Sonics Neg Supplement - Michigan 7 2024 BDKLS

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Blockchain TVA
NFTs, Smart contracts, Blockchains solve inequality while still protecting IP
Tonya M. Evans 23, 1/31/2023, Professor, Penn State Dickinson Law. B.S., Northwestern University; J.D. (Dean’s List), Howard University School of Law (cum laude; editor-in-chief, Howard Law Journal), “De-Gentrified Black Genius: Blockchain, Copyright, and the Disintermediation of Creativity”, https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2609&context=plr (page 678-679)
Blockchains, smart contracts, and non-fungible token standards can play a significant role in automating protections to ensure that all artists have actual—not theoretical—rights, especially disenfranchised creatives victimized first by powerful industry intermediaries, and then by a legal process created by the same industry insiders. Although blockchain’s first use case was to secure and record encrypted peer-to-peer Bitcoin transactions and balances, decentralization is particularly beneficial for verifying and securing data in copyright-intensive industries. Smart contract code can automate contract performance and enforcement and replace manual cpyright transfer termination processes to remove artificially formal barriers to the full enjoyment and commercial exploitation of a copyrighted work. To de-gentrify Black genius, it’s critically important to leverage decentralized and automated algorithmic processes for unbridled creativity. As unique, real-world assets, copyrights that are “tokenized” can be managed and exploited as an NFTs – with provable ownership and scarcity. Creatives could realize increased opportunities for liquidity (as unique assets tends to be more illiquid) and access to global markets. In light of the historical imbalance of copyright ownership and monetization noted herein, these nascent technologies present new opportunities to level the playing field for all artists.
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.
Decentralized autonomous termination contracts protect the IP of musicians while neutralizing the discriminatory practices of predatory intermediaries
Tonya M. Evans 22, 4/15/2022, Professor, Penn State Dickinson Law. B.S., Northwestern University; J.D. (Dean’s List), Howard University School of Law (cum laude; editor-in-chief, Howard Law Journal), “De-Gentrified Black Genius: Blockchain, Copyright, and the Disintermediation of Creativity”, https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2609&context=plr (page 678-679)
Decentralized autonomous termination contracts: also known as smart contracts, digital agreements that are stored in the blockchain and automatically execute an agreement (usually a payment) when certain conditions are met
Often poor economic conditions, discriminatory practices, misappropriation, and unscrupulous representation have led to unconscionable deals (even by music industry standards) that have left even the most prolific and successful artists destitute and indebted, or simply with no attribution, compensation, or deal.202 However, a decentralized autonomous termination right could level the negotiating playing field, neutralize the impact of predatory and discriminatory practices, remove rentseeking gatekeepers, and give Black artists a true second bite at the proverbial apple.203 With an automated, decentralized, and de-gentrified system, these artists can finally raise a proverbial fist and achieve true entrepreneurial and economic power by successfully leveraging their rights early in a creative work’s life cycle and then confidently reclaiming copyright decades later after the work has had a sufficient opportunity to prove its value and worth.204 Aspirational, but attainable via decentralized autonomous copyright termination
Web3 is really good!!! No middleman means no exploitation!!! +Empirics prove!!! Idk what to tag this!!!
Diana Umana 23, 9/18/2023, Umana is a music tech professional, songwriter, led operations at HRDRV and Gender Amplified, and currently co-hosts the Hear Us Out podcast reguralry advocating for a more equitable future for the music industry, “Web3 music platforms are combining new tech with Web2 features to give artists better compensation and 'create dope consumer experiences'”, https://www.businessinsider.com/web3-music-platforms-blockchain-even-sound-iyk-streaming-services-artists-2023-9
The independent music artist Tanerélle never felt fairly compensated for her work — a common frustration among artists who receive scant earnings from music-streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. But the "Continuum" singer felt differently once she started sharing her tracks on Even, a Web3 platform that enables artists to connect directly with their most dedicated supporters and offers fans exclusive access to artists' creative content and experiences. The service allows artists to set their own prices, and each sale results in direct access to fan-related data — such as emails, locations, numbers of purchases — and instant payouts. "It was wonderful partnering with a team who finally made me feel like my art was worth the love I pour into it," Tanerélle told Insider. "I wish it could always be like this." Headshot of Tanerélle [REMOVED] Tanerélle, an independent music artist. Orin Fleurimont The importance of direct-to-consumer offerings for music artists has never been more evident. In recent years, streaming and social-media algorithms have soured artists' attitudes toward earning royalties and trying to make a living doing what they love: Chasing pennies on saturated digital platforms can be draining, and streaming payouts constantly disappoint. Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when touring halted, cutting a significant amount of musicians' revenue, independent and signed artists alike have desperately sought new ways to monetize their work and connect with their supporters. This is where Web3 came in. Web3 is a decentralized internet powered by blockchain technology, offering music artists direct and transparent payments via smart contracts, increased control over their creative content and earnings, and ownership of their work through nonfungible tokens, which can be collected and enjoyed by their most loyal supporters. In 2021 alone, music NFT sales generated over $83 million in revenue for artists. With platforms taking miniscule fees, as low as 0%, and intermediaries virtually nonexistent — curator fees typically don't exceed 5% — the vast majority of revenue goes where it belongs: artists' pockets. However, by summer 2022, there were signs of a decline in the Web3 landscape because of regulatory uncertainty, speculative volatility, security concerns, and the lack of real-world adoption. By November, crypto winter was in full effect. While the Web3 and crypto bull markets between 2020 and 2022 may never be realized again, some Web3 platforms are finding success through a tech strategy that's helping them survive and thrive during the bear market: combining Web3 experiences with Web2 interfaces. Insider spoke with top execs at the innovative digital platforms Even, Sound.XYZ, and IYK about how their companies were transforming the music business by blending Web3 features and utilities with practical, familiar integrations that appeal to mainstream users. Even, which has been used by Tanerélle and other artists such as Omarion, Jidenna, and LaRussell, is built on the Polygon blockchain, but its marketing, branding, and front end are entirely Web2-oriented. For example, Even uses email sign-up and allows credit-card purchases. It also uses familiar terminology throughout its platform and in marketing, similar to what one would find on traditional music platforms. This fosters a seamless onboarding experience for fans and takes the burden off artists to educate them. The benefit of this hybrid approach is clear: In April, when much of the Web3 music space faced uncertainty, Even closed its $2.2 million seed round. Mag Rodriguez, the founder and CEO of Even, was determined to leverage Web2 and Web3 technologies to empower artists — especially Black and brown musicians, who often bear the brunt of exploitation in the music industry — and streamline support from their fans. Headshot of Mag Rodriguez [REMOVED] Mag Rodriguez, the founder and CEO of Even. Weston Rich "We believed in making it accessible and seamless for fans to engage," Rodriguez told Insider. He said that making Even "too Web3" by using a Web3 front end and obscure verbiage "would have been counterproductive," consequently deterring traditional artists and their fanbases. "We wanted to bridge the gap and welcome fans into a new era, while maintaining familiarity," he added. Web2-Web3 integrations are also expected to introduce a new monetization model, which the Grammy Award-winning artist and songwriter Eric Bellinger said was long overdue in the music industry. "This is going to start a wave of business owners and even consumers thinking differently," he told Insider. "There's no longer a middleman needed to take the majority of artist revenue, and we can get paid instantly. That has never been the case."
Blockchain TVA—AT: Increases Infringement
Protecting IP from infringment is a core tenant of Web3 – blockchain deters plagiarism and makes it easy to prove ownership
Sasha Shilina 24, 5/1/2024, Shilina has a PhD from Moscow State University and is a distributed tech analyst, they currently work at Humancode, “How to protect intellectual property in web3”, https://cointelegraph.com/explained/how-to-protect-intellectual-property-in-web3
Blockchain ensures the integrity of data by recording transactions in a tamper-proof manner across a decentralized network, making it an invaluable tool for protecting IPs. Central to Web3 is blockchain technology, a decentralized ledger system renowned for its immutability and transparency. A blockchain ledger not only deters plagiarism and unauthorized use but also simplifies the process of proving ownership in legal disputes. For example, through blockchain, creators can timestamp their work, creating an immutable proof of authorship and ownership. As for blockchain-based IP solutions, proof-of-existence projects timestamp documents on-chain, OriginStamp adds artificial intelligence (AI) analysis for authenticity, and IP strategy software (IPwe) offers a blockchain-based patent registry, revolutionizing patent management in the blockchain era. … Leveraging blockchain capabilities, smart contracts enable automated enforcement of IP rights, revolutionizing the way creators manage their IPs. Complementing blockchain technology are smart contracts, self-executing contracts with predefined terms and conditions written in code. Through smart contracts, creators can specify how their work can be used, ensuring that royalties are automatically distributed whenever their content is accessed or shared. This automated IP enforcement not only streamlines licensing processes and eliminates the need for intermediaries but also reduces the risk of infringement, providing creators with greater peace of mind and control over their creations. Mainly, smart contract development for IP rights represents a significant advancement in how we manage, protect and monetize creative works and innovations. Tools like OpenLaw and InvArch simplify legal agreements by enabling users to compose them as smart contracts, streamlining the contract creation process. … Protecting IPs in Web3 requires a combination of proactive registration, encryption, vigilant monitoring and the use of advanced tools and platforms. One foundational strategy is registering IPs on a blockchain, which provides a tamper-proof and verifiable record of ownership and timestamps. Utilizing blockchain-based IP registries, creators can establish a strong foundation for defending their rights and deterring infringement. In addition, blockchain cryptography for IP security is vital. Implementing encryption and watermarking techniques adds an extra layer of safety to digital assets and metadata protection in blockchain-based assets. Encryption helps prevent unauthorized access and distribution, while visible or invisible watermarks assert ownership and facilitate the identification of infringements. These measures are crucial for protecting valuable IP assets in the decentralized Web3 environment. Vigilance is also essential. Constant monitoring of IP assets across decentralized networks is necessary to track their usage and detect instances of infringement. Blockchain analytics tools and digital monitoring services play a vital role in this regard, enabling creators to identify unauthorized usage and take timely action to enforce their rights. To further enhance IP protection, specialized platforms have emerged that leverage AI and Web3 data analysis. These platforms offer advanced features such as automated takedown notice generation and visual recognition to pinpoint infringement violations across NFT marketplaces.
Cap K
Mumble Rap Link---1NC
Mumble rap promotes capitalism
1AC Ludlow ’21 [Maxwell J; October; Maxwell Ludlow was a Teaching Assistant in the State University of New York. Co-taught "Transhumanist Media", and "The Image", a mixed undergraduate/graduate seminar on Black studies, gender studies, and contemporary critical theory, “Listening to Mumble Rap: Blackness and Autofiction”; https://soar.suny.edu/handle/20.500.12648/11546]]
In this introduction to his late 2020 offering, Whole Lotta Red, mumble rapper Playboi Carti seems to respond to surplus outlined earlier in the work of Fred Moten with his constant, repeated refrain of “Never too much” over a rumbling, distorted beat. We as an audience are left to speculate, “what is never too much?” Perhaps this refers to bling, the unending desire for material gains that has become synonymous with hip hop. In the music of Carti and his peers, there is never too much material value, but there is also never too much affective value. To quote another of his peers, Lil Uzi Vert, “money got longer, speaker got louder, car got faster,” in this world they’re crafting, there is never too much money, there is never too much volume, never too much speed, never too much sexual arousal, never too much intoxication. Shoota begins with a lone muted synthetic keyboard, slightly touched in reverb. The texture is familar but foreign, more resembling a dinky Casio patch than an immaculate recorded Steinway. The descending piano figure repeats twice before Philly’s Lil Uzi Vert enters the stage, warming up his voice like a supercar revving its engine. The performance requires preparation. As Uzi croons “Nooow is my time,” pizzicato strings dance forwards and backwards, creating a Bacon-eqse portrait of a deranged mechanical orchestra of digital automatons playing in tandem. The sound reminds me of confetti or an explosion of fireworks; prismatic and celebratory, a flurry of vivid color. The texture disappears as soon as it comes, leaving us back with the sole keyboard texture, filling an imaginary stadium or auditorium. Uzi’s voice enters again, in the form of an overdubbed Maaly Raw’s producer tag, the pitched up and playful “That-that-that-that-that-that be Maaly Raw '' that bounces around from left to right the speaker. A producer tag is like the opening credits to their film. The most successful trap producers are known by their tags alone, their tags are greeted with roars of excitement at festivals and in clubs. They become a part of the song’s lyrics. Another key role of the producer tag is to signal where the drop of a trap production is. Often, trap songs begin with a drumless sample or composition, until the producer tag appears often in the first few seconds of the beat with the arrival of an 808 bass and digitally sequenced hi-hats, snares, cymbal, and additional synth textures. This moment where the 808 comes in and fills out the rumbling low-end of a song is called the drop. The distortion of an 808 is overbearing, raw noise, a low pervasive rumble that becomes the defining feature of a space. High volumes and large speakers are essential for these invocations into sonic space, this ritual sonic intoxication that envelops one’s body. The rumbles are inescapable in a club, a car, a studio, or a pair of headphones. Trap music creates and claims space, its potent low frequencies are expansive. They push through thin apartment walls, bound through the doors of busy nightclubs, and pour out of Ubers parked at red lights. My encounters with these 808s fill me with deep pleasure, both affective and historical. The rich resonances vibrate my body like a massage: they rattle the seats of my car and close up my throat. The 808 is heard as it is felt, it shakes the body.
Hip Hop Link---2NC
Hip-hop has been corrupted by capitalism
Rachel K. Quick 11, Quick has a masters degree from the University of Missouri, “THE CULTU

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