A smart contract is a digital version of a traditional contract, but instead of being written on paper, it’s coded onto a blockchain. Think of it as a set of rules programmed into a computer. Once certain conditions are met—like all parties agreeing to specific terms—the smart contract automatically enforces those terms. This means it can handle tasks like releasing payments, transferring ownership, or verifying that a project is complete without needing a middleman.
The beauty of smart contracts is that they are self-executing and transparent. Once written, they can’t be changed, ensuring that everyone involved sticks to the agreed-upon terms. Blockchain technology, which stores the contract, acts like a digital ledger where everything is recorded, and anyone can check the details, but no one can tamper with them. This makes smart contracts highly secure and trustworthy, especially in industries like finance and now, music.
On MESA, the process of creating smart contracts is integrated directly into the music project workflow, providing a seamless experience for music professionals. The creation of these contracts occurs at the completion of a project, ensuring that all details are finalized and agreed upon before the smart contract is generated. Here’s a detailed look at how it works:
Throughout the project, collaborators—whether they are artists, producers, or session musicians—can be invited to the project. MESA allows users to upload audio files, artwork, and other assets relevant to the project. During the creative process, collaborators can negotiate splits in real-time, ensuring that everyone’s contribution is accurately reflected in the final contract. This flexibility allows the parties to adjust ownership percentages as the project progresses.
In addition, MESA’s platform includes tools for making notes, version control, and tracking contributions, so everyone involved stays on the same page. This makes MESA not only a contract tool but also a full-stack administration software designed to meet all the operational needs of artists and their teams.
Once the project is finalized and the terms have been agreed upon by all parties, MESA automatically generates a draft PDF contract. This contract captures all of the project’s metadata, including splits, roles, and contributions. It is then sent to collaborators via DocuSign, allowing them to formally sign the agreement digitally. This step provides a physical document that legally formalizes the ownership and split agreements.
At the same time, a smart contract is created on the blockchain. This smart contract contains all the agreed-upon terms, including the ownership splits and contributions, as well as specific blockchain-related metadata. The smart contract ensures transparency and security, providing a verifiable and tamper-proof record of the agreement.
The smart contract created by MESA is stored within each user’s wallet, making it easily accessible and secure. While MESA’s smart contracts currently serve primarily as a transparent and secure record, they will play an even greater role in future versions of the platform. Currently, the smart contract ensures that all parties are accountable and that the agreed-upon terms cannot be altered once finalized.
Although MESA’s current beta focuses on transparency and security, the platform has ambitious plans to expand the functionality of its smart contracts. In future releases, these contracts will facilitate automated royalty payments and on-chain music distribution, further simplifying the process for artists and managers. Smart contracts will eventually integrate with blockchain-based platforms, allowing seamless revenue distribution directly from streaming or other digital music platforms.
One of MESA’s key strengths is its ability to interact with other blockchain platforms. For example, artists can use MESA’s smart contracts to release their music directly to platforms like Zora, a decentralized marketplace for NFTs and digital art. This allows artists to publish their music, artwork, or other content on-chain while ensuring that the agreed-upon splits and rights are honored. The same smart contract terms that were negotiated on MESA will carry over seamlessly to these other blockchain-based platforms.
Smart contracts on MESA are an innovative tool for modern music rights management. By ensuring transparency, security, and efficiency, these contracts protect artists' intellectual property and guarantee that all collaborators are compensated fairly. With full-stack administrative tools like file sharing, version control, and real-time negotiation, MESA provides a comprehensive solution for managing music projects from start to finish.
As the platform evolves, MESA is set to revolutionize music distribution with future features like automated royalty payments and direct on-chain releases. This will make it even easier for artists to take control of their music, ensuring their rights and earnings are secured.
