The scale potential of the metaverse has yet to be quantified but as of February 2022 over thirty percent of US adults have developed an interest in NFT trading and investment. There are currently over 10 million dollars in NFT’s sold in the blockchain every week with the complete value of NFT sales reaching $250 million dollars in 2020. The perfect storm of decreased financial stability inside of a quarantine-ridden pandemic seems to have bred a hyper interest in the ownership and virtual management of all things digital. The most expensive digital item ever sold is in fact NFT. “The First 5000 Days” by Beeple sold for a staggering 69.3 million, not only making Internet history but re-affirming the tangible value of blockchain purchases.
Now today, when artists and companies alike are searching for any form of leverage on the digital blockchain, music start-up Soundcheck distribution has made a firm commitment to building authentic resources and utility value for artists their main priority. “It’s important for me that everything we do in the digital space is intentional and substantive,” said Soundcheck creator Devin White. “It’s been about unprecedented value and leverage for artists and we’ll continue that work in our digital community.” White is no stranger to industry innovation.
By 2017, the artist had begun creating substantial influence across the country through a dynamic tour brand concept with Rel Carter, Roc Nation executive and nephew of hip hop icon Jay-Z. White continued his pursuits further into the industry with a brief tenure within Janet Jackson’s executive team alongside music executive Jareiq Kabara and creative partnerships with Ne-Yo, Hip Hop Weekly Magazine, and the late virtual reality tech firm Teooh, partly funded by Twitter founder Biz Stone. At every turn, White seems to angle himself alongside the perspective of the artist, constantly producing resources and avenues for the motivated creator.
“Everything I’ve been afforded has come from collaborating with the right people,” said White. “All I wanted initially was to sing. As a result of that dream, I experienced how complex it is to find real support and resources. God has a way of putting you where he feels you’re most valuable. It takes humble work and sincere relationships to make any vision a reality. You have to take your time and evaluate where you are and who and what surrounds you.”
After recently securing a silent partner, a six-figure collaboration deal for the launch of Soundcheck distribution, White has again set his vision around innovations that pivot toward artist support and resources.
“There’s a passionate team we are building in Soundcheck that has an allegiance towards art and creativity, that’s something we’ll never sacrifice,” said White. “It’s just about taking that passion into every element of the structure.”
The NFT ambitions of Soundcheck are currently being managed by Brandon “Meta” Jackson, long-time music manager and digital metaverse enthusiast. Jackson has created a significant roadmap and white paper that positions Soundcheck as one of the first NFT’s of its kind in the way that it will interact and engage with music artists and their prospective careers. Not only do they claim to provide substantial creative resources and services thru their launch, but also unique and dynamic partnerships.
Jackson most recently gained international interests through his digital NFT collaboration with Australian artist Johannah Bird for Carolina bred hip hop artist Young Chad. The Australian artist herself has received massive acclaim for her digital portrait work and was recently featured via Openseas amongst other digital platforms. Both Bird and Jackson will collectively have the chance to engage with a room full of NFT advocates this March in Los Angeles as a part of Soundcheck’s 3- day music weekend directed towards independent musicians and creators.
“Our partners are primarily focused on the music we distribute,” said White. “But NFT’s are a new playing field that everyone is learning the rules in. Meta [Jackson] has a unique vision that I believe translates in ways people won’t believe and will allow us to expand in really exciting and new territories.”
The company’s principal NFT is scheduled to launch this March during its 3-day event weekend along with its official Web3. Through all of the exciting prospects laced within the current digital evolution, a definitive question still remains.
Can NFT hopefuls and ambitious startup brands really usher in new, fully realized spaces of commerce that rival the world’s financial system as we know it? As of this March, Soundcheck distribution will be placing its bets toward a definitive answer.
