Blockchain to blockchange? NFTs and DIY entrepreneurship in music production

Abstract

Recently, developments in blockchain technology have shaken up the creative industries. Especially in the visual arts, NFT trade gained traction. Yet, musicians have also experimented with implementing blockchain technology. Most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sales of NFTs were thought to compensate for some of the income loss caused by restrictions on live music. This paper explores why musicians engaged with blockchain technology, specifically by selling their music as NFTs, and how they perceive this affected their income, work practices and business models. Building upon 14 interviews with musicians who have sold their songs as NFTs, we highlight two main motivations for selling music NFTs: commercial autonomy from gatekeepers and platforms, and artistic autonomy. Financial gains were less prevalent and often remained obscured in respondents’ discourses. Above all, this research shows that pursuing autonomy and authenticity remains key for musicians, regardless of their appetite for new financial-technological innovations.