Music streaming and discovery platform Audiomack has launched a new feature that lets fans fund artists directly by purchasing ‘support badges’ for individual song and album releases.
Audiomack says its new monetization tool, called ‘Supporters’, is “a first-of-its-kind feature in music streaming”.
Once a fan buys a badge, Audiomack says that their contribution “is forever memorialized” on their Audiomack profile and the artist’s individual song or album page.
Launched in 2012, Audiomack currently reaches more than 20 million monthly users globally.
As of December 2021, Audiomack is the top-ranked music streaming app on Apple’s iOS in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, and Kenya.
The service claims to have played a key role in breaking acts such as Roddy Ricch and Kaash Paige and has also seen the likes of Eminem and Nicki Minaj put up exclusive releases on the platform.
Warner Music signed a licensing deal with Audiomack for key African territories including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania in November 2020, after becoming the first major label to sign a deal with the platform back in August 2019.
Warner Music Group has also signed on as the first Supporters major label participant.
In March, Audiomack secured a partnership with independent music distributor DistroKid, marking the first time that the music streaming service has formed an integrated partnership with a direct-to-artist music distributor.
To participate in Supporters, artists must apply for and gain access to Audiomack Monetization Program (AMP), or distribute their music to Audiomack through its participating partners, including but not limited to Warner Music Group and DistroKid, as well as Amuse, AudioSalad Direct, EMPIRE, FUGA, Stem, and Vydia.
Artists can also engage directly with their fans who support them through a variety of messaging options, and share exclusive content and limited offerings.
Audiomack will also give fans access to shareable graphics to show off their support for their favorite artists.
Supporters are also ranked on three levels, including First, which is for the The first supporters for a release, Top, covering the supporters who contributed the most, and ‘Latest” for the most recent supporters.
“Audiomack’s Supporters feature will help build these relationships and allow artists and fans to connect in new, meaningful ways.”
Allan Coye, Warner Music Group
Allan Coye, Senior Vice President, Digital Strategy & Business Development at Warner Music Group, said: “More than ever, there’s demand both from fans who want to demonstrate their passion and support their favorite artists, and from artists looking to better engage with their superfans.
“Audiomack’s Supporters feature will help build these relationships and allow artists and fans to connect in new, meaningful ways.”
“Supporters creates brand new monetization opportunities for our creator community while bringing dedicated fans closer to the music and artists they love.”
Dave Macli, Audiomack
“With Supporters, Audiomack is treating artists as they see themselves – as entrepreneurs building profitable careers,” said Dave Macli, Audiomack co-founder and CEO.
“Supporters creates brand new monetization opportunities for our creator community while bringing dedicated fans closer to the music and artists they love.”
Universal and Sony inked licensing deals with Audiomack in February.Music Business Worldwide