Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated DJ Alesso and Lin Dai, CEO of OneOf, explain why artists are getting into NFTs

Episode 71 of Season 3 of The Scoop was recorded remotely with The Block’s Frank Chaparro and multi-platinum and Grammy nominated DJ Alesso and Lin Dai, CEO of OneOf.

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"I noticed it has a big connection to electronic music and that is my biggest passion."

On this episode of The Scoop, multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated DJ Alesso and Lin Dai, CEO of OneOf, joined host Frank Chaparro to discuss why prominent artists are getting into NFTs and how this is signaling a cultural shift for how tastemakers are engaging with their fans today.

Alesso explained that electronic artists in particular have taken notice of recent advancements in technology like NFTs and the metaverse as a new means of connecting fans to music and visuals. "I saw the possibility of combining art with music and that made me very interested," Alesso said.

OneOf, which is an NFT platform and marketplace built on the Tezos blockchain network, raised $63 million in its seed round of funding from backers such as Quincy Jones to launch this year. The company is focusing on building partnerships in the music industry and hopes to bridge artists like Alesso, Doja Cat, John Legend and others with their fans by producing NFTs with a lower minting cost.

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"We can offer artists like Alesso a great blank canvas to bring their vision to life without considering how much they have to charge [fans].” Said Dai. OneOf further aims to differentiate their business by connecting their NFT tokens to entries for prizes centered on real fan experiences, such as access to special Discord channels or backstage passes at concerts.

Alesso and Dai announced on The Scoop that the Cosmic Genesis NFT will come in four "chapters" with chances to win such tiered prizes, culminating in a one-of-one NFT auction with a ticket for a potential trip to space.

Alesso will debut new music attached to the Cosmic Genesis NFT at the Dreamverse launch event at New York's Terminal 5 concert hall on November 4th to coincide with the NFT's launch.


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About Author

Frank Chaparro is Host of The Scoop podcast and Director of Special Projects. He also writes a biweekly newsletter. Chaparro started his career at Business Insider, where he specialized in the intersection of digital assets and Wall Street, market structure, and financial technology. Soon after joining Business Insider out of Fordham University, Chaparro was interviewing top finance and tech executives, including billionaire Mark Cuban, “Flash Boys” star Brad Katsuyama, Cboe Global Markets CEO Ed Tilly, and New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farley. In 2018, he become a sought after reporter in the crypto world, interviewing luminaries such as Tyler Winklevoss, the cofounder of Gemini, Jeremy Allaire, the CEO of Circle, and Fundstrat head Tom Lee. For inquiries or tips, email [email protected].