The music world has regularly embraced innovation and fandom; just look at how The Beatles recently used an old recording, AI, and a commitment to their fans to bring to life a new song with all the band's original members. As the web3 world has matured and offered communities more opportunities for connections, it’s no surprise that some of the most beloved musicians (from Snoop Dogg to Kings of Leon) have used NFTs specifically to build a deeper relationship with their fans.

While any creator or musician can use NFTs in their artistic process, here are six artists who have helped pave the way. 

‍What are music NFTs?

Music NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital items that represent ownership of a specific piece of music, album art, or other music-related content. Stored on a blockchain, these tokens ensure transparency, security, and scarcity, making them a revolutionary concept in the music industry.

This innovation is transforming the music industry by providing artists with new ways to connect with fans. For instance, an artist can release a limited edition album as an NFT, complete with exclusive album art and behind-the-scenes content. Fans who buy these NFTs not only get unique digital collectibles but also a sense of ownership and a closer connection to their favorite artists. As the NFT market continues to grow, it’s clear that music NFTs are here to stay, offering exciting opportunities for both artists and fans alike.

Look no further than these artists, who experimented with music NFTs after they hit the scene in 2021.

Shawn Mendes

In 2021, the singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes celebrated the release of his new album with an accompanying NFT collection, “Wonder: Shawn Mendes x Genies.” The collection has four 3D avatars of Shawn performing on stage and three items, like a guitar and vest. Each NFT unlocks a wearable that can be used on any Genie avatar. For instance, the above NFT of Shawn pointing at the crowd unlocks a 1 of 1 Shawn Guitar Pick Necklace. With the collection, Mendes aims to meet fans in the metaverse and to offer them something that says they’re a fan in subtle and meaningful ways. In that way, Mendes’ initiative is one of the many innovative music NFT projects that are reshaping the music industry.

Thalía

Latin Grammy award-winning artist Thalía has been a vocal champion of NFTs in the Latino community. In 2022, she shared her love of Robotos, the eccentric robot collection designed by Pablo Stanley. Hours later, the Robotos X account (previously known as Twitter) dropped a Thalía-inspired dress for any Roboto to wear! The organic collaboration helped shine a light on the artist’s legacy while also spotlighting how a Latinx visual artist is behind the beloved NFT collection.

Kings of Leon 

Back in 2021, Kings of Leon became one of the first bands to release an album as an NFT. The NFT collection allowed fans to access the band’s new album, “When You See Yourself,” and added perks like fan activations and special access to events. 

‍Snoop Dogg 

From The Doggies, his own avatar NFT collection, to B.O.D.R. (“Bacc on Death Row”), his twentieth studio album, Snoop Dogg has taken every opportunity to be a part of the NFT world. He recently released “The Snoop Dogg Passport Series” alongside his summer tour. The NFT collectible offered fans an exclusive look behind the scenes of the tour, as well as special art and drops. A fun feature is that the NFT’s utility evolved as the tour progressed with unique merch drops and behind-the-scenes footage from tour.

‍Eminem 

What happens when you bring Bored Apes Yacht Club, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg together? A music video with over 106M views on YouTube. The part-animated music video was done in collaboration with Yuga Labs as a nod to both rappers' participation in the Bored Ape community. What made the video extra special was that it was also the first time the rappers collaborated on a song in over 20 years.

‍deadmau5's

The Canadian DJ deadmau5, known for wearing a mouse headpiece when performing, brought his community to the NFT world starting in 2021. He’s used NFTs to build excitement around his album. For instance, his Slickmau5 by deadmau5 x OG Slick collection granted owners an exclusive clip ahead of his album release. While his HEAD5 by deadmau5 collection includes 5555 generative music NFTs, showcasing unique and adaptive musical pieces created using algorithms.

This highlights how the NFT world and the music industry found exciting ways to connect, with artists exploring new opportunities to engage their fans. While the buzz will continue to evolve, these trailblazers showed the potential of web3 to enhance the fan experience. Who knows? The next wave of innovation might even bring NFTs to the spotlight on stages like the Grammys or Tony Awards.

What are the benefits of music NFTs for artists?

Music NFTs offer numerous benefits for artists, reshaping the way they interact with their work and their audience. Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Ownership and control: Music NFTs enable artists to retain full ownership and control over their work. This means they can decide how their music is used and distributed, without the constraints often imposed by traditional record labels.
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2. Direct connection with fans: Music NFTs allow artists to connect directly with their fans, creating a more intimate and engaging experience. Fans can own a piece of their favorite artist’s work, fostering a deeper sense of loyalty and support.
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3. Increased transparency: Blockchain technology ensures that music ownership and sales are transparent. This reduces the risk of piracy and ensures that artists receive fair compensation for their work.
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4. Empowerment for emerging artists: For emerging artists, music NFTs offer a way to break into the music industry without relying on traditional record labels or industry gatekeepers. This democratizes the music industry, giving new talent a platform to showcase their work.
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5. Verification and authentication: Blockchain technology ensures that music NFTs are verified and authenticated, reducing the risk of counterfeit or unauthorized copies. This guarantees that fans are buying genuine, artist-approved content.

With music NFTs, artists can take control of their music and connect with fans. This not only enhances their creative freedom but also changes the way the music industry operates, paving the way for a more transparent future.