Jay-Z will be launching a groundbreaking partnership, marking a first in the United States.
Billboard reports that Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, a full-service entertainment company, has partnered with South Korean fintech company Musicow to introduce “the first Music Equity Service Provider in the United States.” This will give U.S.-based music fans a rare opportunity to obtain partial ownership of songs created by their favorite artists, while also earning a share of the revenue generated from sales.
This will be made possible by giving artists the ability to fractionalize their royalty revenue and sell shares of their tracks to individual investors, creating an all-around win for everyone involved.
“The music industry is evolving into a shared ecosystem where fans and creators can earn together,” Roc Nation Vice Chairman Jay Brown said in an interview with Billboard. “Our mission is not only to support and empower artists by providing the tools and services they need to build a better music ecosystem but also to give everyone access to the financial opportunities the music industry offers.”
Musicow CEO Woo Rhee commented: “[This partnership is an] incredible opportunity to drive innovation and redefine the future of our industry. I’m confident that together, we have the vision, expertise, and enthusiasm to create transformative progress and unlock limitless potential.”
The exact launch date of Musicow has not been announced as of this writing. However, it is expected to debut in Q1 2025. Be on the lookout — those who express early interest could win $10 toward their Musicow wallet.
Roc Nation’s latest partnership follows a previous move to empower its artists. As AFROTECH™ reported, the company announced in August 2024 that it would allow partnered independent artists to maintain ownership of their masters under Roc Nation Distribution and provide tools and guidance that make it easier to leverage technology and the music business.
“ROC Nation distribution will sign up any artist at any time to allow creatives to avail themselves of technology, music business expertise and freedom,” the company wrote in an official statement at the time. “…Artists who partner with ROC Nation distribution are independent, retain ownership of their masters and creative control of their art. Artists also receive data analytics from a proprietary dashboard and have the ability to opt into various services across the company.”
