San Francisco-based blockchain music platform Audius has signed a multi-territory licensing agreement with the International Copyright Enterprise (ICE). The deal paves the way for over 330,000 rights holders to receive royalties when their music is used on Audius, spanning territories like sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific.
This agreement builds on Audius’ recent partnerships with major music publishing and rights organizations, including Kobalt, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR. Independent labels and distributors like DistroKid, EMPIRE, Beatport, and Ninja Tune have also joined forces with the platform.
Audius’ new direct payment feature, launched publicly in September 2023, enables artists to set prices for their music and receive fan payments in USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, which can be converted into any currency.
“Establishing an agreement with ICE ensures thousands of artists, songwriters, and rights holders can earn royalties via Audius’ global marketplace,” said Shamal Ranasinghe, Chief Business Officer at Audius. Tim Rawlinson, ICE’s VP of Licensing, added that the partnership strengthens the connection between artists, fans, and the evolving international music ecosystem.
Audius, founded in 2018, counts high-profile backers like Guy Oseary, SESAC’s John Josephson, Martin Bandier, and artists such as Nas, Katy Perry, and The Chainsmokers.
