Warner Music Group partners with NFT marketplace OpenSea to expand Web3 capabilities for its artists

Warner Music Group has partnered with NFT marketplace OpenSea, which the major says will provide a platform for “selected WMG artists to build and grow their fan communities in Web3”.

As part of the partnership, WMG says its artists will get early access to OpenSea’s new drops product, along with “enhanced discoverability,” personalized storytelling on custom landing pages, as well as OpenSea’s safety and security features.

In addition, WMG artists will have their own dedicated drop page to host limited edition projects, which, WMG says, will open up new opportunities for fans to engage with music and artists.

The first compilation is currently in development with Warner Records UK in collaboration with Web3 label Probably Nothing.

OpenSea’s management team is headquartered in New York and comes from Google, Palantir, Lyft, Uber, Stanford and Berkeley.

Investors in the platform include a16z, Paradigm, Coatue, YCombinator, Founders Fund, Coinbase Ventures, 1Confirmation and Blockchain Capital.

This recent collaboration marks the latest in a series of efforts by WMG to build out its Web3 expertise.

In June, WMG joined a strategic funding round for San Francisco-based Authentic Artists, a music platform that claims to power “metaverse-native virtual artists, digital collectibles and interactive music experiences”.

In January, WMG entered into a strategic partnership with virtual gaming world The Sandbox, marking what WMG said was its “first entry into the NFT metaverse realm”.

The major has also partnered with game developer Splinterlands and digital collectibles platform Blockparty in recent months, while Warner Recorded Music appointed Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda to a “first-of-its-kind” Web3 advisory role.

“Fundamental to music’s DNA is community – it’s artists and fans coming together to celebrate the music they love.”

Oana Ruxandra, WMG

Oana Ruxandra, Chief Digital Officer & EVP, Business Development, WMG said: “Fundamental to music’s DNA is community – it’s artists and fans coming together to celebrate the music they love.

“Our collaboration with OpenSea helps facilitate these communities by unlocking Web3 tools and resources to build opportunities for artists to establish deeper engagement, access and ownership.”

“For artists and musicians, NFTs represent a new creative medium and a mechanism to build community, engage directly with fans and express themselves across borders and languages.”

Shiva Rajaraman, OpenSea

Shiva Rajaraman, OpenSea’s vice president of product, added: “For artists and musicians, NFTs represent a new creative medium and a mechanism to build community, engage directly with fans and express themselves across borders and languages.

“As a massive music fan myself, I’m thrilled to be working with a partner who understands the importance of this technology and wants to use it for good – to empower artists to directly own their fan connections.

“We are excited to provide the support and infrastructure to help welcome the Warner family of artists into the exciting NFT ecosystem.”Music business worldwide