Bondly, in conjunction with Bandsintown, will be launching a unique, multifaceted, long-term partnership that will introduce a large swath of music fans and artists to the mesmerizing world of nonfungible tokens (NFT).
With over 560,000 music artists and more than 68 million registered fans, Bandsintown has been at the heart of the music industry since it launched in 2017 and is the No. 1 concert discovery platform. Bandsintown has catapulted the careers of many famous acts that you know and love, including Omar Apollo, Cautious Clay, The Marias and Yungblud.
This has been accomplished through their Big Break program, which spotlights emerging artists and gives them the opportunity to gain exposure, fans and new opportunities to become mainstream artists. Bandsintown’s Big Break does this by hosting concerts and live streams that are promoted to its fans, giving audiences the opportunity to discover new music.
The first phase of the partnership is predicated on the belief that NFTs will continue to be a major part of technological and cultural development in the next decade and beyond. Bandsintown’s Big Break program will showcase one artist or group each month via livestream, giving audiences the opportunity to discover new music and also receive a free, bespoke Big Break NFT created for that artist and show.
The Big Break NFTs will each be made by a different up-and-coming visual artist in collaboration with each Big Break act and will only be available during each one-time livestream. The NFTs will include a collectible tour laminate that commemorates the show details and reflects both the visual artist’s theme and mood, along with each act’s unique style.
The 2022 Big Break lineup and livestreams will see a pairing of 10 emerging music acts and 10 emerging visual artists. Collecting all 10 NFTs unlocks a bonus NFT of the Big Break poster art, which will showcase the entire series, in addition to a physical print of the poster.
Thanks to blockchain technology, fans will own their proof of attendance of artists’ early shows in addition to a vested interest in supporting their future. More than ever before, audiences can showcase their support for rising talent with the added benefit of blockchain-based evidence that they were there to watch these artists in the early phases of their careers.
These lucky fans will also be able to nourish their relationship with participating artists through the Bandsintown for Artists Direct to Fans free messaging platform.
Fans of surf rock will be pleased with the first stream on Wednesday, March 23, featuring Sun Room. The band has recently announced an opening spot on Louis Tomlinson’s United States tour and Inhaler’s European Union run. Visual artist Sonja Ferkingstad has teamed up with the southern California natives to create their virtual laminate, which will be minted and distributed by Bondly. Upcoming acts and livestream show dates will be announced.
“Working with Bandsintown is an obvious choice for Bondly, as they truly are the centerpiece within the music industry, connecting over 560,000 artists and 68 million music fans through music events and more,” said Liam Boyd, head of music at Bondly. “We’re excited to use NFTs to bring music fans closer to their favorite acts, showcasing the next generation of music experience, and what better way to kick off our partnership than a focus on grassroots talent through Bandsintown’s Big Break series.”
“So many large artists have profited off NFTs, but not enough has been done across Web3 to support emerging artists when they need it most — at the earliest stages of their careers,” said Fabrice Sergent, managing partner at Bandsintown. “Bandsintown has always been first to leverage technology to help artists build sustainable futures.”
About Bandsintown for Artists
Utilized by over 560,000 artists and music professionals, Bandsintown for Artists is an all-in-one platform that empowers artists to build their audience, drive sales, manage their fan relationships, and optimize their marketing. Through its consumer platforms, Bandsintown is the worldwide hub of live music discovery, with 68 million registered users and a global reach of 250 million music fans monthly. For more information, visit corp.bandsintown.com.
About Bondly
Bondly is at the forefront of developing new technologies to make blockchain utilization for NFTs and cryptocurrencies safer, more efficient and truly decentralized. One of the few end-to-end NFT platforms on the market, Bondly executes every step of the process to bring authenticated digital-first goods to the market in music, entertainment, gaming and collectibles with a suite of products and services designed to support the entire blockchain ecosystem. Animoca Brands acquired a majority stake in Bondly with plans to integrate Bondly’s blockchain technology, launchpad and NFT bridge into its metaverse game products.
