Mastercard Music Pass NFT opens access to ground-breaking Web3 training program for new musical artists

by James · April 12, 2023

American payments company Mastercard has released the Mastercard Music Pass non-fungible token (NFT), which unlocks access to exclusive content and experiences from the Mastercard Artist Accelerator, which starts this month.

Mastercard said in a statement Thursday that the unique program will prepare five emerging musical artists from around the world with the tools and skills to leverage Web3 technologies to reshape their creative processes and expand their careers in the digital economy.

Up-and-coming Vietnamese-American singer Emily Vu joins four other musicians from around the world for the Mastercard Artist Accelerator: Cocoa Sarai, a hip-hop artist from Brooklyn; Nigerian R&B/Afrobeats record producer and songwriter LeriQ; Manu Manzo, a Latin pop artist from Venezuela; and Young Athena, a London-based R&B soul singer and BRIT School alumna.

The participating artists represent a variety of genres and backgrounds and were chosen for their unique history, sound and inclusiveness-focused mindset.

The application of Web3 technologies has gained momentum in Asia Pacific, especially in a number of Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

In South Korea, a growing number of musicians and music companies are adopting NFTs, one of the world’s first virtual reality music companies launched in Taiwan, and an Australian entertainment startup has developed its own NFT music platform.

“One of the amazing things about Web3 technologies, and NFTs in particular, is the way they offer creators more flexibility and ownership of their content, while generating exciting new ways for fans to engage with their art,” said Julie Nestor, Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing and Communications, Asia Pacific.

“The Mastercard Artist Accelerator Program and Mastercard Music Pass provide us with an opportunity to leverage NFTs for both of these exciting purposes, while helping to support some of the most vibrant, diverse young artists in the world today,

“Mastercard looks forward to connecting music fans and creators in Asia Pacific with the Web3 journey of Emily Vu and the other incredibly talented musicians,” she added.

At just 21 years old, Emily Vu has already created a significant buzz with her infectious brand of down-to-earth pop music, as well as her use of online platforms to advocate for social justice issues.

Her first release, “Whatever Happened, Happened”, has over 2.3 million streams on Spotify, while her online catalog combined has millions of streams, and she has amassed a highly engaged TikTok audience of 1.2 million followers.

“My life has always been intertwined with music, I learned a couple of instruments throughout my childhood and performing is something that has always excited me,” said Emily Vu.

“Now I look forward to taking my work to the next level with the Mastercard Artist Accelerator,

“This is a completely new approach for me and I’m keen to learn a lot more about Web3 and AI, and give others an insight into the creative process while using new technologies. It’s going to be a fantastic learning experience,” she added to.

Each artist will go on a unique journey through one-on-one sessions, and be guided by mentors including Tushar Apte, an Australian composer and producer who incorporates AI into the creative process and has worked with some of the biggest artists in the industry in day; British dancer and content creator Nifè, who will share her knowledge of building an engaging online presence; and Chief Experience Officer at Ledger, Ian Rogers, who will provide advice on how to build a digital business.

Artists will learn to use Web3 tools to create original tracks, which will be redeemable as NFTs, as well as performed live by the artists in a special exhibition.

Mastercard is a long-time supporter of the music industry, connecting artists and fans.

Based on its sponsorship of the GRAMMY Awards®, Latin GRAMMY Awards® and BRIT Awards, Mastercard has been an early adopter of Web3 technologies to create inclusive experiences.

Last June, the brand even released its first ever album, “Priceless,” through an innovative collaboration centered around mentoring emerging artists.

With the brand’s track record in music, combined with its expertise in building strong networks in the digital economy, the Mastercard Artist Accelerator will give emerging artists the tools and capabilities they need to thrive in this technology-driven era.

The Mastercard Music Pass NFT will be minted on the Polygon blockchain and will be free to redeem until the end of April 2023.

Once redeemed, token holders will be able to follow the Mastercard Artist Accelerator with access to all content from the program, as well as Web3 tools, educational materials and other exclusive experiences.