Music streaming platform Auduis will now allow artists to offer fans exclusive tracks by purchasing NFTs. After linking their crypto wallet, NFT holders can access B-sides, unreleased tracks and other exclusive content.
“The Audius team is thrilled to announce our newest feature! Today we’re introducing the ability to restrict access to your tracks through ownership of an NFT collectible,” states Audius in a recent blog post. “With this exciting update, you have the power to turn your collectibles into digital keys which unlock exclusive access to your tracks!”
For now, Audius only allows artists to gate tracks, though the wording suggests other types of content may be gate-able in the future. Artists who have their own NFT collections can use them to gate tracks. However, musicians who haven’t launched their own NFT collection can still take advantage of the new feature. If an artist owns an NFT from or is simply a fan of a collection such as CryptoPunks or Bored Ape Yacht Club, they can gate their content with said NFTs.
Audius believes that gated tracks allow fans to prove how much they like a particular artist.
“A big focus of Audius from day one is enabling deeper connections and deeper interactions between the fans and the artists directly,” Audius co-founder and chief product officer Forrest Browning told CoinDesk. “In the future, there will be many other ways that you could demonstrate to an artist that you’re a superfan, but if you purchase one of their NFTs, that feels like a fairly strong signal.”
Audius Follows in Spotify’s Footsteps
The news of Audius’s gated-track feature comes just weeks after Spotify made a similar announcement. Last month the popular music streaming service announced its token-enabled playlists. Like Audius’s new feature, Spotify users must first connect their wallets to the music service. In addition, Spotify has also launched an AI DJ, which will offer curated playlists as well as commentary on artists and tracks.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
