Hello! I'm Benbrick a songwriter and fan of blockchain technology. I've been writing on Steemit for over a year and in that time I've raised over £4000 for various charities under Steemit's name.
My latest project is a music store built on the Steem blockchain called @Steemsongs which is currently in BETA.
Why My Next EP Will Be On Steem before Spotify
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Recently I've found it hard to create more than one song a month. I have the perfect studio in a large complex surrounded by creators but I've begun to feel numb to the process.
Confucuius once said music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without but my self imposed lack of interest in new music has gone on for months now.
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Despite the BBC article on the growth of streaming, there are still major problems with Spotify and how they distribute royalties to the people making the music. Yesterday an article surfaced detailing a $1.6 Billion USD case against Spotify from publishing experts Wixen.
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Looking to the future we are already seeing hints of music made by artificial intelligence. This is only going to increase - especially when most of these music companies tech companies are more focused on their profits than on art.
If you think that AI will not take significant jobs away from music creators: you are wrong.
4
In the last 10 years we've completly changed the way we consume content - we don't care about regular TV programming now we can binge on Casey Neistat from our sofa.
When this new breed of creators put their videos online they use royalty free tracks for fear of their content being removed by the behemoth record labels who failed to adapt.
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The video creators need the right music, but more importantly they need the correct license to not jeapordise their potential ad revenue.
Sony is creating AI music (backed by the European Research Council) and there are suggestions that Spotify create fake artists to fill playlists and generate profit.
The next stage is Google replacing their YouTube royalty free music selection with 100% AI created audio and the Google backed Magneta project is already pushing forward with this.
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So, now I create music when I feel like it, and using Steemit or Valu.is I'm able to monetise my content instantly (and without a middle man). A blockchain that can transfer in 3 seconds is appealing when you're used to waiting years for Sony or Universal to start collecting royalties.
I don't want to waste my money on Facebook adverts to reach an audience. I don't want to compete with Spotify owned playlists. I want to make music for me. Thanks to these new websites, I can.
That's why my new EP will be
on @Steemsongs before Spotify.
Awesome stuff Ben.
Adding to Steem, Muse might interest you. We currently have multiple people working on different fronts in order to solve most of the problems in music. (Not tackling AI though)
We are updating our smart contracts at the moment in order to be as flexible as possible for multiple types of edge cases.
We have 2 front ends releasing in Q1, 1 for the artist to upload his metadata and 1 for the music consumer.
Essentially, Muse will pay per play (not per stake weighted upvote). This means your site could offer two types of rewards.
One hell of a revenu stream!
Hey @Cob where are you based? Would love to talk more about this. I'm in London.
Looking forward to checking out your EP, dude. So interesting how the AI and Blockchain revolutions are springing to life in a dovetail. Very interesting to see which one will ultimately help the many and which the few. Exciting time to be dialed in.
I agree. And as a side note, I had no idea that Steem had such a fast transaction time!
most people don't and that's why we are trying out hardest to do more promotion about that.
You actually popped into my head yesterday as I was researching video techniques and I thought of your excellent video you shared with us using a go pro.
I also have several tracks on Spotify which I released with different record labels. No more. I'm also looking forward to see what Muse blockchain for music artist will bring us. Good luck with you project and I look forward to checking it out.
Good luck! Have you checked out Voise? Could be a very exciting music sharing platform.
Well thought, interesting read. For me, this looks very exciting cause it's a REAL need for this kind of service. WE only need the support of a few huge musicians. youtubers, podcasters etc to get this ball ralling than it will just be huge. I'm sure it will happen in the next few years.
MOGUL ben brick?
thanks Raz!
That is one of the greatest things about Steemit. You can get rewarded for your effort in this case creating amazing music. NO middle man or having to pay for the reach. People see it here instantly and reward your instantly. Got to love that.
I don't think AI will replace music artist because music is something created with heart and soul. Machines can't never posses that. I am sure that it is one of the reasons you are creating music. It feeds your soul. :)
I have not checked out your songs jet, but I will get around to it. I am sure you got some good stuff recorded. What kind of music do you create?
Have a great day, my friend. :)
You should read Life 3.0 it actually suggests that heart and soul is purely mechanical and can be replaced! Here is some of my music
I'm actually reading this at the moment. Fascinating stuff. Quite a long way in the future but yes anything can be recreated if you can manipulate atoms!
That is one interesting information. Heart I believe can be replaced, but for the soul not so sure. You never know. WIll have to look at the link you provided to comment. And listen to your music while reading. I just hope it's not heavy metal. That would be distracting a bit. lol
'Music' has been copy and paste for the most part already.
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My experience releasing some pretty seriously niche music content on Dtube today (modular synth + live drumming) and the response I've gotten from the #music community in just a few hours is BLOWING MY MIND. I've been releasing music on a professional level for almost two decades and have yet to see a spotify check for more than a few dollars ... for hundreds of thousands of plays. I'm onboard with @steemsongs. It can literally only go up from my present streaming situation.
One of the more prominent labels I'm on, Temporary Residence, absolutely abhors Spotify ... even as an exposure vehicle ... and I'm wondering how many medium sized labels would jump at the chance to host their catalog literally anywhere else. Going to pass steemsongs along.
Interesting. I've been looking into a lot of these blockchain-powered music services lately, and as a musician I can clearly see the benefits in terms of monetization and payment schedules. What I fail to see is the benefit from the consumer side of things, what is the actual value of a blockchain-based model compared to say Spotify? The only thing I see right now is 1) a sense of tighter community with the content creators, and 2) the visualization of actually paying for music consumption. On every other parameter a non-blockchain experience seem to be superior now and in the future - in terms of catalog, speed and curation. You are mentioning releasing your EP on Steem before everywhere else. This makes sense to me to please a certain community and maybe bring more people to the service, but for the average consumer or music fan I don't think windowing is a good way to go. It's not that different from Jay-Z releasing exclusively on Tidal. A move that lead to the album being illegally downloaded just under a million times in the first 72 hours. This puts us back to square one. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this, and I'm looking forward to try your service :-)
You are totally right. The benefit to the consumer needs to be a closer relationship with the artist where they can also be rewarded when they join in the discussion.
The blockchain equivalent to Spotify (note @Steemsongs is more like the iTunes store) will offer faster and larger payments to artists, as well as faster and larger payments to record labels. The record labels being paid more is key to an equivalent service taking off.
The key to @steemsongs success will be in offering something different, ideally I'd like to make it much more curated. Also Steemsongs will allow Steemit users (500k currently) somewhere to spend their Steem/SBD as oppose to cashing out immediately. One gripe I have with Steemit is the complete lack of monetisation. Why can't we pay SBD/Steem to upgrade our accounts, to unlock private messaging... and why aren't Steemit INC using their stake for good instead of delegating to repeat posters?
The project remains a way for me to combine two things that I love: music and blockchain. I don't know where it will go, but hopefully you'll come along for the ride.
I up voted your reply because to be honest I'm so focused in the benefits of Steemit, sometimes I fail to be my own devils advocate. I can only assume that @thisisbenbrick is releasing his EP here first, indeed in some minor part, to appeal to the Steemit community. However, underlying this [assumed] intention there is also as you stated the desire to bring new users to the platform. All the while excepting the risk that a few stubborn people might pirate his content just because they don't want to join a new platform to listen to one artist. My question to you is do you think that eventually as people are brought on to Steemit there could be an entire facet to Steemit that is in itself as powerful, or from a consumer standpoint, as user friendly as Spotify?
Of course there could. But it requires Steemit INC being behind the project. The blockchain is way faster than all the competitors.. it's the perfect place for new decentralised projects.
If you're asking if Steemit itself could be as user-friendly as Spotify - I think not. But it's also comparing two completely different things. My point was just that I don't think blockchain is a solution to everything, and for music fans I fail to see the big incentives to switch to a blockchain-based model.
One thing I forgot to mention was that a service like Musicoin has curation awards not unlike Steemit on their roadmap. This could give some listeners a economic sentiment for creating and sharing playlists, but I still believe it will be a select few.
i don't know guys, i get off the most when I perform live. I agree that steemit is great at payouts but it doesn't open too many doors to great shows, and nothing beats that :)
I agree. I've been playing guitar for over 20 years. Been in a couple bands but never cared to pursue it as a career. I probably wasn't good enough anyway. I have to chime in on the AI creation of music. There is already so much sampling and 'fake' instruments in modern music that I can barely listen to new material. Music is all about emotion and feeling, for me. You can program a machine to do something, play a series of notes, beats, whatever. But without the human emotion, It's like listening to the traffic or watching commercials on TV.
I would love to hear a computer improvise a blues guitar solo and then compare it to Joe Bonamassa.
Maybe we will soon be able to play live together online. We can’t yet because of the delay, and feedback, etc. But we’re heading there. Though, I believe live (in person) will still be better because of the energy created between the other musicians, singers, and listeners.
how about a VR show? that would be tight haha!
I think the first step is to provide something for Steemit users and build a community around this.
I hope @Steemsongs will help with getting that music mojo back :D
I find my creativity can go in waves, but I constantly find new inspirations and drives. You seem to be on the right track (yes that is a pun) - Steem on!
thanks Opheliafu, it was great to meet you in Lisbon!
Cool. Your write up makes so much sense to me as an aspiring musician. I am releasing my blues trio's first single on Steemit today through dtube. With now Steem or SBD with me right now, I hope I can be able to gather much support from the community. Would love to raise enough to record our next single from the earnings made with this one. Or maybe at least some constructive criticism would help me shape my music career.
You are doing a great job, Especially charity and since you are doing charity you will never find a problem in your work neither in your life/
Keep up the good work
I love your perspective on things!
I remember I used to chat/talk to one of the guys who started Spotify in this small proto-facebook type of online community, (this was way back before Spotify) I did not pay much attention to his spammy messages where he was trying to promote some random "streaming radio service"... Anyway Spotify became a revolutionary compromise between illegal downloading of MP3's and the record-industry...
But I have a feeling that what you are now onto might be the REAL revolution, and I hope and believe that your project will become successful!!! The artists need to put food on their tables with out getting scammed by a bunch of greedy middle-men...
If this project wont take off, some other similar project will come and provide the same "artist to consumer win-win concept with out a middleman service" using blockchain technology... Best of luck in 2018!!!
thank you for your comments. let's hope!
COOL Stuff. Wicked to see steem price rocket. Need to meet up with you soon. Great work you are doing and fucking the corporations at the same time!
Yes Danny! Message me
Really exciting Ben! Looking forward to it all.
Its great to see people with influence promoting steem, great move! Im definitely checking out your song here!
That's insane dude - thanks for posting. It's amazing what a simultaneously amazing and horrifying place we're headed to in the technology age. Best thing us humans can do is stick together and defeat automation with interaction :).
Best of luck to you - I may have to follow suit!
I look forward to keeping up with you and your music and learning different ways to incorporate my personal art with blockchain tech. Keep it up!
interesting, thanks
Real nice post . Firstly good luck with your record. I believe the blockchain and steemit are really going to help musicians/songwriters etc to receive the right royalties. Spotify and all the other streaming sites are running at massive losses. This is not sustainable for any business.
As for music made by A.I. ... Sure soem bot will make some music but it will be shit. ... Ha ha . cheers
Great stuff. You are a trailblazer! Would be great to see Steem overtake Spotify for new and cutting-edge performers.
looking forward to see it here on Steemit first before any other platform... by this you will encourage lots of artists to be part of steemit as well.
Cheers
Hi Ben,
First off, Happy New Year :)
Personally i have similar feelings about music in respect to spotify, youtube et all.
As i only just start out to release my own music, i was pondering whether i want to use bandcamp or a similar platform to release mmy music.
Yesterday i stumbled upon steemit, singed up for it and today your post caught my attention.
Being a freshman here on steemit, it will take me some time to find my way around here.
I'll send you a mail and hope to get some more info about @steemsongs from you.
As for AI replacing music makers, i think that areas where it might replace music makers in the immediate future are in music for advertisement, jingles at first.
Later on i think that AI might take on also movie intonation, soundtrack and sound effects.
For AI to create songs, no matter which kind of musical style, will be another level to achieve.
Main reason imo is that AI is still not capable to have emotions, feel emotions, which music/songs is/are all about.
AI is perfectly capable of creating melodies, harmonies and rythmic pattern variations, swing, yet AI is not capable to comprehend/feel what emotional impact that has on themselves resp. on the listener.
Hence i think that AI created songs will sound AI made, like a drum machine will always sound like a drum machine.
I won't put it past spotify, google and the music industry giants to release AI produced music, but it will never match human made music until AI i capable to perceive emotions.
I do not know much about cryptos and chains, but I do love music.
Respect from a fellow artist and my cat .)
What about https://www.choon.co/ is this gonna better ?
This is GENIUS and why I stinkin love Steemit.
So many useful, practical applications where we can cut out the middleman, and just let creators and community come together in a natural way.
Being a musician myself, I think its a great idea. Though I'm new here I think this is an amazing platform with lots of potential. Hadn't really thought about releasing my own music this way but now you've got me thinking...
But, to answer your question, I don't think that the music industry will ever be solely comprised of AI "artists". There will always be people making noise in basements and rehearsal studios and bars.
That being said...I do see the day coming when machines (AI) will do the hard work for certain "artists". It's already happening. Sampling and autotune and all of that garbage.
But im confident that there will always be kids wanting to REALLY play a guitar or drums or scream into a microphone that's actually plugged in.
Great post! I'll be buying your music for sure...
I am a singer song writer, and I couldn't be more excited about this. I have been creating 25 years and I refuse to release my work from fear of what the market does to artists and there work. With this platform I can reach an audience and just focus on my art. Focus on me. I look forward to see this progress. Everyone has something special to give and we may see people start to open up and grow. Thank you for sharing, and good luck to you Sir
More of it brother...... Keep it on.....
Well thought, interesting read. For me, this looks very exciting cause it's a REAL need for this kind of service.
Nice to e-meet you. Even recently I started writing in steemit . If you like my post pls upvote else give feedback to be more affective in writing.
https://steemit.com/life/@sanjeev.lamani/dressing-for-modern-man
I was early to join steemit. I have followed you, if there is time to see my blog and give a good voice steemit community
@dorsuwa-photography
please listen my cover! I would appreciate your vote in my participation in openmic week 66, thank you very much!
https://steemit.com/openmic/@jetperalta/steemit-open-mic-week-66-got-a-match-chick-corea-cover-and-improvisation-by-jetperalta
This is actually pretty amazing..I’d love to jam with you. Though- These chord progression may leave me in the wind...1-4-5 would be much simpler
👏🤓
This is wonderful news as we’re in desperate need of musicians on Steemit. Great for you for undertaking this initiative ;)
I'm a musician on steemit... just saying
Blockchains will revolutionise whole industries.
Real cool. Looking forward to earn like u too. Keep real
BIG FACTS! look into musicoin as well
I like you @thisisbenbrick
Man thank you for letting me know all you know, you see, i do music since i was a kid, always as a hobby because my music is not too commercial here in my country, but thanks to steemit i could show what i got and at the same time could monetise in case that my content is actually good. I like to read content of people like you, check out my music by the way hope you like it i just do what i want and how i want. Cheers
Sorry for my english
good post, I really like it
hallo brother
i am new member on this steemit platform, i have upvote and follow you, if you have free time please visit my blog, i will be very happy, and please Upvote and follow me @adamazzi
Thank you
Very smart idea...I like and support this!
RESPECT!
That's crazy i never thought about AI music. My next EP or album will only be released on Steem too. Can't wait to hear yours and check out steem songs!
@steemsongs is a great initiative and a more effective process for real musicians. You are an innovator @thisisbenbrick, making an alternative path for a win-win for both musicians and listeners.
For a time AI music may take a leading position in the market. However, over the long term, the human element in music will make a strong comeback.IMHO
This is interesting, and something I had never considered. My guess is that A.I. music will come to dominate the areas you mention, the royalty free arena of short films and youtube videos.
However I think there will always be room for human music, in fact I think it will always be the dominant form merely because music is about connections as well as the sound.
So there are many artists that are liked for who they are, and the particular way they express the emotion they're feeling via song.
Very, very interesting though, and I will chew this one over as it is a completely new concept to me.
Cg
There will always be a place for human created music, you are right, but for Hollywood studios with shrinking budgets is it really that far fetched that they insist on AI collaboration in order to keep 50% of writers share of royalties for themselves?
My Next Ep is also going blockchain 1st.. thanx for creating this one.. lets connect for interview
When I first caught wave of this blockchain "revolution" it seemed rather small minded to me that everyone was focused on directing blockchain toward the financial sector. The potential is boundless. After digging around I found out about Steemit and immediately identified it as a multifaceted approach to using the blockchain. "In-your-face" advertisement as means of making monetary value is, in my opinion, and extremely primitive way of making profit. How Steemit uses its very user base to distribute value is un paralleled, it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'peer-to-peer sharing." At the end of the day, all I want to do as an individual is help other like minded individuals prosper. And now all I have to do it click up vote.
teach me to make posts like this awesome man you are talented.
This is really interesting.
Not sure about the IA, I’m hoping we (as humans) will get over the “art-through-computer” soon enough to find new ways to create music, and to have art re-gain the importance it deserves in our lives.
As I mentiones in previous posts of mine, we have to find a way to respect art, or music in this particular case (I’m a musician) by respecting what we listen to. Taking the time to listen to an album without scrolling facebook/instagram, just as we used to do before internet was such an important player in our daily routine.
As soon as we get there, I trust we will be able to distinguish between human and IA creation; we just have to be willing to hear the message in the music we listen to, just as you look at a Jackson Pollock painting, and you can’t help but thinking what was going through his emotions.
Then, only then, we will have the opportunity to chose between them, but we have to distinguish them first.
Sorry about my English, I hope it made sense. Take care!
You're absolutely right.