You don’t need streaming. You need Superfans!

For me, when I first entered the Web3 and music space last year, one big thing stood out most: the promise that you could earn a decent living if you’re serious about music. And Superfans is one of the ways to go.

I look at it like this: When you get a tiny percentage of a cent on streaming platforms, you need a lot of fans that stream your music regularly to make a decent living. But if you have 1000 Superfans that spend €5 a month on an artist. You’re there. You have all the money you need to save for nice gear, set up that tour you always wanted and best of all you’re independent. No more wedding gigs if you don’t want to!

*Even the big players like Spotify, Warner, and Universal are interested and have been confirmed or rumoured to get on board[1]. They know their model isn’t as effective as it was[2] and they need a new way of making money and Superfans seems like an option for them. In this effort, Universal hilariously has been quoted to push streaming platforms to be more, wait for it, artist-centric and focussing on strengthening the artist-fan relationship through enabling Superfan experiences. It’s funny, but mostly sad, but definitely funny to see big players in the music industry being so impressively uncreative and seemingly oblivious to their historical doings. *

Anyway, what are Superfans and how do you get them?

A Superfan is not just someone who buys your music and goes to see you when you perform at a festival nearby. No, they go above and beyond to connect with their favourite artists. They want to invest in them because they understand that art doesn’t come for free. They spread the word and help you grow as an artist. They look for exclusive experiences and content and be connected to a community that gives them a sense of belonging.

The second part is harder to answer. Here, your personal style comes in. What I do know is that Web3 is bringing a lot of opportunities to get creative in completely different ways with your fans to turn them into Superfans.

And you can start experimenting with this right now. Like with Origin Støries. They are enabling fans to collaborate with the artist on visuals for their next live show. Or SmartLabel, who, among other things, are offering artists to sell their future royalties to fans as an investment, or how Serenade is reinventing what a music release can be with their Digital Pressings. And there are dozens of other tools out there that will help you to start building a small but strong community of Superfans.

Because the truth is that, until we figure out universal basic income, we need money to get things done and Web3 is promising to divide the cake more in the artist's favour. The way artists interact with their fans can completely change (if you want) for the better. It brings more independence, better interaction and enough money to focus on what you as an artist want to achieve. Whether it’s just making music, goofing around with your fans online or at a festival or all of the above.

What do you think? Where do you see opportunities for Superfans?

You don’t need streaming. You need Superfans!

For me, when I first entered the Web3 and music space last year, one big thing stood out most: the promise that you could earn a decent living if you’re serious about music. And Superfans is one of the ways to go.

I look at it like this: When you get a tiny percentage of a cent on streaming platforms, you need a lot of fans that stream your music regularly to make a decent living. But if you have 1000 Superfans that spend €5 a month on an artist. You’re there. You have all the money you need to save for nice gear, set up that tour you always wanted and best of all you’re independent. No more wedding gigs if you don’t want to!

*Even the big players like Spotify, Warner, and Universal are interested and have been confirmed or rumoured to get on board[1]. They know their model isn’t as effective as it was[2] and they need a new way of making money and Superfans seems like an option for them. In this effort, Universal hilariously has been quoted to push streaming platforms to be more, wait for it, artist-centric and focussing on strengthening the artist-fan relationship through enabling Superfan experiences. It’s funny, but mostly sad, but definitely funny to see big players in the music industry being so impressively uncreative and seemingly oblivious to their historical doings. *

Anyway, what are Superfans and how do you get them?

A Superfan is not just someone who buys your music and goes to see you when you perform at a festival nearby. No, they go above and beyond to connect with their favourite artists. They want to invest in them because they understand that art doesn’t come for free. They spread the word and help you grow as an artist. They look for exclusive experiences and content and be connected to a community that gives them a sense of belonging.

The second part is harder to answer. Here, your personal style comes in. What I do know is that Web3 is bringing a lot of opportunities to get creative in completely different ways with your fans to turn them into Superfans.

And you can start experimenting with this right now. Like with Origin Støries. They are enabling fans to collaborate with the artist on visuals for their next live show. Or SmartLabel, who, among other things, are offering artists to sell their future royalties to fans as an investment, or how Serenade is reinventing what a music release can be with their Digital Pressings. And there are dozens of other tools out there that will help you to start building a small but strong community of Superfans.

Because the truth is that, until we figure out universal basic income, we need money to get things done and Web3 is promising to divide the cake more in the artist's favour. The way artists interact with their fans can completely change (if you want) for the better. It brings more independence, better interaction and enough money to focus on what you as an artist want to achieve. Whether it’s just making music, goofing around with your fans online or at a festival or all of the above.

What do you think? Where do you see opportunities for Superfans?