Decentralized Music Distribution: Enhancing Independent Musicians’ Reach Through Blockchain and AI; Democratizing Music Distribution and Discovery with Blockchain Technology
Al-Atrash, Muhammad, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Neeley, Kathryn, EN-Engineering and Society, University of Virginia
Vrugtman, Rosanne, EN-Comp Science Dept, University of Virginia
Sociotechnical Synthesis
Muhammad Al-Atrash
(Executive Summary)
Reimagining Music Distribution Through Technology and Social Understanding
The music industry stands at a crossroads, where technological innovation meets deeply
entrenched social and economic structures. My technical project and STS research converge on a
crucial question: how can emerging technologies democratize music distribution while resisting
the industry's historical pattern of corporate consolidation? Through developing a decentralized
music platform and analyzing the sociotechnical dynamics of blockchain adoption, I've gained
unique insights into both the technical capabilities and social factors necessary for lasting change
in the music industry. Together, these projects demonstrate how engineering solutions must be
grounded in deep understanding of social contexts to create meaningful transformation.
The technical portion of my thesis proposes a decentralized music distribution platform
that leverages blockchain technology and artificial intelligence to support independent
musicians. Built on the Solana blockchain, the platform uses smart contracts to ensure
transparent and automated revenue distribution, eliminating traditional intermediaries that often
exploit artists. The platform's AI-driven recommendation engine deliberately deemphasizes
mainstream metrics like follower counts, instead analyzing audio characteristics and user
behavior to surface talented artists within niche subgenres. This technical architecture creates
unprecedented resistance to centralized control – unlike previous platforms like SoundCloud, no
single entity can unilaterally change the platform's rules or monetization systems. The integration
of token economics also enables direct artist-fan relationships, allowing listeners to become
stakeholders in musicians' success.
In my STS research, I examined how blockchain technology might succeed where
previous attempts to democratize music distribution have failed. Using the Multi-Level
Perspective framework, I analyzed the rise and fall of SoundCloud's "golden era" (2015-2017)
alongside the emergence of blockchain platforms like Audius. This research revealed that
technical capabilities alone cannot guarantee lasting change – successful democratization
requires alignment of technical architecture, economic incentives, and cultural momentum. The
case of Bitcoin provided an instructive example of how disruptive technologies can create
resilient alternative ecosystems by forcing existing institutions to adapt rather than being
absorbed by them. This understanding deeply informed the technical project's design choices,
particularly around governance structures and economic mechanisms.
The synthesis of these projects highlights how STS perspectives enhance engineering
practice by revealing the complex interplay between technical and social factors in technological
change. While my technical work demonstrated blockchain's potential to create transparent and
automated systems, the STS research illuminated why such capabilities must be coupled with
appropriate economic incentives and cultural resonance to achieve lasting impact. This
sociotechnical lens helped identify potential pitfalls and guided design choices toward solutions
that could resist corporate consolidation rather than simply creating new forms of centralized
control. Moving forward, this integrated understanding will be crucial for engineers working to
develop technologies that truly serve their intended social purposes rather than being co-opted by
existing power structures.
The future of music distribution – and creative industries more broadly – depends on our
ability to develop technologies that not only function technically but also align with and support
positive social transformation. Through combining technical innovation with sociotechnical
analysis, we can work toward systems that genuinely empower artists and enrich cultural expression rather than reinforcing existing inequities.
BS (Bachelor of Science)
blockchain technology, music distribution, music democratization
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Technical Advisor: Rosanne Vrugtman
STS Advisor: Kathryn Neeley
Technical Team Members: N/A
English
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
2024/12/18