Decentralization of the music industry through blockchain technology ensures artists are paid fairly and eliminates the need for intermediaries like record labels – that solves inequality
Soumalya Bhattacharyy 23, 5/6/2023, Bhattacharyy is a college editor at Analytic Steps and consistently researches and writes about issues relating to the internet, “How Can Blockchain Be Beneficial For The Music Industry?”, https://www.analyticssteps.com/blogs/how-can-blockchain-be-beneficial-music-industry
How Blockchain Technology can Benefit the Music Industry? Transparency One of the significant advantages of blockchain technology is the transparency it provides. With blockchain technology, all transactions are recorded and visible to everyone on the network. This means that artists, fans, and industry professionals can see exactly how much revenue is being generated from music sales, and how much of that revenue is being paid out to each party. This level of transparency can help eliminate the problem of hidden fees and opaque accounting practices that have plagued the music industry for decades. It can also help ensure that artists are paid fairly for their work and reduce the likelihood of disputes over royalties. Direct Payment Another potential benefit of blockchain technology is the ability to make direct payments to artists. With traditional payment systems, it can take months for artists to receive their royalties, and the process can be convoluted and opaque. However, with blockchain technology, artists can receive direct payments in real time, and there is no need for intermediaries to handle the payment process. This can be a significant advantage for artists, especially those who are just starting in the industry and may not have the negotiating power to demand favorable terms from record labels or other intermediaries. Smart Contracts Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code. These contracts can be programmed to automatically execute when certain conditions are met, which can significantly streamline the payment process. In the music industry, smart contracts can be used to automate the payment of royalties. For example, a smart contract could be set up to pay a certain percentage of revenue to the artist whenever their music is streamed or downloaded. This could help eliminate the need for intermediaries such as collecting societies and streamline the payment process for artists. Fan Engagement Blockchain technology can also be used to enhance fan engagement. For example, artists can use blockchain technology to issue their digital tokens or coins, which fans can purchase as a way to support the artist and gain access to exclusive content, merchandise, or concert tickets. These tokens can be traded on cryptocurrency exchanges, providing an additional revenue stream for artists and a way for fans to support their favorite artists directly. This can also help eliminate the need for intermediaries such as ticketing agencies, which often charge high fees to fans.