Muse to Release First-Ever Chart-Eligible NFT Album

The British rock group release Will of the People – a world-first ‘Digital Pressing’ in collaboration with web3 music marketplace Serenade.

Warner Music UK and the British rock band – comprising Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard – have partnered with eco-friendly music Web3 marketplace Serenade for the release of what will be Muse’s ninth studio album Will of the People; set to be released on August 26.

The Muse NFT album, which will be sold at £20 a piece, is limited to 1,000 editions. Fans who manage to get their hands on the digital pressing get a downloadable version of the tunes as high-resolution FLAC files. They also receive a different sleeve and the digital signatures of the three Muse members. Last but not least, the 1,000 holders will have their names permanently listed on the linked buyer list.

To keep accessibility for fans wanting to be a part of the NFT and crypto community, Serenade has ensured that buyers do not have to have a crypto wallet before purchase. After the NFT album has been bought on Serenade’s website, a digital wallet is created and the NFT is transferred to that wallet.

Last April, the UK Official Charts Company approved NFTs as a chart-eligible format. Indeed, the British band The Amazons were one of the first bands to release an NFT version of the album in the hope of charting. What makes the Muse NFT album special is the fact that there is a great chance that it will actually chart and reach the number one spot.

1/ Today we announced Serenade’s newest offering, the Digital Pressing. I thought I’d share what a Digital Pressing is, and our vision for its future 🧵

— Max Shand 🌳,🌴 (@max_shand) August 1, 2022

Warner Records UK VP of Audience and Strategy, Sebastian Simone said: “Muse have always been at the forefront of technological innovation and were one of the first music artists to pioneer in Web3 back in 2020. Their fans have an appetite for collectible rarities and this format brings them closer to Muse than ever before, propelling them into a new space and offering an entirely unique experience.”

Having such a big band show that NFTs can serve as just another release format will undoubtedly have an impact on other artists.

Martin Talbot, CEO of the Official Charts Company, said: “The UK’s Official Charts have always strived to evolve as music fans change how they buy and consume their favourite music. This is another example of how we have always sought to reflect the pioneering spirit of the music industry and, in particular, the UK scene.”

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