I often tell people that if there had already been an "OME" out there, I would have just used that. It's true. I'm a musician.

Yeah, I like technology as well, but my place is behind a guitar on stage somewhere.

"I need a better platform".

So here we are 4 years later. Long after I had that initial thought that kicked it all off, "I need a better platform". I just uploaded an album of instrumentals to OME, and there are 36 other wonderful creators on there as well, and just over 200 users. This is after only a few months of word of mouth promotion and a couple Twitter post. Our app has been in Beta form with a lot of bugs to work out so we've kept the promotion to nothing till we're really cruising. Still, I guess I'm not the only one who needs a better platform.

There's a giant void in the middle of every musicians dreams.

How, without touring, can I get any value out of my music?

Technology is what we make of it and traditionally, even though artists have never earned what they're justified, there was at least a mechanism in place by which they could share in the rewards that new technologies brought to the music industry. They may have only gotten $1 out of the $10 sales price of an album, but at least they could sell albums!

I've toured through most of the US and twice through Europe, back when you could still sell CD's at shows. Streaming had already taken off but wasn't as ubiquitous as it is now. I've always done well on the road. I do well here locally and regionally. I never stopped playing out. What stopped was any enthusiasm for recording anymore music. I already had 10 albums on Spotify and Apple music. What was the point anymore unless I was on the road?

Hey ChatGPT, 'How does streaming hurt musicians?'

Answer:

Streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube can hurt musicians in several ways:

1. Low royalty payouts: Streaming services typically pay low royalty rates to musicians, often only a fraction of a cent per stream.
2. Revenue loss: The widespread availability of music on streaming platforms has contributed to a decline in music sales, leading to a decrease in revenue for musicians.
3. Lack of control: Musicians have limited control over the way their music is distributed and marketed on streaming platforms.
4. Dependence on algorithms: The algorithms used by streaming services can influence which music is recommended to listeners, potentially limiting exposure for certain artists.

Overall, while streaming has made music more accessible to listeners, it has also made it harder for musicians to earn a living from their work.

See. Everyone knows it's bad.

Throwing our hat in the ring.

So now we have a choice. The technology is working in our favor. At it's core, OME is built as a lifeline to all of us that love making music. Just as technology can be used to destroy, it can also be used to create, and Web3 has what it takes. It's working here and now, on this platform I am lucky enough to be building.

There's so much to do. When I chose to devote most of my adult life to music, I knew it would be an interesting and often uphill battle. I also knew it would lead me to things I couldn't imagine. OME is one of those things. I hope you find it useful.

Thanks for reading. See you on the flipside.

CH.