WHY DECENTRALIZED PLATFORMS ARE THE FUTURE OF ONLINE MUSIC by MNET Radio
What exactly is a decentralized platform? For that matter what is a centralized platform? Perhaps it is easier to give you examples of both. A centralized platform is one that we are all aware of, they are the cornerstone of social media platforms on the internet, YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud and any other such platform that today's artist feels obliged to participate in to promote their works in hopes of hitting the viral meter and setting it off to certain success. Where decentralized platforms are those such as, Dsound, Dtube, Steemit, Musicoin, Ujo Music and Mycelia. They are very different than their opponents and will revolutionize the music industry.
So what are the differences and why should you as an artist be interested in them?
Until this last year we have not had a choice as to where we promote our works online. Block chain technology (not Bitcoin) has evolved to the level necessary to allow decntralized platforms to monetize an artists work and pay them directly for their works. Albeit in crypto currency. Ethereum came along and allowed for the creation of tokens and other crypto currencies to be written onto its back with the development of smart contracts. Amazing but way too technical right? No it really isn't at all, just amazing!
As an artist the technology is simple enough to use and understand when you use the new generation sites that use this technology. Imagine being paid directly for every time someone listens to your music without giving a cut to the middleman. Imagine that there are no filters or algorythmes to deflect traffic away from your work, because the host does'nt approve of your content. Imagine the ability to maintain 100% control over your content. Not only does the block chain technology do this, but it will eliminate the need for complicated licensing structures and companies that act in propriety and frankly, get it wrong all the time. Spotify claims that this is the major cause of their inability to pay out royalties for artists. Yeah right! Nice segway to the next part of this blog though!
The centralized platform is clearly the complete opposite of the new technology. Taking the lion's share of royalties and filtering traffic and content at will. It's undeniable that this occurs, YouTube being the biggest offender, seeing an exodus from YouTube to Dtube that continues to grow daily. Yet, we have to ask, "are the old horses ready to be put out to pasture?". Perhaps, but not anytime soon. They still hold the attention of the average music consumer (if we can call them that?). The centralized platforms are a mecca of promotion for all artisis. This will continue for several more years, but we see this them declining over the years ahead, as artists gradually realize that they are being ripped off by centralized social media platforms.That being said, the argument to continue using centralizrd platforms remains a strong one. So what happens now?
How we see using the existing and new technology
It's time to embrace the decentralized platforms as an exclusive source for your creative works. The opportunity to get into the technology now, is nothing less than a gold mine for the future of every artist that recognizes the validity of this technology. Most platforms are still in the beta stages but will eventually adapt into the dominant choice for consumers and artists alike. Ask yourself, "What if I had invested in Bitcoin when I first heard of it?". People will follow the trends wherever they are. We have no doubt that the artists of the world who are promoting their music on decentralized platforms, are leading consumers to them. The growth is exponential and unstoppable.
Using centralized platforms as promotional tools to drive your fans to your decentralized presence online is the way of the future. In other words, only put a selective amount of content on centralized sites and let the fan follow you into the new world. By making decentralized platforms your exclusive source of content, you are assuring that you will be paid what you are worth and that your works will no longer be a free commodity. You will also be teaching the fans and interested consumers to embrace the source as the new trend in music online. In time the streaming services will begin to understand that artists are taking back control of their works and they to will have to adapt to the block chain technology.
It will take a little time and research to fully understand how this technology is the future of online music, but it won't cost you any money to get started, just your time. It will however, cost you to procrastinate as the rest of the world embraces decentralized platform block chain technology.
It is here to stay.
