocals. The race is on. Tracks coming from 3lau, Angelbaby, Oshi, @leopastel.lens & 1,000s more. Plus Uberduck AI launched a $10k competition for the best track.
𝟮. 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀. Frontman M. Shadows asks for feedback on how to do it. Incredible to see this all being figured out in real time. Independent artists have the big advantage of flexibility to experiment. Use it.
𝟯. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝗜 𝗕𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗻𝗻𝘆 & 𝗥𝗶𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝗠 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗸𝗧𝗼𝗸. This one comes from a knock-off Ghostwriter (777, not 997). Tablecloth this time, no bedsheet. Copycats on copycats. 👻
𝟰. 𝗨𝗠𝗚 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲 is 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 👀
“We are open to licensing but we have to respect our artists and the integrity of their work...We’re open for business with businesses that are legitimate and (interested in) partnership for growth.”
𝟱. 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗙𝗧 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: Snoop Dogg's golden egg sells for 20 ETH (~$38k) in a secondary sale. Just what the bear market ordered. Curious timing considering...everything.
𝟲. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝟯: The incredible music session brand drops a free NFT 'marking the beginning of the COLORSXSTUDIOS X ZORA onchain journey'. Interested to see where this goes, as they have a loyal audience, a trusted brand for artists, and killer content.
𝟳. 𝗟𝗡𝗥𝗭 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗲. Collectives may be our new record labels & @lnrzxyz.lens is setting the model. Also keep your eyes on: @own_the_sound.lens @campfirexyz.lens, @nvakcollective.lens, @wavwrld.lens, Songcamp, Noise DAO, Good Society, Sable Valley & Wild Awake.
I dive deeper in today's Where Music's Going newsletter, including a framework to license your voice to AI & a case study on LNRZ.
read - www.wheremusicsgoing.com/p/licensetoai
🫡 🙏
Technology is moving fast as hell.
Music is no exception.
Let's harness it in a way that:
→ Grows the pie for all
→ Puts artists in the forefront
→ Makes music more valuable
→ Builds fandom & connection
→ Honors rights, authorship & consent
→ Prioritizes interactivity over passivity
We can't let this opportunity slip away.
The future is interactive, where an idea or song's journey starts the day it is released, rather than ends.
I *think AI likely adds to this in having many iterative co-creators - where most are just creating for themselves.
Shout out @vibing.lens for sharing this.
Read Multiplayer Creation: Unlocking Participatory Media here:
mirror.xyz/1kx.eth/V1m_ASHMkD4fCaEuWW5-YFkbZ1mumlk47b2Y0j1HsWQ
Wow, after diving into the evolution of web3 and analyzing the potential of multiplayer creation tools by 1kxnetwork, it's clear that we're on the cusp of a new era of participatory media! Gone are the days of solely valuing the work of a single individual, as we embrace the power of collective creativity through on-chain interactions and platform-agnostic standards.
From oral storytelling to fanfiction, the impact of collective creative input on cultural artifacts throughout history cannot be overstated. And now, with the help of blockchain technology, tighter pre-production feedback loops, and post-release interactions, we're poised to take this concept to the next level.
As we witness the development of NFT publishing platforms, developer tools, curation economies, and more, I'm HYPE to see the space pushing towards a multiplayer paradigm. With the potential for communities to sample, remix, and leave their mark on culture, the possibilities are endless. Lets unlock the flow of creativity!
Image by MJ aka Midjourney
AI in music will paradoxically create a movement back to a focus on artists & authenticity.
An endless sea of faceless music will make fans crave something more.
Connection. Humanity.
Building real community & connection will be as important as the music.
Wow this formatted terribly on here. Whoops.
Hi - news for me
(which I have yet to share on Lens!)
I launched my newsletter: Where Music's Going.
It's for Artists & Builders working to create music's best future.
Each week, I break down new tools & strategies to grow more connected audiences.
Here's what's inside ↓
→ weekly email
→ new tools to try
→ examples of what works
→ numbers to give context
→ tactical guides as bonus emails
→ arrow emojis
Heavy on web3 & ai, but covering anything that builds fandom & increases the value of music.
Inside Issue #1:
💡 Music's next decade
📱 The brand new Spotify
🗺️ A web3 scavenger hunt
⚒️ AI directed music videos
📊 Music's true growth, 1999-now
www.wheremusicsgoing.com/p/musicsnextdecade
NOTE: 4 newsletters have now gone out & I'm blown away with the response so far. I'm learning with it every day & trying to bring value.
I am looking for contributors to help expand Where Music's Going into an even stronger resource.
Global recorded music revenue is still 35% lower in 2021 than its peak in 1999, when adjusting for inflation.
This is music being 'saved'?
We can't just add subscribers with ever diminishing returns.
We need to grow real fans.