Renowned hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg has once again made headlines in the music industry by venturing into Web3 streaming. The rapper has officially joined forces with Tune.FM, a decentralized music streaming service powered by blockchain technology. His latest track, Spaceship Party, represents the first release under this collaboration, with intentions to transition more of his Death Row Records catalog onto the platform.
In a significant shift, Snoop Dogg has opted to remove his music from mainstream streaming services, particularly Spotify. He has expressed dissatisfaction with traditional streaming models and their artist compensation structures. By aligning with Tune.FM, he is supporting an alternative system that rewards musicians directly through instant micropayments per second streamed, facilitated by the platform’s native cryptocurrency, JAM tokens.
Unlike centralized streaming giants such as Spotify and Apple Music, Tune.FM employs blockchain technology to ensure transparent and equitable earnings for artists. Additionally, the platform enables fans to use JAM tokens for tipping artists, accessing exclusive content, and participating in music tokenization, which allows them to earn royalties from music investments.
Snoop Dogg’s collaboration with Tune.FM originated from a meeting with the platform’s founder and CEO, Andrew Antar, at the Crypto Ball in 2017. Antar, a classically trained musician, even contributed to Spaceship Party by playing the violin on the track. He has described Snoop Dogg as a visionary who consistently stays ahead of technological and business trends, emphasizing that they are prepared to bring transformative changes to the music industry.
Beyond streaming, Tune.FM’s AI-powered discovery algorithm aids independent artists in gaining visibility without relying on traditional pay-to-play methods. Snoop Dogg’s move to Tune.FM is not solely focused on shifting his catalog but also on redefining fan engagement. He has outlined initiatives that include VIP prize tiers with exclusive events, special giveaways, and a private party at his residence for top supporters. Furthermore, he plans to integrate Tune.FM into live performances and interactive digital experiences, utilizing NFTs and blockchain-based collectibles.
This initiative aligns with Snoop Dogg’s ongoing involvement in Web3 innovations. He has previously launched Snoopverse in the Metaverse, ventured into NFT sales, and explored blockchain-based music distribution. His latest partnership with Tune.FM reinforces his commitment to decentralizing the music industry and providing artists with greater financial autonomy.
Meanwhile, Tune.FM is in discussions with major record labels such as Universal and Sony, along with distributors and high-profile musicians, to expand its exclusive content offerings. While details of these negotiations remain undisclosed, the company asserts that its platform helps under-monetized music catalogs generate new revenue streams.
With Snoop Dogg leading this shift, Tune.FM has the potential to redefine how music is streamed, distributed, and monetized. Whether through blockchain-enabled payments, fan-driven music investments, or NFT-based engagement, his latest venture demonstrates his continued influence at the forefront of the evolving digital music landscape.