What if there was a different way—one where artists owned their distribution, fans could trust what they're hearing, and music could exist permanently on the open web?

Instant Fun + Endless Depth

The Contract Wizard solves these problems through a revolutionary two-tier approach that meets creators exactly where they are. Whether you want the simplicity of uploading a track in two clicks or the sophisticated control of running your own digital record label, the platform grows with your ambitions.

Tier 1 works like SoundCloud, but better: upload audio directly to Arweave with permanent, decentralized storage. No signup required, no platform risk, no corporate intermediary deciding if your music stays online. Your files are cryptographically signed to your wallet, creating an unbreakable link between creator and creation.

Tier 2 unlocks the full power of blockchain technology: create your own record label contract, mint digital masters with customizable rarity tiers, set royalty splits, and design programmable experiences that respond to time, weather, or play count. The beauty lies in the choice—start simple today, go deeper tomorrow when you're ready.

The Four Pillars: CREATE, CONSUME, CURATE, COLLECT

CREATE: From Upload to Record Label

The creation experience begins with radical simplicity. Upload your audio with auto-tagging that makes tracks discoverable instantly. Add basic metadata like title, artist, and genre with minimal effort. Start creating and sharing in seconds, not hours.

When you're ready for more, the platform transforms into a sophisticated music business toolkit. Build rich metadata with alternate mixes, videos, and interactive elements. Create your own record label contract and mint digital masters where the original 1/1 serves as the source for all copies. Set up promotional mechanics that reward specific communities or unlock exclusive content based on ownership.

The genius is in the progression—every feature builds naturally on the last, so you never feel overwhelmed but always have room to grow.

CONSUME: The Universal Music Player

Most music NFT platforms operate as walled gardens, showing only tokens from their approved lists. The Contract Wizard treats all of Ethereum and Arweave as an open music library.

Search any wallet address to see someone's entire music collection instantly. Type any ENS name to explore their digital discography. Access any contract, any playlist, immediately—whether it's a simple Arweave upload or a complex NFT collection.

This universal approach means you can play both casual uploads and sophisticated tokenized experiences in one unified interface, filtering by attributes, accessing videos and alternate mixes when available, all while the focus remains squarely on the music itself.

CURATE: Serverless Playlists for the Metaverse

Curation has always driven musical culture, but curators rarely benefit financially from their taste and influence. The Contract Wizard changes this through serverless playlists that work anywhere the internet does.

Combine tracks from multiple blockchains, add any Arweave upload or NFT to your playlists, then publish them to permanent storage with custom artwork and on-chain tags. These playlists become cultural artifacts that can't be censored or deleted.

The real breakthrough: create custom players with simple AI prompts, integrate playlists into games and virtual worlds, or embed them anywhere without relying on centralized servers. Every user has the power to bring value to decentralized curation just by sharing a playlist, and the more people aligned to this vision, the better we can curate and build features like choice of recommendation algorithms.

COLLECT: Flexible Digital Ownership

The platform grows with you across every level of engagement. Start by simply listening to uploads without any blockchain knowledge. Create playlists combining uploads and tokenized music. When ready, explore tokenized collections with rarity tiers and special attributes.

The social element shines through features like minting copies directly to friends—digital mixtape culture meets cryptographic proof of ownership. Stake tokens to enable public minting and earn referral points, creating incentive structures that reward genuine community building.

Whether you're listening casually today or becoming a serious collector tomorrow, the experience remains seamless throughout your journey.

Building the Decentralized Autonomous Music Network

The Contract Wizard's mission extends beyond any single platform. We're building a Decentralized Autonomous Music Network (DAMN) that makes decentralized music accessible to everyone—from casual creators to serious artists and collectors.

For Everyone, the promise is simple: upload and share music instantly with permanent decentralized storage, discover and listen to all decentralized music in one player, create and share playlists that combine all forms of web3 music, and enjoy a platform where nothing disappears overnight due to corporate decisions.

For Those Who Want More, the possibilities explode: tokenize creations with verifiable on-chain provenance, create rich interactive experiences with programmable features, establish sophisticated royalty models through smart contracts, and build digital collector communities around your music.

This dual approach ensures that decentralized music can reach everyone, not just crypto enthusiasts, while still offering revolutionary benefits to those ready to explore further.

The Authentication Layer for Human Creativity

In a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content, The Contract Wizard provides something unprecedented: a trust layer for musical expression that grows stronger with each upload and token.

When artists sign uploads with their wallets, fans can verify authenticity through the blockchain rather than relying on corporate verification badges. It's not just about proving ownership—it's about proving human creation. An AI might mimic a style, but it can't sign with an artist's private key.

This cryptographic authenticity becomes more valuable every day as AI-generated content floods traditional platforms. The Contract Wizard ensures that human creativity can be identified, verified, and celebrated in an artificial world.

The Future is Open

Instead of forcing everyone into complex Web3 experiences immediately, we meet you where you are. The traditional music industry has created a system where centralized platforms dictate terms and artists struggle to make ends meet. We're building an alternative where you can start simple—just uploading tracks like SoundCloud but with decentralized ownership—then explore as much depth as you want through tokenization and programmable experiences.

The Contract Wizard proves that Web3 doesn't have to replicate Web2's fragmentation problems. We can build tools that respect user ownership while still providing the convenience of unified experiences. Where others see complexity, we see opportunity to create something both powerful and accessible.

The future of music is permanent, authentic, and owned by its creators. The Contract Wizard makes that future available today.

Ready to explore? The Contract Wizard awaits at ar://listen, where every upload is permanent, every playlist is portable, and every artist owns their destiny.

The music industry’s got a permanence problem, and it’s been festering like a bad trip for decades. Songs disappear when platforms shut down, fans are left holding broken links like wilted flowers, and artists watch their life’s work get buried under the whims of some faceless boardroom. Meanwhile, AI’s out there cloning voices faster than you can say “authenticity,” pumping out fake Drakes like a Vegas slot machine. It’s a circus, and the clowns are running the show.

But here’s the kicker: what if we could flip the script? What if there was a way to cut through the noise, to build something that lasts, something that’s yours? The Contract Wizard isn’t just a solution—it’s a goddamn revelation. Built on Arweave and Ethereum, it’s a platform that says, “Fuck the middleman.” Upload your track in two clicks, and it’s etched into the blockchain, permanent as a tattoo on the internet’s ugly mug. Sign it with your wallet, and it’s yours—no corporate bullshit, no disappearing act.

Two Tiers of Madness: Instant Fun, Endless Depth

This ain’t some one-size-fits-all techie wet dream. The Contract Wizard gives you two paths, and you pick your poison. Tier 1 is the musical equivalent of a street performer’s hat—drop your tunes in, watch ‘em stick, no signup, no hassle. It’s SoundCloud on acid, minus the hangover of centralized control. Your music’s on Arweave, decentralized, signed, and untouchable.

Then there’s Tier 2, the full-blown recording studio for the visionary lunatics. Mint your own digital masters, craft your own record label contract, set royalty splits tighter than a Swiss watch. Want your tracks to change with the weather or the time of day? Program that shit. Mint copies with on-chain rarity that’d make a Pokémon card collector weep. It’s like handing every artist their own personal Apple—sleek, powerful, and entirely under their control. Start simple, go deep when you’re ready. It’s a platform that doesn’t just keep up—it fucking evolves.

The Universal Jukebox: Music Without Walls

Most music NFT platforms are little fiefdoms, hoarding their precious tokens like jealous dragons. The Contract Wizard says, “Screw that.” It treats all of Ethereum and Arweave like one giant, open jukebox—every song ever recorded, from the obscure to the mainstream, all in one place. Search any wallet, any ENS name, any contract, and bam—there’s your music. It’s a digital Library of Alexandria, minus the fire hazard. Filter by attributes, grab alternate mixes, or just kick back and listen. This isn’t about the tech; it’s about the music, you beautiful bastards.

Serverless Playlists: Mixtapes Unchained

Playlists on the Contract Wizard are like digital mixtapes on a bender—free to roam the internet, untethered by servers or gatekeepers. Mix tracks from multiple chains, slap in any Arweave upload or NFT, and publish ‘em with custom artwork. Then, with a quick AI prompt, whip up players that work anywhere—games, virtual worlds, your buddy’s shitty blog. Every user’s a curator, and the more who join the fray, the better it gets. It’s a decentralized taste machine where the crowd picks the winners, not some soulless algorithm.

Collecting: Vinyl Without the Dust

Collecting here is like building a digital vinyl stash, but without the scratches or the hipster stench. Each track’s a unique piece of art, its history locked on-chain. Mint copies to your pals like passing a tape in the schoolyard, only now it’s got cryptographic swagger. Stake your tokens, let the public mint, and rack up referral points—because why the hell shouldn’t you get props for spreading the gospel? It’s ownership that scales from casual listener to hardcore hoarder, no gatekeeping required.

The Trust Layer: Proving You’re Not a Damn Robot

Here’s where it gets real. AI can churn out a million “Drake” tracks overnight, and good luck telling what’s legit. The Contract Wizard hands artists a vault door of trust—every upload signed with your wallet, verifiable on the blockchain. No corporate blue checkmark needed. An AI might fake your style, but it can’t jack your private key... In a sea of deepfakes, this is the lighthouse. It’s the difference between a cheap knockoff and the real deal, and in the AI age, that’s gold.

The Vision: A Call to Arms

This isn’t just a platform—it’s a movement, a rebellion against the algorithm-driven, corporate-controlled shitshow that’s left artists eating scraps. Simplicity meets power, tech fades into the background, and the art takes over. The Contract Wizard doesn’t force you down the crypto rabbit hole—it meets you where you stand, whether you’re uploading a track or tokenizing your soul.

Where others see chaos, we see a future—permanent, authentic, and owned by the creators. It’s live now at ar://listen, so grab your guitar, your wallet, and your balls, and join the revolution. The suits can kiss our decentralized ass.

• Refactoring:

  • Major code overhaul enhances structure and maintainability with no noticeable changes.

  • Files and folders reorganized for efficiency.

• New Features:

  • Audio Uploader: 2-click Arweave upload with auto-tagging simplifies sharing and searchability.

  • Records Page: Tracks site activity with tabs: general, songs, insights, achievements; includes charts for top interactions.

  • Achievements System: Hundreds of achievements with animations for site engagement.

  • Arweave Uploads Page: View and manage uploaded files, query Arweave, and upgrade files to metadata via “Upgrade” button.

  • Arweave Explorer Page: Query all Arweave files (audio, metadata, playlists) with tags (e.g., Uploaded-Type:Audio, Artist, Genre).

  • Time Machine Mode: for crate digging through the past.

  • File Picker: Select uploaded Arweave files for metadata/manifest creation, streamlining workflows.

  • Search Functionality: Sidebar search for Arweave files (audio, metadata, playlists) by tx_id.

  • Player Enhancements:

    • Offline mode saves audio for faster reloads and offline play.

    • MP3/WAV selection toggles speed vs. quality.

  • Create Page: Centralizes all creation tools in the main menu.

  • Turbo Integration: Arweave uploader supports ArDrive Turbo; buy, share, gift credits with card/crypto alongside Testnet/Irys options.

• Improvements:

  • Visualizer: Enhanced UI, visuals, hotkeys, programmable shader layer, and epic sliders.

  • Arweave Uploaders: Improved UI with tag/license options across all upload pages.

  • Playlists: Support unique mixes, descriptions, genres, and on-chain tags.

  • Metadata Maker:

    • Auto-analyzes audio (sample rate, bit depth, duration, type) from URLs.

    • Auto-resizes images (normal, small, thumbnail) from URLs.

    • File picker integration for audio/images; streamlined UI for Arweave saves.

  • Manifest Maker:

    • Import previous manifests or select uploaded/new files via file picker.

    • Organizes files (uploaded or pending) with improved UI.

  • Player: Adds fun mode for playback speed adjustments (e.g., tied to BTC daily movement).

• Auth and Wallet Support:

  • Rewritten Auth system supports more wallets (e.g., RainbowKit) and mobile functionality for sign-in, Turbo purchases, and uploads.

• UI/UX Enhancements:

  • Sliders: Customizable colors in Visualizer and Audio Player; fast graphics toggle in Settings simplifies sliders.

  • Improved Pages:

    • Player Page: Better design/performance, robust handling of searches, wallets, playlists; includes Mixes, Lyrics, Video pages.

    • Settings Page: Nicer layout, new buttons (e.g., hide unknown images).

    • Webamp Page: Enhanced visuals.

    • Embed Pages: Config Embed revamped with better scrolling, auto-loading, mini-player sizing, and styling.

    • Home Page: Features 50 most recent audio uploads.

    • Contract Wizard Page: Rewritten dialogue with expressive text (e.g., shaky text), fewer bugs, reliable animations.

  • Tagging System:

    • All uploads tagged with App-Name:Contract-Wizard.

    • Audio files/metadata: Uploaded-Type:Audio, Title, Artist, Genre, ISRC, Audio-Tag (lowercase).

    • Playlists: Uploaded-Type:Playlist, Title, Genre, Audio-Tag (lowercase).

    • Metadata: Uploaded-Type:Metadata.

    • Manifests: Uploaded-Type:NFT-Manifest.

    • Uploader wallet: Uploaded-By: (lowercase).

  • Last But Not Least:

    • Site is now called ar://listen

• Thank you for delving into alpha 2.2 with me. Never stop delving:

  • Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

  • Explore Listen: Listen / Contract Wizard Site

  • Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

  • Read the docs: Gitbook

  Thanks for reading this, now go use the site, upload some songs and make some playlists!

A Revolutionary Approach to Music NFTs

The Contract Wizard isn’t just another music NFT player; it’s a portal to a decentralized autonomous music network (D.A.M.N.). What sets it apart is its unique ability to let users search any wallet or contract on Ethereum and explore all associated songs, treating the entire Ethereum blockchain as an open platform. This level of accessibility is unparalleled; other marketplaces like OpenSea, Blur, and Magic Eden fall short in providing such a seamless and intuitive music NFT experience.

The Power of Serverless Playlists

The introduction of serverless playlists is a game-changer. Users can effortlessly search, filter, and sort contracts to curate playlists that cater to their specific tastes. The flexibility to add songs or entire lists to playlists with ease, combined with the ability to publish these playlists on Arweave with custom images and on-chain tags, unlocks a new realm of possibilities.

Serverless playlists serve as a fundamental data primitive—essentially a way to organize and read the metadata of tokens. It opens the door to additional creative possibilities, such as token-gated playlists or integrating encrypted files, showcasing the versatility of this approach to organizing music NFTs.

Kamala Harris once said, “What can be, unburdened by what has been.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the essence of serverless playlists. Free from the constraints of traditional platforms, these playlists exist independently, allowing for a pure and uninterrupted music experience. They are no longer tethered to the complex systems used to create them, opening the door to endless creative freedom.

Seamless Integration and Accessibility

One of the standout features of these playlists is their versatility. While the traditional player remains the best option for accessing alternate mixes and more in-depth features, the serverless playlists are designed for broader compatibility. Users can embed the playlist using the existing player or prompt an AI to create a customized player 🤯, making these playlists highly adaptable across different platforms within the metaverse. A number of pre written AI prompts and examples can be found here.

The Future of Music in the Metaverse

Serverless playlists represent a significant step forward in the evolution of music in the metaverse. By offering a decentralized, flexible, and user-friendly solution, The Contract Wizard empowers artists and listeners alike. Artists can now reach a global audience without being confined by the limitations of centralized platforms. Listeners can explore and enjoy music NFTs in a way that is both innovative and liberating.

The potential applications are vast. Imagine attending a virtual concert where the playlist is curated by the audience in real-time, or exploring a virtual gallery where each exhibit features a unique soundtrack created through these serverless playlists. The future is bright, and The Contract Wizard is at the forefront of this exciting journey.

You can read more about the details of how playlists are described in code here.

Conclusion

Serverless playlists are more than just a feature; they are a testament to what the future of music can be — unburdened by the past and brimming with possibilities. The Contract Wizard continues to pave the way for a new era of music NFTs, where creativity and technology intersect to create an unparalleled experience for artists and listeners around the world.

Thank you for delving into the wonder of serverless playlists with me. Never stop delving:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Thanks for casting your support spell — let’s brew some digital wizardry!

The latest update to The Contract Wizard, Alpha 2.1, is packed with exciting new features, improvements, and enhancements that will elevate your experience to new heights. Let’s just jump into it! Detailed update notes here.

Serverless Playlists: A New Era

• Decentralized Serverless Playlists: Create, upload, and share playlists on Arweave, making them interoperable and metaverse-ready.

• Recently Shared Playlists: View recently shared playlists on the home page and your shared playlists in the library.

• Favorite Playlists: Favorite playlists shared by others and view them in a dedicated section in the library.

• Serverless Playlist Metaverse: Examples in the updated Gitbook docs for generating infinite serverless playlist players with pre-written prompts.

• Custom Images for Playlists: Add any URL as the image for a user playlist, choose from collections like ape tapes and smol tapes, or generate a collage.

• Upload to Arweave: Easily upload any image and use it as the playlist image. Uploads under 100kb are free.

ENS Integration

• ENS Name Support: Searching for wallets now supports ENS names, and you don’t need to write the .eth suffix anymore. Just type the name and search.

• Verified Checkmarks: Verified wallets and contracts are clearly marked, making it easier to trust what you see.

Imagine if other platforms did verified checkmarks on collections with matching ENS names. That would only make sense right?! lol

Visual Enhancements

• Visual Tweaks: Enjoy a more polished player page and a visually improved Wizzy Vizzy. The site has never looked this good!

• Welcome Page: A new welcome page greets you with pictures and text highlighting the best features of the site.

Mobile-Friendly UI

• New Mobile UI: Navigating on your phone is now a breeze with main buttons conveniently placed at the bottom.

• Redesigned Home Page: The home page is cleaner and now features songs you can play directly. Plus, suggestion text and buttons guide you when there are no followed playlists, artists, or songs.

Embed Player & Store Sharing

• Embed Player: Easily embed the player with a simplified UI. Embed and share store pages with clean, human-readable links.

Follow & Favorite

• Follow Any Wallet or Contract: Follow any wallet or contract address. ENS profile images are used for wallets, and contract URI images for contracts.

• Like any song: You can also like individual songs. This adds them to a special favorites playlist.

Multichain Support

• Support for Multiple Chains: The site now supports multiple chains, saving chain info in the metadata. Laying the groundwork for a multi-chain future.

Metadata Maker & Code Cleanup

• Metadata Maker Enhancements:

  - Faster image resizing.

  - No need for an NFT storage API key or wallet sign-in, though it’s recommended for Arweave uploads.

  - Streamlined UX and improved UI for a seamless metadata creation experience.

  - Support for IPFS pinning

  - Programmable licenses.

• Code Cleanup: Important housekeeping to make the codebase neater and more efficient, setting the stage for future developments.

3D Merch & MIDI Files

• New Upload Options: Upload digital fashion and MIDI files to the metadata creator for creative applications.

Security & Performance

• Improved Security: Numerous checks to prevent broken metadata and ensure smooth functionality.

• Performance Upgrades: Optimized database requests and reduced redundancy for a faster, more reliable experience.

Admin & Special Roles

• Big Boy Role: Special users with large wallets can now index more than 1k tokens.

• Admin Panel: Admins have access to a new panel with special settings and buttons.

Refinements & Final Touches

• Refactoring: Significant refactoring to reduce duplicate code and improve organization.

• Improved Communication: Better explanations and checks throughout the manager and store pages to prevent errors.

• More Networks To Upload: Base and Base Sepolia Testnets are now supported for Arweave uploads.

• And much more! For example playlists can be used anywhere now, you can build your own player in less than 10 minutes, it’s really that easy. Decentralized playlists really are that powerful.

Alpha 2.1 is not just an update; it’s a transformation. Dive in and explore all the new features and improvements. This is just the beginning of a new era of innovation and creativity!

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, happy exploring! 🚀

Thank you for reading the update notes for the Contract Wizard Alpha 2.1. Stay delving:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Your magical support makes our spells stronger — let’s conjure up the future together!

Metadata is the backbone of digital assets, providing essential details about the content they describe. For music NFTs, having rich, detailed metadata is crucial not only for the immediate experience but also for the long-term utility and value of the tokens. This article delves into why metadata standards are essential, the tools available to create and manage metadata, and how to maximize the potential of your music NFTs.

Why Metadata Matters

Metadata encompasses everything from the basic details of a track (like the title and artist) to more intricate information such as licenses, associated media, and genre tags. High-quality metadata allows for better discoverability, enhances the listening experience, and ensures that the digital assets are properly managed and utilized.

Tools for Creating Metadata

The Mega Music Metadata Maker

The Mega Music Metadata Maker is an essential tool for creating comprehensive metadata for your music NFTs. It allows artists to include various fields such as:

• Title, Artist, Album: Basic information about the track.

• Genre Tags: Useful for categorizing music and making it discoverable.

• Licenses: Detailed licenses for both the files on Arweave and the tokens themselves, varying by rarity.

• Media Attachments: Additional files like videos, alternate mixes, images, and more.

• Interactive Content: VRM avatars, digital fashion, and other forms of interactive content.

Metadata on Arweave

One of the standout features of using Arweave for storing music NFTs is the ability to tag files with metadata directly on the platform. This ensures that the metadata is immutable and permanently associated with the file.

Programmable Licenses

A key aspect of metadata on Arweave is the distinction between the licenses attached to the files and those attached to the tokens. Each file can have a programmable license that specifies how it can be used, shared, or modified. Additionally, tokens representing these files can have different licenses based on their rarity, adding another layer of utility and value.

Enhancing the Listening Experience

The extra fields provided by the Mega Music Metadata Maker enable artists to package their music NFTs with rich, immersive content:

• Video: Include music videos or behind-the-scenes footage.

• Alternate Mixes: Offer fans different versions of a track.

• Images: Add high-quality artwork or photos.

• Detailed Descriptions: Provide liner notes, lyrics, and stories about the music.

The Power of Thick Metadata

Thick metadata is metadata that goes beyond the basics to include extensive, detailed information about the digital asset. This approach has several advantages:

• Discoverability: Detailed genre tags and descriptions make it easier for fans to find your music.

• Enhanced User Experience: Rich media and interactive content provide a deeper connection with the music.

• Future Utility: As more platforms and applications adopt standardized metadata, having thick metadata ensures that your NFTs remain relevant and useful.

Addressing OpenSea Metadata Standards

OpenSea’s metadata standards encourage the use of the “animation_url” field to store various types of media such as songs, videos, and other content. This practice can lead to confusion, making it difficult to identify whether an NFT contains a song, video, or other media without further inspection. Standardizing metadata fields like audio_url for songs and mp3_url for specific audio formats helps clarify the content type and improves the overall user experience.

Encouragement for Artists

Creating detailed metadata might seem daunting, but tools like the Mega Music Metadata Maker and the Contract Wizard simplify the process. These tools are designed to be user-friendly, enabling artists to focus on their creativity while ensuring their NFTs are well-documented and valuable.

Conclusion

Investing time in creating high-quality metadata for your music NFTs pays off in numerous ways. It enhances the listening experience, improves discoverability, and ensures that your digital assets retain their value over time. With the right tools and a bit of effort, you can make your music NFTs stand out in the digital landscape.

Thank you for learning about thicc metadata with me. Let’s delve into these socials:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Together, we can make thicc the new standard!

• Searches now support ENS names.

• ENS name searches automatically append .eth if not included.

• Addresses with an ENS registered get a verification checkmark.

User Interface Improvements:

• Visual tweaks to the player page.

• Introduced a new welcome page with images and text highlighting features.

• Updated mobile UI with a bottom menu bar.

• Redesigned home/featured page for a cleaner look.

• Featured songs are now playable directly from the home page.

• Added suggestion text and buttons for users with no followed playlists/artists/songs.

Metadata Maker Improvements:

• Faster image resizing.

• No longer requires an NFT storage API key or wallet sign-in, both still recommended.

• Streamlined metadata saving process.

• Major UI upgrades.

• Enhanced UX for uploading files to Arweave and saving metadata.

• IPFS hash is added to Arweave upload tags for each file.

• ISRC code for songs is added to Arweave tags of audio files.

• Added support for UDL and CC licenses for Arweave file tags.

• Added options for 3D merch and MIDI files in the metadata creator.

• Added support for more chains for Arweave uploads with Irys.

• Checks to prevent broken tokens and metadata issues.

• Separated file uploader from the metadata manifest uploader into separate pages.

Wizzy Vizzy Enhancements:

• Added more dancing wizards.

• Full control over visualizer and video position and size.

• Enhanced visualizer lighting, and rendering.

• Improved UI, hotkeys, and controls.

Embedding and Sharing:

• Created an embedded player window with a simplified UI.

• Added share/embed options for store and player pages.

Favorite Collection Management:

• Ability to favorite/follow wallet addresses and contract addresses.

• View your followed wallets and contracts in the collections tab.

• ENS profile images are used for followed wallets.

• Contract URI images are used for followed contracts.

• Verified checkmarks for wallets and contracts with ENS.

Playlist Enhancements:

• Add sets of songs to a playlist (no more adding one song at a time).

• Custom images for playlists (URL, preset collections, generated collages).

• Arweave upload support for playlist images and data.

• Decentralized, serverless playlist creation and sharing.

• Recently shared playlists are visible on the home page.

• Ability to favorite shared playlists.

Serverless Playlist Metaverse:

• Initiated development of a serverless playlist ecosystem.

• Provided examples in docs for generating playlist players.

Contract Management:

• Better communication about the importance of base URI + path.

• New button for contract owners to verify contract name and ENS match.

Network and Chain Support:

• Foundations laid for multi-chain support.

• Easier network switching in settings and metadata maker.

• Chain information is saved with metadata when favoriting songs or adding to playlists.

• Backend changes to handle multi-chain operations.

Performance and Security:

• Special role for users with large wallets to index more than 1k tokens.

• Admin panel with special buttons for admin role users.

Code Refactoring and Improvements:

• Major code reorganization and cleanup.

• The “Exclude contract” option in the contract sorter is now properly reflected in the URL.

• Optimized and reduced database requests for color palettes.

• Fixed audio player bugs related to multiple mixes.

Spinamp Artist Pages Enhancement:

• Added links to platforms for buying NFTs and exploring content.

Documentation:

• Rewritten and more detailed GitBook docs.

• Updated 721J contract wizard Solidity code on GitHub and metadata templates.

Delve into these links:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Your magical support makes our spells stronger — let’s conjure up the future together!

Traditional music platforms often place artists at the mercy of centralized control, where their content can be removed or altered without their consent. The Contract Wizard and The Wizard’s Library provide an additional way for artists to distribute their work — offering a third path beyond streaming and touring: deluxe digital collectibles of different tiers and utilities designed by the artists themselves.

The Contract Wizard: A Tool for Artistic Freedom

The Contract Wizard is a web3 music player and creator that utilizes the power of Ethereum and Arweave to provide a decentralized platform for music NFTs. Artists can create digital originals, mint copies with on-chain rarity, and manage their digital masters — all without any centralized control. This ensures that artists retain full ownership of their work, free from the constraints and whims of traditional platforms.

The Wizard’s Library: A Decentralized Autonomous Music Network

The Wizard’s Library is a crucial part of the decentralized autonomous music network (D.A.M.N). It allows artists to browse and search collections, create playlists that can be shared and played without a server, and enjoy a truly decentralized music experience. With serverless playlists, artists can create players with just a few lines of AI prompts, enabling infinite customization and creativity.

Calling All Serious and Passionate Artists

If you believe in the quality of your music and are passionate about preserving it for the world to hear, The Contract Wizard is the perfect platform for you. By minting your tokens on the Ethereum mainnet, you can ensure that your music is preserved on one of the most secure and established blockchain networks. This platform is built for artists who want their work to stand the test of time and be accessible to their audience forever.

Financial Freedom and Community Support

One of the most significant advantages of using The Contract Wizard is the financial freedom it offers. The platform is designed so that the creator does not take money from the artists, ensuring that all revenue generated goes directly to the artists. Any contributions to the platform are entirely voluntary, fostering a community-driven environment focused solely on empowering creators.

Unleashing Creativity with Rich Metadata and Collaborations

Artists can use The Contract Wizard to express their creativity beyond traditional music releases. They can include rich metadata filled with extra goodies such as videos, alternate mixes, VRM avatars, and more. The platform also supports creative promotions, collaborations with other artists and collections, and the ability to reward referral points.

Building Together on a Shared Platform

The Contract Wizard encourages artists to build together, enhancing the ecosystem with new features and better versions of existing tools. Unlike centralized platforms, this decentralized network is collectively owned and improved by its users. Artists can use as much or as little of The Contract Wizard’s features as they want, or even build their own superior solutions on top of it.

Taking Full Ownership of Distribution

By embracing The Contract Wizard and The Wizard’s Library, artists can fully own the distribution of their creations. They can avoid the pitfalls of centralized platforms and enjoy the benefits of a decentralized, autonomous network that prioritizes their rights and creativity.

Join the Movement

Current, past, and future generations of musicians are invited to join this movement towards decentralized music distribution. The tools are here, the platform is ready, and the possibilities are endless. Take control of your music, your creativity, and your future with The Contract Wizard and The Wizard’s Library.

Thank you for reading. Just keep swimming:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

With your help, we can push the boundaries of digital innovation.

Origins and Motivation

The inception of the Contract Wizard was driven by the need to listen to music NFTs in a seamless manner, akin to traditional music players. Additionally, there was a necessity to interact with the special features of 721J contracts, which are tailored for the music industry. The ERC721J token, a variant of the ERC721, introduces the concept of digital masters and copies, enabling a dynamic and decentralized distribution model for music.

Core Features

1. 721J Tokens:

• Master and Copy Model: Artists can mint an original (master) copy of their music, and subsequent editions can be created as needed. Each copy is a derivative of the master, preserving the integrity and lineage of the original creation.

• Pay It Forward Mechanic: This innovative minting mechanic allows for new editions to be minted only if an existing token is held, mimicking the real-world concept of copying tapes or CDs.

• Gas Efficiency: Despite the additional data stored on the blockchain, the 721J contract is optimized for gas efficiency, making it cost-effective for artists and collectors.

2. The Contract Wizard:

• Character and Interface: The Contract Wizard character, with a unique talking hat, serves as the central figure of the platform, guiding users through the creation and management of their music NFTs.

• Wizard’s Library: A decentralized repository where artists can store their contracts, mint digital masters, and create copies with different on-chain rarity.

• Serverless Playlists: Users can create and share playlists that can be played seamlessly across the internet, enhancing the decentralized ethos of the platform.

3. Interactive Experience:

• Web3 Music Player: A sophisticated player that allows users to listen to music NFTs from their own wallets or any other wallet on the network.

• Playlist Creation and Sharing: Users can create playlists, which can be shared and played seamlessly across the internet.

• Artist and Collector Tools: Tools for minting originals, managing metadata, and interacting with various functionalities of the 721J contracts.

Journey and Evolution

The project started from a simple need to play music NFTs and evolved into a full-fledged platform due to continuous development and feedback from close friends. Initially, the focus was on creating a dynamic edition size for music NFTs, which led to the development of the ERC721J token. As the front end was developed, the 721J version 2 was created to include improved features and better align with the needs of artists and collectors.

The Contract Wizard has also been optimized for gas efficiency, ensuring that minting and managing tokens is cost-effective. This is crucial for artists who want to minimize costs while maintaining the integrity and uniqueness of their digital creations.

Timeline of Development

• Early 2022: Began work on the front end without prior knowledge of JavaScript. The goal was to interact with the newly deployed contract and play music NFTs like a normal player. Within a month, the initial version of the player was capable of loading and filtering music NFTs, achieving the goal of a personalized music NFT player. Despite the emergence of other music NFT players throughout 2022, none offered the ability to see the full wallet or search any contract like the Contract Wizard.

• Throughout 2022: Despite various challenges, including significant financial losses due to the Celsius collapse, continued to develop the 721J version 2 and the Contract Wizard contract, known as the “Ape Tapes Contract Wizard.”

• Intense Development: Worked tirelessly, dedicating every day to building and improving the platform. This period was marked by continuous learning and iteration, leading to multiple rewrites of the Contract Wizard.

• Current Version: The present version of the Contract Wizard has significantly evolved from its original vision, incorporating numerous features and functionalities. Notably, it remains the only platform that allows users to search any wallet or contract and listen to music NFTs in an open, decentralized manner on Ethereum.

Future Directions

The Contract Wizard project is continuously evolving, with plans to enhance its functionality and expand its reach. Future updates aim to improve the playlist features, introduce decentralized indexing for the Wizard’s Library, and explore new ways to engage with the community. The project is also exploring funding options to sustain its development and bring more innovative features to the platform.

Conclusion

The Contract Wizard stands at the intersection of music and blockchain technology, offering a unique platform for artists and collectors. By combining the functionalities of the ERC721J token with an interactive and decentralized music experience, the Contract Wizard is poised to revolutionize the way we create, share, and enjoy music NFTs.

Thank you for learning about the Contract Wizard platform with me. Stay updated and connected:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Your contribution is significant. Together, we can chart the course for the future of digital platforms!

The Contract Wizard is a smart contract factory. It’s represented by a magical being that brings joy and simplicity to creating NFT contracts for music. This article goes into the enchanting aspects of the Contract Wizard, focusing on its role in the decentralized autonomous music network (D.A.M.N) and highlighting The Wizard’s Library as a cornerstone of this musical realm. This magical tool transforms the way artists create and manage their digital music assets, making the process intuitive and seamless. Read the code here.

The Magic of the Contract Wizard

Imagine a world where creating complex smart contracts is as easy as waving a wand. The Contract Wizard ensures that all the intricate details of smart contract deployment are handled effortlessly, allowing artists to focus on what they do best — creating music. This tool acts as a contract factory, enabling users to generate customized NFT contracts with a few simple steps.

At its core, the Contract Wizard uses the ERC-721J standard, specifically tailored for music creators. This standard supports the creation of digital masters (1/1 originals) and allows for the minting of copies with unique rarity and provenance tracking. These features ensure that each piece of music remains unique and valuable, much like a physical collectible.

Creating Contracts with Ease

The process of creating a contract with the Contract Wizard is designed to be user-friendly. Artists can specify various parameters for their NFT contracts, such as the maximum number of copies and minting fees. The Contract Wizard handles the rest, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

One of the most delightful features of the 721J is the mintCopyTo function, which allows users to mint copies directly to another wallet. This feature brings back the nostalgic joy of sharing mixtapes with friends, but in a modern, digital format.

The Wizard’s Library: The Heart of D.A.M.N

A key component of the Contract Wizard’s ecosystem is The Wizard’s Library. This library is not just a repository; it’s a vibrant hub within the decentralized autonomous music network (D.A.M.N). It houses all the contracts created by the Contract Wizard, making it easy for users to discover and interact with various music NFTs.

The Wizard’s Library supports the broader vision of a decentralized music industry, where artists retain full ownership and control over their creations. It’s a place where music lovers can explore a rich collection of digital music assets, knowing that each piece is securely stored on the blockchain.

Personal Reflections

The journey of the Contract Wizard began as a simple idea for a contract factory and evolved into a multifaceted character representing the entire project. Initially, the Contract Wizard was just the name for the mechanism that created the contracts. Over time, it transformed into a cartoon character symbolizing the entire site and project. This evolution underscores the creative and dynamic nature of the project.

The concept of the Contract Wizard contract factory started after deploying version 1 of the 721J contract in February 2022. It took a full year of designing, developing, and testing to reach version 2 of the 721J contract and the Contract Wizard contract structure. The Contract Wizard was only deployed to the Ethereum mainnet in February 2023, but during that time, the front end was also being designed and built to interact with these contracts. Today, the front end is also known as the Contract Wizard.

Conclusion

The Contract Wizard is revolutionizing the way music NFTs are created and managed. By simplifying the complex process of smart contract deployment, it empowers artists to focus on their creativity and share their music with the world in a decentralized, secure manner. The integration with The Wizard’s Library further enhances this experience, fostering a community where artists and fans can connect and thrive. With the Contract Wizard, the future of music NFTs is not just bright — it’s magical.

Thank you for delving into the Contract Wizard factory with me. Stay delving:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Your backing makes a difference. Together, we can elevate digital artistry to new heights!

ERC721 contracts are an important part of the digital asset ecosystem, possibly even the most. However, one key feature missing from the ERC721 standard is the contractURI function. This function provides detailed metadata about the entire collection, making it as crucial as the name function and way more useful than the symbol function. Read the code here.

What is contractURI?

The contractURI function provides a link to metadata that describes the entire collection. This metadata includes essential details such as:

• Name: The name of the NFT collection.

• Description: A detailed overview of what the collection entails.

• Images: Main image, banner image, and additional visuals.

• Links: URLs to external resources like social media, official websites, and marketplaces.

  This metadata is formatted to offer a rich, informative profile of the collection, facilitating better display and understanding across various platforms and applications.

Why contractURI is Important

• Comprehensive Collection Representation: contractURI allows for a full-fledged representation of the collection, making it easy for platforms and users to access detailed information about the collection.

• Standardization and Discoverability: Even though it’s not part of the ERC721 standard, contractURI helps standardize how collections are presented, improving their discoverability across platforms.

• Marketing and Community Engagement: By including links to social media and other external sites, it supports marketing efforts and enhances community engagement.

How to Create Contract Metadata

Creating contract metadata involves several steps to ensure all necessary information is included and formatted correctly:

• Gather Information: Collect images, descriptions, and relevant links.

• Use Metadata Creation Tools: Utilize tools like the Profile Metadata Maker to compile and format the metadata accurately.

• Upload to Decentralized Storage: Save the metadata and upload it to a decentralized storage solution like IPFS or Arweave to ensure permanence and accessibility.

Example of Contract Metadata

Here’s an example of what the metadata for contractURI might look like:

{
"name": "My Music NFT Collection",
 "description": "A collection of unique music NFTs.",
 "platform": "Contract Wizard",
 "image": "https://example.com/main_image.png",
 "images": [
 "https://example.com/image1.png",
 "https://example.com/image2.png"
  ],
 "image_small": "https://example.com/image_small.png",
 "image_large": "https://example.com/image_large.png",
 "image_banner": "https://example.com/image_banner.png",
 "external_url": "https://example.com",
 "external_link": "https://example.com/external",
 "website": "https://example.com",
 "opensea": "https://opensea.io/collection/my-music-nft",
 "discord": "https://discord.com/invite/example",
 "twitter": "https://twitter.com/example",
 "spotify": "https://spotify.com/artist/example",
 "soundcloud": "https://soundcloud.com/example",
 "bandcamp": "https://bandcamp.com/example",
 "tidal": "https://tidal.com/artist/example",
 "instagram": "https://instagram.com/example"
}

Conclusion

The contractURI function is an indispensable addition to ERC721 contracts, offering a detailed and standardized profile for NFT collections. By integrating contractURI, creators can significantly enhance the visibility, appeal, and engagement of their collections, ensuring they are presented in the best possible light across various platforms. Adopting this function as a standard practice will help elevate the entire NFT ecosystem, making collections more accessible and informative for users and platforms alike.

Thank you for delving into the importance of contractURI with me. Delve into these social medias:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Together, we can set new standards in this digital landscape! Help get contractURI used by everyone!

Introduction:

The 721J token standard has significantly progressed since its February 2022 debut. Initially designed for musicians to have greater control over digital releases, it has now become a versatile tool for artists across various mediums. This article explores the key improvements and new features in version 2 of the 721J contract, showcasing how it addresses creators’ needs in the dynamic world of blockchain technology. View the code here.

Enhanced Flexibility in Minting and Staking:

Version 2 introduces increased flexibility in minting options and new staking mechanics. The original contract allowed for creating unique originals with the ability to mint copies. The new version expands this concept, offering a more comprehensive suite of features for artists.

The updated contract provides various minting options, allowing artists to create originals with different levels of metadata and royalty split options. This caters to diverse creative needs, such as easily setting up royalty splits when minting an original, streamlining collaboration with other creators.

Additionally, version 2 introduces staking mechanics that allow token holders to stake their tokens, enabling public minting of copies. This feature enhances token utility by providing an incentive for holders to actively participate in the ecosystem. Through staking, token holders can earn rewards and potentially influence the distribution and availability of new token editions. This engagement mechanism fosters a more interactive and dynamic community, driving both economic and social value within the 721J ecosystem.

Customizable rarity tiers provide artists with more control over their releases’ economics, allowing for tiered pricing structures and opening up possibilities for limited editions or special releases.

Improved Tokenomics and Gas Efficiency:

The new version enhances the economic model of 721J tokens while improving gas efficiency. New features allow for minting copies using ERC20 tokens, expanding payment options beyond just ETH. This flexibility can be particularly useful for artists wanting to integrate their tokens with existing token ecosystems.

A novel recycling mechanism has been introduced, allowing users to burn two tokens to mint a new one. This provides a unique way to manage token supply and potentially balance supply and demand within a collection.

Gas efficiency has been significantly improved. The gas cost for minting a copy has been reduced to around 102k gas units, while minting an original now costs approximately 200k gas units, substantial reductions from the previous version.

New Promo System:

Version 2 introduces a completely new promotional system, adding powerful marketing and engagement tools for artists. This system includes features for creating general and specific promotions, enabling more targeted marketing strategies.

The expanded promotional minting options allow artists to offer a wide range of promotional opportunities to their audience, from whitelist sales to reward programs for loyal collectors, adding a new layer of engagement to the 721J ecosystem.

Enhanced Metadata Handling:

Metadata management sees significant improvements in version 2. A new feature provides a standardized way to store and retrieve collection-level metadata, enhancing the discoverability and presentation of 721J collections. Also known as “contractURI”.

Additional functions offer more flexibility in managing metadata for individual songs and their variants. This granular control allows artists to provide richer, more detailed information about their creations, potentially enhancing the collector experience.

Improved Copy and Rarity Management:

One of the critical updates in version 2 is the enhanced handling of minted copies. Previously, a minted copy would indicate it was created from null, leading to confusion. Now, it accurately reflects the owner of the token from which the copy was made, ensuring better traceability and ownership verification.

Rarity management has also been upgraded. In the past, rarity was determined based on the serial number of the copy. With version 2, artists have greater control over the rarity by influencing how many first-generation copies can exist. This shift provides artists with more flexibility and control over their work’s distribution and perceived value.

Standardization and Interoperability:

Version 2 emphasizes standardization through well-defined interfaces. This allows for better interoperability and easier integration with other systems, crucial for the long-term adoption and integration of the 721J standard into the broader blockchain ecosystem.

Personal Reflections and Journey:

The transition from deploying the version 1 contract in February 2022 to launching the Contract Wizard with the 721J v2 contract on February 5, 2023, has been a period of intense work and significant personal growth. Although the Contract Wizard, a smart contract that generates other smart contracts, isn’t detailed in this article, it’s a noteworthy accomplishment that I’ll discuss in a future piece.

The year between these deployments was characterized by a steadfast commitment to this project. I set aside everything else in my life to learn Solidity, JavaScript, CSS, React, front-end and back-end development, databases, and more. This time was dedicated to envisioning the future, designing solutions to support multiple contracts on a website, and simplifying processes such as minting, playing songs, and managing copies for users.

I also considered ways to empower my friends with their own record label contracts instead of sharing the original one. This journey involved extensive research, learning, and making tough decisions to ensure version 2 was innovative and robust.

Reflecting on this experience, I feel a deep sense of pride in what has been achieved with the 721J v2 contract and the Contract Wizard. These tools represent the culmination of diligent effort and dedication to creating a versatile and powerful system for artists.

Conclusion:

The 721J version 2 contract represents a significant advancement in functionality and flexibility for artists and creators. By addressing key areas such as minting options, tokenomics, promotional capabilities, and metadata management, it provides a more comprehensive toolkit for managing digital assets in the blockchain space. The improvements in gas efficiency and the introduction of new features like staking and the promotional system make it a powerful tool for artists looking to engage with their audience in innovative ways. As the ecosystem continues to evolve, the 721J standard is well-positioned to meet the changing needs of artists and collectors alike.

Thank you for diving into the evolution of the 721J contract with me. Stay updated and connected:

• Follow on Twitter: @wizard_contract

• Explore the Contract Wizard: Contract Wizard Site

• Join the Community on Discord: Join the Discord

• Read the docs: Gitbook

Your support and engagement mean the world. Let’s continue building the future of digital artistry together!

In Short

• ERC721J is a version of the ERC721 built for Creators of music and anyone who prefers a master/copy model of distribution.

• It lets the artist create an original (1/1) NFT and allow for any edition size.

• The “pay it forward” mechanic is the first minting mechanic to be featured.

• Compared to a standard OpenZeppelin ERC721 Enumerable, it uses less gas while having more features.

• The code is now on GitHub

• I’d love to help any artists who want to use this contract to mint tokens of their creations. Send me a message!

The 721J contract is a modified ERC721 but includes some special features that are important to me as a musician. This article continues the previous one and goes into more detail about the philosophy and technical aspects.

The creation should have an original of itself. The idea is if you are making something, like music, the original/master is an important distinct thing that the artist creates and holds themselves, something that is imperative for creators.

Edition size is a separate decision. You start with an original 1/1 that you make copies until it reaches the maximum amount of editions.

With this contract, NFTs are only mintable if you already have one, similar to making a copy of a cd or tape for someone. You can also think of it like paying it forward for minting. This is surprisingly simple- with 1 line that checks if the token is in your wallet. Anyone can swap in other minting mechanics, with further options in development for new versions.

Gas is important even though I wasn’t thinking about having a big mint. I’m sure a lot of people have seen the Azuki contract article (editor’s note: you had to be there at the time) and the table below comparing the OpenZeppelin contract to the ERC721A. Trying to keep gas down was a tough challenge, but necessary, given the extra data I was trying to store with each token.

For the ERC721J, it keeps track of more than just tokenId. There is also a songId for each song and a serial# that corresponds to that. The contract also needs to keep track of the total supply of each individual song. Sounds like a lot more gas, right?

That said, it costs more gas to create an original than it does to make a copy. With all the extra data stored to the blockchain, the cost of minting a copy to a new wallet is just 110k gas. If that wallet already has a token from the contract then it is even cheaper at 93k gas.

Here is an example of how much gas it costs to create an original with 3 rarities. 314k gas! That is a lot compared to a regular ERC721A, but considering you’re setting 3 different tokenURIs in that one transaction, and they’re not regular 721 tokens, it is a wise trade off. This transaction is expensive because it’s storing the full Arweave hash on chain for 3 rarities of one song. This can be improved a lot by creating a manifest on ArDrive. The 40 character strings stored on chain can become 1 character in length if you want to really optimize this part, which lowers gas by almost half.

With ERC721J you can keep track of Token Ids, as well as a Song Id and Serial # of each song. This way you can keep track of everything.

When a song is made it creates a new Song Id. There is a counter that makes sure there can only be a maximum number of copies any song. When a copy is made it adds another serial # until the maximum has been reached. Rarity can be split up by serial # of song. Another option would be to treat 1st generation copies and 2nd generation copies as a way to distinguish rarity. 1st gen. being a copy made from the original, and 2nd gen. being a copy of a copy.

What makes this worth a new name?

Because of the new functions that relate to minting copies from an original.

The new functions

The main one is “mintCopyTo”. The other important ones are going to be “mintOriginal” and “mintCopy”.

I’ll explain all of them from my DeSante Records contract for context.

“MintNewSong” makes sense as it’s the function to create a new original but I’ve updated it to be named “mintOriginal” in the ERC721J contract, as it will suit it better for more than music.

In the original contract there are 3 functions to mint copies, ownerMintsCopy, mintCopyTo, and mintCopySong. OwnerMintsCopy I made to bypass the 0.05 minting fee if I was making copies for myself, and mintCopySong was made to save a tiny bit on gas if the copy was minted to the same wallet. In the ERC721J contract, “mintCopySong” is updated to “mintCopy” to go with the better naming.

The most important new function is “mintCopyTo” because it takes a tokenId and address and lets you mint a copy to any wallet. That could mean a copy of an original, or a copy of a copy, from any wallet.

Included in version 2 will be “mintCopy” having the ability to mint direct (traditional minting style). I look forward to talking more about version 2 of the ERC721J token once I get started working on it. I haven’t immediately started working on it because I’m working on something else that directly relates to music NFT framework.

This new project has brought to light the improvements that need to be made with my original contract and shows what was deployed in February will need to be upgraded soon to better suit the needs of a music NFT contract. There will be updates to the GitHub for the ERC721J token as the project develops. The GitHub already has improvements made from the contract deployed in February.

Looking forward.

The first of these improvements is to add a contract URI function. Did you know that contracts don’t have their own URI? Wouldn’t it be nice if contracts had a spot where you could find relevant information? That could be updated periodically by the team, that had important links, info, pictures, etc. The needs of the project that I will write about shortly requires that contracts have badass features like a contract URI. It was 5 lines to add and in hindsight was so obvious how needed it is. Once this new project is at the point that it’s ready to show people, I‘m itching to start v2 of the ERC721J. If you want to stay up to date then follow this Medium page, or follow me on Twitter. I would love to get a community on discord going about music NFTs https://discord.gg/nfWqyAkR2w.

Don’t forget, check out the code on GitHub, tell your musician friends and if you’re an artist who wants to use this contract please let me know! It would be really cool to see other artists use this contract.

At the end of last year my friend encouraged me to think about releasing some music as a token. On Feb 17, 2022, I did that.

DeSante Records was released along with an EP that I made called “We Love You”. It is based on the ERC-721 token, but it has some notable differences. I will write more about the ERC-721J token in another article, it can be used in many ways. The most important things to note are that the tokens are created as a 1/1, and that for more copies to exist they have to be minted by a wallet that already holds the token. It is an NFT version of copying a tape or disc. Collectible tapes. You can also think of it as a pay it forward minting mechanic.

What happened after my friend convinced me to make tokens was lots of thinking and conversations about edition size, and coming to the conclusion that I feel most comfortable if there was a dynamic edition size for my music. At some point in here I learned solidity with some good direction to good tutorials like those from Austin Griffith and Scaffold-Eth. Along the way I also decided that an original, or master copy, is also a very important idea when making an NFT of a song. If you think of one song as a thing you made, it is one song, the answer is right there. Original copies make so much sense for this type of creation. Just like IRL music duplication, there are copies that are derived from a master copy.

For each original copy of a song I make on my smart contract, there is a 100 maximum amount of copies that can be made. It costs 0.05 ether to mint a copy, and you need to hold a token of the song you’re making a copy of. The original copy has it’s own rarity “Genesis” (of course), and 2 more rarities. Serial #2–10 of every song are “First Edition” and serial #11–100 are “Special Edition”. The Genesis copies of this first release are all clean, the 1st Edition has one cassette icon, and the Special Editions have 2 cassette icons.

This has led to fun things like copy trading, where two friends make copies for each other, or selective collecting where someone wants to collect the songs in a particular order, or liquidity copies where you make some copies for possible secondary sale. I’d like to thank my NFT buddies in the Bored Ape discord and Bored to Death for being my NFT buddies, encouraging me to grow and making me want to code this token just to make copies of my songs and give them to you.

Now my friends who make great music are going to let me collect their music as tokens too! This is just the beginning!