Sony’s blockchain platform, Soneium, has officially launched its first-ever music NFT collection, featuring unreleased tracks from Tokyo-based producer NUU$HI. The collection is a collaboration with Coop Records, a Web3 music label focused on bringing music on-chain.
Soneium Launches First Music NFT Collection
The NFTs are available on Sonova, Soneium’s dedicated NFT marketplace, and are priced at 0.000777 ETH (approximately $2.11). The collection will remain open for minting until the end of the month. So far, only 124 out of a total of 999,999 NFTs have been minted, indicating that adoption is still in its early stages.
Soneium: Sony’s Foray into Blockchain and NFTs
Soneium is an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs, a subsidiary of Sony Group. The platform is designed to revolutionize digital content distribution by leveraging blockchain technology.
Sony’s Singapore-based blockchain division has previously highlighted intellectual property protection and fair revenue-sharing mechanisms as key focus areas for Soneium.
The goal is to ensure that creators are properly credited and fairly compensated for their work, an issue that has long plagued the music industry.
Coop Records: A Web3 Label Pushing for Fairer Music Royalties
Coop Records, founded by crypto entrepreneur Cooper Turley, is a community-owned music label that aims to address the unfair profit distribution in the music industry.
By using blockchain technology, the label allows artists to release songs as NFTs, ensuring more transparency and direct earnings for creators.
To date, Coop Records has brought over 600 songs on-chain, collaborating with artists such as Zeds Dead, San Holo, and Barry Can’t Swim. Turley recently stated:
“Crypto is finally entering the era where apps are the main focus. And with tokens at the centre — creators and power users will be the biggest winners.”
Soneium’s announcement confirms that Turley’s vision aligns with its own mission, further reinforcing the platform’s commitment to supporting artists through blockchain technology.
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Sony’s Blockchain and Music Industry Connection
Despite Sony’s growing interest in blockchain through Soneium, its major record labels—such as Columbia Records and RCA Records—have not yet partnered with the platform.
This raises questions about whether Sony Music Group will integrate blockchain technology into its traditional music business in the future.
Soneium’s current efforts appear to be experimental, focusing on independent artists and Web3-native labels rather than mainstream record companies. However, as blockchain-based music distribution gains momentum, larger music labels may eventually explore similar models.
The Growth of Soneium and Its User Base
According to official network data, Soneium has already accumulated over 248,000 accounts and 1.9 million total addresses participating in its blockchain. While this suggests early adoption, the platform still has a long way to go before becoming a major player in the Web3 music industry.
The Future of Blockchain in Music
With growing interest in NFT-based music ownership and profit-sharing models, platforms like Soneium and Coop Records are setting the stage for a fairer, more transparent music industry.
While mainstream adoption is still a work in progress, these blockchain initiatives indicate that the music industry may be on the brink of a major transformation.
For now, Sony’s blockchain experiment continues, and its collaboration with Coop Records could serve as a stepping stone toward a more decentralized future for digital content distribution.
Also Read: Sony’s Web3 Debut: Soneium Layer 2 Network Goes Live For Content Creators