Impossible Futures: PirateRadio
PirateRadio - Where Artists Own the Airwaves
The problem: Currently, artists receive abysmal streaming payouts from centralized streaming platforms. Mostly, music labels stand between artists, their creative control, masters, and therefore a huge source of revenue and ultimately the artist’s freedom.
The system wasn’t built to empower artists but instead to exploit them.
The Solution: Meet PirateRadio (formerly JAMStand).
Instead of relying on music labels for industry connections to just become their gatekeepers, musicians, venues, producers, studios, and sponsors can all connect and each earn more in the process.
Independent artists that are verified and onboarded will be given a Black Flag verification badge. We don’t want to be total a-holes, though. Even music labels can participate! Once they sign a release contract and receive a finder’s fee, which are agreed streaming payouts that will sunset after two years, they will be granted a White Flag verification badge. After the contract is up and the artist owns the full rights to their music, the artist’s White Flag verification would then change to Black, signifying their successful resistance to an oppressive system and the beginning of full streaming payouts. A glorious day indeed!
On top of this all, the world’s population will relatively soon face potentially massive displacement due to increased automation and robotics, leaving many people seeking purpose and income. It should be our goal as a community to ensure that humanity has access to self-sovereignty, purpose, revenue, and verified truth. In other words, we need sacred human spaces where we can connect and value each other in a higher pursuit of creativity and truth.
PirateRadio will power Jams Player and any other music service that adheres to the subscription service that will pay artists directly (no skimming). This design is all still being fleshed out and there is much to consider.
Goal: To liberate artists and give them all the tools they need to monetize their creativity and connect with fans across the world.
Target Users
- Independent Artists
- Venues
- Studios
- Producers
- Sponsors / Gear Companies
- Music Services
- Fans
Data Types
- Most likely all in some capacity
Part of a Mutualistic Self-Fulfilling Ecosystem
- PirateRadio will support Jams Player and eventually Personal Soundtrack, which would eventually also integrate PirateRadio as the primary source of content. Though they can all exist individually, they are intentionally designed to not just work together but build an entire open entertainment ecosystem.
WARNING: PLEASE READ!!!
Just to be fully forthright and transparent, I personally am under a heavier workload than usual between my 9 to 5 job, long-awaited home improvements, and typical homestead-like upkeep, on top of being short of discretionary funds to afford necessary development support. I have managed to get surprisingly far just by grinding away myself, and I plan to continue as I can, regardless of Impossible Futures success, but I was not anticipating being this bogged down. I can’t in good conscience receive votes without the community knowing that it may be difficult for me to meet deadlines or make the kind of significant progress they may expect when locking up their funds at such a time. Even then, I cannot guarantee success. All we can do is do our best, and hopefully together.
That said, I would happily accept votes with that known and fully understood.
I have to say there are other projects I plan on supporting myself that are ambitious but much closer within reach and potentially more beneficial for the current network’s stage of maturity. I can’t wait to support some of the hard-core dedicated long-term supporters that are able to get their hands dirty finally and deserve our support.