Exploring Blockchain for Secure Music Royalty Distribution

Abstract

The thesis focuses on how blockchain technology can increase transparency and security of payments to artists and musician. The thesis shows reasons why other approaches should be considered when it comes to royalty distribution and demonstrates how the system functions, what advantages or disadvantages it has in comparison to procedures that were made before. With this research I hope to give answers to questions like ”How exactly does blockchain work in royalty distribution?” and ”Is this approach as secure as it seems?” and “What are its advantages?”.

The thesis is written for record labels considering a transition to blockchain-based royalty distribution, but not so sure yet if it’s time for them to make a change; for smaller streaming platforms to digest simple steps of how it can be implemented; for artists themselves to understand how exactly they get credited and paid for their work.