Ticketmaster just rolled out token-gated NFT integration.

It’s a big deal.

Here’s how it works

↓ Ticketmaster is launching token-gated ticket purchases, starting with Avenged Sevenfold.

If you hold the artist’s NFT, you get first access to tickets.

I’ve recently been more hands-on helping musicians with NFT drops.

It’s opened my eyes a lot and given me extra respect for artists that I collect from.

Strangely the closest comparison for me is gig tickets.

Some random thoughts … When you’re an artist trying to sell tickets, there’s a lot to consider:

-> what size venue can you fill?
-> how many true fans care enough to buy tickets?
-> what price point is right for your fanbase?
-> how will you promote the shows?

Spotify just added new Web3 integration + OpenSea removed the music nft category 💀

6 stories you might have missed in Web3 music this week

↓ 1. Spotify launches token-gated playlists with @therealkingship - the Bored Ape supergroup.

The playlist is only accessible to KINGSHIP Key Card holders by connecting your wallet.

Crypto cycles have a huge influence on NFT sales.

If you’re buying or selling NFTs you need to know where we are in the cycle.

Here’s some chart p*rn on how to read the market and adapt (using music NFTs as a case study)

↓ In November last year almost every music NFT drop sold out in minutes.

Now things are slowing down a little.

If you’re an artist or collector you’ve probably felt it.

One of the main reasons (I think) is understanding where we are in the broader crypto cycle...

The only sustainable "breakout moment" for music nfts will come from independent artists.

This thread is the closest thing to my full thesis for Web3 music and how it might (eventually) disrupt the music industry.

↓ Total caveat that this is just my opinion.

I'm wrong all the time, in music and crypto, and I change my mind often.

But right now this is how I see it playing out (and why I spend all my time in the independent scene).

Let me know how you see it.

MUSIC NFTS IN 2022: PART 1

2022 was one of the worst years for crypto.

Despite that, the growth of music NFT collectors looks something like this.

Here’s a look back at what happened this year

↓ Part 1 of this recap tracks independent artists on @soundxyz_

Obv it’s not the only platform but it’s the one I have full-year data for. And it’s a good proxy for the wider independent music NFT trends.

Another nod to @Nico_Elzer for the Dune dashboard.

Physical merch linked to digital NFTs is definitely going to be a thing.

This @SpottieWiFi record is limited to 200 editions. It has an NFC chip embedded in the vinyl which links to an NFT to verify scarcity. Verite's crewneck is another one - embedded NFC chip unlocks rewards and exclusive content

https://twitter.com/Verite/status/1565371782546210816

The number of music NFTs minted is going crazy 📈

• Artists are releasing a high volume of music at low prices / free.

• Collectors are supporting and buying hundreds of NFTs.

The music nft meta is all about quantity right now - a quick thread on pros and cons ↓ First of all, thanks to @Nico_Elzer for the new Dune dashboard on @soundxyz_ where this chart comes from. I'll be using this data lots.

dune.com/nicoelzer/soun…

This is how major artists should enter Web3.

Santigold just launched her FAN CLUB using @medallionfm

Exclusive ↓ In September, Santigold canceled her tour with a heartfelt message:

"I have tried and tried, looked at what it would take from every angle, and I simply don’t have it. I can't make it work"

Touring is just brutal right now. Ask any artist.

Coachella NFTs are stuck and ‘disabled’ on FTX.

They sold $1.5m in Feb including 10 lifetime VIP passes. I reached out via email and Discord dms ~24 hours ago for more info but no response yet.

I'm wondering why didn't holders of the 10 'keys' have the ability to withdraw to their own wallet? Should be a requirement going forward.

WEB3 MUSIC MAP (updated)

This is the biggest map I've ever made.

It's 7 slides long (and only took two all-nighters 😅)

I would love the community's help to finalise it 🙏

↓ I realise that no ecosystem map or curation will ever please everyone...

But I think we should try it openly in the community.

Send me any major omissions or corrections by Sun and I'll try to accommodate.

More details in the thread

↓

After Reddit's NFT success, I tried to come up with a Web3 playbook for Spotify.

Spotify could take music NFTs mainstream almost overnight and maybe even do it without screwing artists.

↓ Disclaimer - this is a total thought-experiment that I wrote in stream of conscious - I have no idea if this is desirable or workable - it's just for fun.

RENGA

There are some amazing projects coming up if you know where to look.

I’m very excited about @RENGA_inc.

The art by @DirtyRobotWorks + the story + the team + the world-building is next level.

Let’s take a look ↓ WHAT IS RENGA?

• An NFT project coming later this year.
• Artwork by Dirty Robot.

We don't know much about it yet, but there are lots of hidden clues we can start piecing together.

RTFKT is a masterclass in how to build an NFT brand.

They have airdropped (I think) ~$570k in value from a single pigeon.

Here's the @RTFKTstudios playbook and why the new sneakers are another game-changer.

↓ RULE 1. REWARD HOLDERS

RTFKT continually rewards holders with insane airdrops and value. If you bought the original Metapigeon ($1) you got:

• Another pigeon
• 6 mint vials
• Which evolved into 6 CloneX
• 6 Space Pods
• 6 Loot Pods
• 6 MNLTHS

THE OPEN METAVERSE

I spent a few days exploring everything in @punk6529's Open Metaverse

And one thing keeps blowing me away…

The scale of it.

It’s way more ambitious than I realised.

Let’s try put it all in context

↓ MUSEUM SQUARE

We begin in the main square.

There are about 25 buildings here.

Together they contain the biggest and most expensive collection of NFT art anywhere in the world.

It’s incredible.

We’ll come back and look at some later (including 2 hidden Easter eggs).

CYBERBROKERS

I think a lot of people underestimate how important this drop was.

And the incredible, dystopian story that @josiebellini is building.

Here's everything I know about @CyberBrokers_

↓ WHAT ARE CYBERBROKERS?

• 10,001 avatar project.
• Art by Josie Bellini
• Fully on-chain (this is awesome - I’ll explain why)

First, you need to know the story ↓

WEB3 MUSIC

This one is personal for me.

In 2014 I was signed (and dropped) by a major record label.

I learned the hard way how the industry was broken for artists.

Now it feels like something is changing

There’s a fire starting

Here’s everything I know about music NFTs

↓ THE FIRST WAVE OF MUSIC NFTS

You probably saw headlines about the first wave of Web3 music.

• Grimes sold music NFTs for $6 million.

• Calvin Harris and Dillon Francis dropped NFT collections.

• Short music loops with a visual. Interesting, but not exactly game-changing.

AZUKI

This is my longest report yet.

@AzukiZen has changed the game.

This is now the standard that all NFT projects should be held against.

Let’s go deep ↓ WHAT IS AZUKI?

Azuki aims to be a global metaverse brand.

• 10,000 unique avatars with anime styling.
• Art by @steamboy33
• NFT holders get access to streetwear drops + more.

Let's begin with the traits ↓

MAPPING THE METAVERSE

Report #1: @doodles

The Doodles hype is real!

I distilled everything I know about this project into a 5-minute report.

Let's go ↓ WHAT ARE DOODLES?

• Doodles is a profile pic (PFP) project
• Launched in October 2021.
• 10,000 unique characters with different traits.
• Art by Scott Martin (@burnttoast)

MAPPING THE METAVERSE

A new world order is here: The ETH x DeFi x NFT metaverse.

This is my attempt to map it all. Please share this crazy thread and say hi 👋 🦊

tl;dr - this is so much bigger than I ever imagined… and none of us has enough #ETH for what is about to happen. 1. What is the metaverse?

The metaverse is a thriving digital universe, transcending the ‘real world’

A new virtual society with no borders.

The next era of human civilization.

@PiersKicks puts it: “7 billion digital souls with the option to exist almost exclusively online”