Most artists today are caught in a cycle of feeding algorithms. Drop music, post content, repeat. But for artists building worlds, not just songs, a hub and spoke model offers something deeper and more durable.

In this model, the artist brand is the hub. It's the core IP, identity, and emotional gravity. Around it, the spokes extend outward: music, merch, content, experiences, CPG products, characters, platforms, and more. Each spoke is a distinct entry point, but they all pull energy back to the center. They don’t compete; they compound.

This isn’t just brand architecture. It’s worldbuilding. More theme park than playlist. Think of how Disney expands from a single character into parks, shows, snacks, and games. For artist-entrepreneurs, it’s the same ethos. You’re not just releasing songs. You’re building an ecosystem where fans can play, collect, taste, wear, explore, and belong.

The goal isn’t virality. It's velocity. When the flywheel spins, one spoke powers the next. Merch boosts music. Music fuels content. Content drives community. Community feeds product. And everything points back to the artist.

It’s not about being everywhere. It’s about designing a world so rich and connected that anywhere a fan enters, they want to stay.

We’ve all seen the infamous Walt Disney synergy map, but have you seen Issa Raes?

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

EPCOT was never meant to be just a theme park. Walt Disney imagined it as a functioning city, a prototype for the future where people lived inside a system designed for connection, culture, and innovation.

Most artists want the Disney outcome, global brand, cultural relevance, products everywhere. But they skip the EPCOT part. The structure. The system. The world.

A hub and spoke model gives artists that framework. The artist is the hub. The core story. The emotional anchor. Around it, the spokes: music, merch, characters, platforms, content, products. Each one is an access point that brings people deeper in.

This is more than content strategy. It’s worldbuilding. A theme park mindset. Not just pushing songs, creating a place fans want to explore, collect, play, and belong.

It’s not about doing everything. It’s about designing a world where everything leads back to you.

EPCOT is split into two main areas: World Showcase and World Nature/Discovery.

In the World Showcase, you can explore pavilions themed after 11 countries, with food, music, architecture, and experiences from each culture. In the other half, you’ll find futuristic attractions, interactive exhibits, and rides focused on science, space, the ocean, and innovation, like Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, and Living with the Land. You can also find other Disney IP themed attractions and lands: Moana, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Nemo.

It’s part cultural expo, part science fair, part theme park. A blend of entertainment, education, and imagination.

Last year I had the opportunity to form part of the Network Archives: A curated collection of creative experiments, writings, and reflections by a diverse community of creators, listeners, thinkers and collectors from around the globe drawn together through a love of music. The point is, you don’t have to go at this alone, although I am using the independent artist as an example. Check it out to explore more artist maps and networks.

The design and vision for my platform Maravilla City was inspired by themed parks and the hub and spoke models. Its my version of a microsite or direct to fan platform for my upcoming album el niño maravilla, we dive deeper though, featuring an ai powered chatbot, a collective social feed, and the ability to collect media using blockchain technology.

ThePark is a group of creatives, musicians, song writers, audio and computer engineers, producers, storytellers, all who speak the universal language of music. Individually, members of The Park are highly regarded in their respective fields, with credits ranging from working with major artists like Ariana Grande, Banks, Logic, Rhye, and more, to performing at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide.

While there are countless examples in the music industry, they are mostly commercial or mainstream acts that probably had no choice but to diversify AND I wanted to limit this to more niche, and interesting collectives and explorations.

I probably could also dive deeper into networks, blockchains, nodes, etc. but that wouldn’t be fun.

Chances are I’ll make a second part to this part and dive deeper, but until then, I hope you enjoyed!

Most artists today are caught in a cycle of feeding algorithms. Drop music, post content, repeat. But for artists building worlds, not just songs, a hub and spoke model offers something deeper and more durable.

In this model, the artist brand is the hub. It's the core IP, identity, and emotional gravity. Around it, the spokes extend outward: music, merch, content, experiences, CPG products, characters, platforms, and more. Each spoke is a distinct entry point, but they all pull energy back to the center. They don’t compete; they compound.

This isn’t just brand architecture. It’s worldbuilding. More theme park than playlist. Think of how Disney expands from a single character into parks, shows, snacks, and games. For artist-entrepreneurs, it’s the same ethos. You’re not just releasing songs. You’re building an ecosystem where fans can play, collect, taste, wear, explore, and belong.

The goal isn’t virality. It's velocity. When the flywheel spins, one spoke powers the next. Merch boosts music. Music fuels content. Content drives community. Community feeds product. And everything points back to the artist.

It’s not about being everywhere. It’s about designing a world so rich and connected that anywhere a fan enters, they want to stay.

We’ve all seen the infamous Walt Disney synergy map, but have you seen Issa Raes?

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

EPCOT was never meant to be just a theme park. Walt Disney imagined it as a functioning city, a prototype for the future where people lived inside a system designed for connection, culture, and innovation.

Most artists want the Disney outcome, global brand, cultural relevance, products everywhere. But they skip the EPCOT part. The structure. The system. The world.

A hub and spoke model gives artists that framework. The artist is the hub. The core story. The emotional anchor. Around it, the spokes: music, merch, characters, platforms, content, products. Each one is an access point that brings people deeper in.

This is more than content strategy. It’s worldbuilding. A theme park mindset. Not just pushing songs, creating a place fans want to explore, collect, play, and belong.

It’s not about doing everything. It’s about designing a world where everything leads back to you.

EPCOT is split into two main areas: World Showcase and World Nature/Discovery.

In the World Showcase, you can explore pavilions themed after 11 countries, with food, music, architecture, and experiences from each culture. In the other half, you’ll find futuristic attractions, interactive exhibits, and rides focused on science, space, the ocean, and innovation, like Spaceship Earth, Mission: SPACE, and Living with the Land. You can also find other Disney IP themed attractions and lands: Moana, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Nemo.

It’s part cultural expo, part science fair, part theme park. A blend of entertainment, education, and imagination.

Last year I had the opportunity to form part of the Network Archives: A curated collection of creative experiments, writings, and reflections by a diverse community of creators, listeners, thinkers and collectors from around the globe drawn together through a love of music. The point is, you don’t have to go at this alone, although I am using the independent artist as an example. Check it out to explore more artist maps and networks.

The design and vision for my platform Maravilla City was inspired by themed parks and the hub and spoke models. Its my version of a microsite or direct to fan platform for my upcoming album el niño maravilla, we dive deeper though, featuring an ai powered chatbot, a collective social feed, and the ability to collect media using blockchain technology.

ThePark is a group of creatives, musicians, song writers, audio and computer engineers, producers, storytellers, all who speak the universal language of music. Individually, members of The Park are highly regarded in their respective fields, with credits ranging from working with major artists like Ariana Grande, Banks, Logic, Rhye, and more, to performing at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide.

While there are countless examples in the music industry, they are mostly commercial or mainstream acts that probably had no choice but to diversify AND I wanted to limit this to more niche, and interesting collectives and explorations.

I probably could also dive deeper into networks, blockchains, nodes, etc. but that wouldn’t be fun.

Chances are I’ll make a second part to this part and dive deeper, but until then, I hope you enjoyed!