Base, a Layer-2 network supported by Coinbase, announced a partnership with blockchain music platform Sound xyz on December 19th. This collaboration allows artists to offer their music tracks as NFTs to fans through the Base ecosystem. NFT-based music tracks had previously surfaced within the Ethereum ecosystem but failed to gain the anticipated popularity.
Sound xyz shared via social media platform X that, as a Layer-2 network on Ethereum, Base enables artists to present their tracks as NFTs with lower gas fees and faster transactions. These factors also permit artists to deposit or withdraw funds without purchasing crypto or bridging funds.
The first track released on Base, “Based,” is a blockchain-themed song by artists Reo Cragun and Heno. Sound highlighted the significant benefit for the Web3 music sector as leveraging Base’s network, which boasts over 100 million users, positioning music as an excellent entry point for a new generation of users into the ecosystem.
In the past year, the music industry’s shift to Web3 gained momentum with some of the biggest names from the Web2 scene trying out blockchain-based versions. American metal band Megadeth, with millions of fans worldwide, launched a new NFT collection in early December, offering fans new ways to connect in both physical and digital realms.
Earlier this month, Michael Jackson’s first studio demo was released as a digital record on the blockchain through Anotherblock, fifty years after the recording was made. In November, entrepreneur and legendary rapper Snoop Dogg’s son, Cordell Broadus, made significant statements about bringing legacy artists into the Web3 sector and building a new legacy in music’s future with tools like blockchain and NFTs.