1. Starting Point
Digitalization has fundamentally reshaped the music industry—not only in how music is produced and consumed but also in how it is distributed and showcased. Over the last decade, we've witnessed an almost complete transition from analog to digital, with nearly all music products now digitally represented and sold online, leaving physical products virtually obsolete.
However, the centralized nature of Web 2.0 has marginalized musicians, with over 90% unable to sustain themselves financially through their art alone. Live performances remain the primary source of income, yet the COVID-19 crisis devastated this income stream for the majority.
ORPHEUS.DAO addresses these challenges by providing a decentralized platform that empowers freelance artists worldwide to take control of their careers. Leveraging the latest advancements in Web 3.0 and blockchain technology, ORPHEUS.DAO offers tools that enable artists to safeguard their intellectual property (IP), monetize their work directly, and establish lasting revenue streams through Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
Although the NFT market has recently faced volatility, its core benefits remain crucial for independent artists. By using NFTs, creators can secure lifetime ownership of their work, ensure royalties from every resale, and protect against piracy and misuse—all without relying on traditional intermediaries. This innovative approach allows artists to focus on their creativity while maintaining control over their financial and artistic legacy.
Unlike many existing blockchain projects focused on short-term gains, ORPHEUS.DAO aims to develop a sustainable, innovative platform bridging virtual and analog worlds. By introducing a specialized DAO framework and accessible NFTs, ORPHEUS.DAO positions itself as a pioneering force in transforming the music industry.
2. Vision
Navigating Web 3.0 can be daunting for individual artists, particularly emerging talents, due to the technical, legal, and commercial expertise required. ORPHEUS.DAO addresses these barriers by creating a collaborative platform that connects musicians and supports them in adopting blockchain-based solutions.
The vision of ORPHEUS.DAO is to serve as a cooperative platform where talented musicians from across the globe can share their passion for artistic freedom. ORPHEUS.DAO enables artists to harness blockchain technology and Web 3.0 to refine their skills, expand their reach, and showcase their creativity. By fostering a global network, ORPHEUS.DAO aspires to establish a new standard for innovation in the music industry while revitalizing the global music landscape in the post-COVID era.
3. Mission
The music industry has long lacked a decentralized solution for transparency, fair compensation, piracy protection, and direct artist-consumer engagement without reliance on traditional gatekeepers. ORPHEUS.DAO sets out to provide these solutions, addressing exploitative practices, unfair royalty distributions, and manipulated market shares within the music industry.
4. Goal
The primary goal of the two-year research project is to establish ORPHEUS.DAO as a proof of concept for a cooperative platform that supports freelance artists worldwide. Blockchain technology will serve as the backbone for marketing through NFTs and for group coordination via the DAO framework.
As a blockchain-based organization, ORPHEUS.DAO ensures transparent asset management through smart contracts and allocates membership and voting rights through token-based governance. This approach allows for instant, transparent revenue distribution and an efficient basic income model, setting ORPHEUS.DAO apart from traditional organizational structures.
5. Organizational Framework
ORPHEUS.DAO will be implemented in collaboration with leading blockchain research institutions and experts globally. Initial funding will be secured to support the project for two years, with the DAO designed to become self-sustaining through its revenue streams.
Specialists will collaborate with musicians to establish the technical, legal, and commercial foundations of the platform. A global scholarship program will also be introduced, allowing emerging artists to engage in early projects with financial and professional support.
6. Work Plan and Budget
Key Work Packages
- Design of Governance Structure and DAO Setup: Managed by leading blockchain experts and researchers under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Alfred Taudes
- Artistic Direction: Led by Sascha Götzel
- Marketing: Collaborating with consultants experienced in successful international NFT and DAO projects
- Legal Framework: Focused on engaging traditional rights holders and ensuring compliance
- Software Development: Handled by Linkplicit GmbH
- Scholarship Program: Supporting 50 musicians over two years
| Budget Item | Amount (€) |
|---|---|
| Blockchain Research and Development | 500,000 |
| Scholarships | 200,000 |
| Marketing Consultants | 100,000 |
| Total Budget | 800,000 |
7. Roadmap
- Official unveiling of ORPHEUS.DAO
- Publication of the whitepaper and website
- Guidelines for artists and audition deadlines announced
- Conduct auditions
- Launch the first DAO version
- Establish governance
- Expand the international community
- Announce audition results
- Ongoing governance
- Integrate future marketplaces
- Roll out the initial DAO version
- Present blockchain-based projects by young artists
- Launch a decentralized artist marketplace
- Market projects
- Continuously improve and expand the platform
- Disseminate results
- Summarize lessons learned
- Produce a comprehensive report
- Disseminate findings
With ORPHEUS.DAO, the future of music becomes decentralized, transparent, and artist-centered, creating a platform where artists worldwide can protect their work, monetize their creativity, and redefine their relationship with audiences in a digital-first era.