Awen - Stem Mixer | Music Collaboration & Derivatives

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ian McCullough

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

100000

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

9

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Create 'Stem Mixer', a tool to allow split collaborative works and track music IP provenance, ensuring transparent rights and revenue distribution for all creative contributions.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

NMKR

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

MIT License

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Understanding the Problem:

The music industry often struggles with disputes over ownership and rights, especially as music becomes more digital and collaborative. The lack of clear provenance for samples, remixes, and other derivatives complicates copyright enforcement and reduces creative freedom. Our solution targets these challenges by leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency and security.

Our Approach:

We propose 'Stem Mixer,' a decentralized platform that utilizes the Cardano blockchain to manage music intellectual property (IP) through Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). By embedding IP rights within NFTs, we create a verifiable and immutable provenance chain for every piece of music, from original tracks to derivatives like remixes and samples. This approach not only simplifies rights management but also fosters a fair and transparent marketplace for music collaborations.

Engagement:

'Stem Mixer' will engage music creators, producers, and copyright holders, providing them a platform to collaborate securely and monetize their work.

Demonstrating Impact:

We will measure our impact through user adoption rates, the volume of transactions on the platform, and feedback from community engagement activities. Success will also be demonstrated by a reduction in legal disputes over music rights among our users, showcasing the effectiveness of our clear provenance chain.

Uniqueness and Benefits:

What sets 'Stem Mixer' apart is its integration of Cardano’s blockchain technology into the music industry, pioneering a model where music derivatives are tracked and traded with clarity and security. This is not just a technical innovation but a cultural shift towards more equitable practices in music IP management. The Cardano community will benefit from the demonstration of blockchain’s utility in new domains, potentially attracting new users and developers to the ecosystem, thus enhancing the overall value and utility of Cardano.

Why It’s Important to Cardano:

'Stem Mixer' aligns with Cardano’s mission of fostering a more transparent, equitable, and efficient global system. By solving a real-world problem through blockchain, we not only extend the use case of Cardano but also exemplify how blockchain can drive industrial innovation, particularly in creative industries often plagued by opaque and outdated practices.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Our project's success will bring significant value to the Cardano Community by enhancing the usability and functionality of NFTs within the music industry. We intend to measure the impact through both quantitative and qualitative metrics. 

Quantitative measures will include:

• Number of active users and transactions on the platform
• Volume of NFTs created and exchanged
• Increase in platform engagement metrics post-launch

Qualitative measures will involve:

• User feedback and satisfaction surveys
• Community engagement through Discord, website, and social media
• Partnerships and collaborations formed as a result of the project

We plan to share the outputs and opportunities from 'Stem Mixer' with the community through:

• Regular updates and progress reports on X, Discord, and our project's website
• Presentations and workshops at Cardano-related events
• Collaborative projects with other Cardano community members and developers

This approach ensures that the benefits of 'Stem Mixer' are broadly disseminated, contributing to the growth and evolution of the Cardano ecosystem.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our capability to deliver the 'Stem Mixer' project with high levels of trust and accountability is underpinned by our established track record, transparent processes, and commitment to community engagement. Here's how we ensure and validate our project's feasibility and trustworthiness:

Proven Track Record: Our team has successfully implemented several projects, consistently meeting milestones and delivering value. Our experience in managing complex projects and navigating the challenges of the decentralized space showcases our reliability. Feel free to look at our GitHub to find out more.

Technical Expertise: We have in-depth knowledge and technical proficiency in blockchain technology, NFTs, and the music industry. This expertise ensures that we are not only envisioning a feasible project but are also capable of executing it with precision.

Transparent Processes: We commit to full transparency in our operation

• Regular, detailed updates on project progress and fund usage.
• Open-source components of our project, allowing community verification and contributions.
• Engaging with the community through X Spaces

Validation of Feasibility:

• Prototyping: Early development of prototypes to test core functionalities and gather initial feedback.
• Pilot Testing: Running a pilot version of the platform with a select group of users to refine our approach and validate the technical and market assumptions.
• Feedback Loops: Incorporating user and community feedback continuously to adjust and improve our project delivery.

Community-Centric Approach: By involving the community in key decisions, seeking feedback, and providing real value, we ensure a project that is not only accountable but also aligns with the community's interests and need

These capabilities and processes not only demonstrate our ability to manage funds properly but also ensure that we deliver the 'Stem Mixer' project with a high degree of accountability and in alignment with community expectations.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Initialization

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 1 month

Milestone Output(s)

• Agile framework board set up in Notion with user stories and tasks
• Infrastructure setup completed.
• Key functionality initialized.
• Initial administrative and miscellaneous tasks addressed.

Acceptance Criteria

• Successful completion of the Research and Planning Document.
• Successful completion of infrastructure setup document, including NMKR
• Confirmation of initial administrative tasks and story boards

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to the Notion agile framework board, showing all tasks and user stories.
• A link to a new GitHub repository containing the infrastructure setup document.

Development

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 3 months

Milestone Outputs

• Core system architecture developed.
• User interface prototypes designed.
• Backend and frontend integration tested.

Acceptance Criteria

• System architecture reviewed and approved.
• UI prototypes validated through user feedback sessions.
• Integration report demonstrating successful backend and frontend connectivity.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• System architecture diagrams and approval documents.
• User feedback reports and finalized UI designs.
• Backend and frontend integration test results.

Launch

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 3 months

Milestone Outputs

• Launch of the live version of the tool
• Initial marketing campaign executed.

Acceptance Criteria

• Beta version live and operational as verified by QA process.
• There is a marketing campaign documented including social impact analysis.

Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Link to the live beta platform.
• QA approval report is available on GitHub.
• Marketing campaign analytics report is available on GitHub.

Finalization

Cost: 25,000 ADA

Length: 2 months

Milestone Output(s)

• Produce a closeout report
• Produce a closeout video
• All final tasks and bug fixes are completed

Acceptance Criteria

• The closeout report and video will thoroughly document the results and outcomes of the project
• All final tasks and bugfixes are documented

Evidence of milestone completion

• A closeout video and report is on GitHub, including all final tasks and bugfixes

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Ian McCullough (Cullah)

LinkedIn

Role: Full Stack Developer

Relevant Experience:

• Award-winning musician composed and licensed 10,000+ syncs of 16 years of open-source music in video games, films, tv shows, and advertisements.
• Senior level developer with a 10+ years of full-stack web development and scripting languages.
• MPhil in Music & Media Technology from Trinity College, Dublin.
• BS in Computer Engineering from Marquette University.

Maggie Schmidt

Milwaukee, USA

LinkedIn

Role: Project Manager / Quality Assurance

Relevant Experience:

• 5 years of project management & quality assurance with companies like Universal Audio, Audiophile, and Wisconsin Music Ventures
• 10 years of entertainment industry experience
• BA Music Performance from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Associate Degree, Audio Engineering from MATC

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Milestone 1: Initialization (25,000 ADA)

• Project Management: 5,000 ADA
• Includes planning and setting up the project infrastructure.
• Development: 10,000 ADA
• Setting up initial key functionalities.
• QA (Quality Assurance): 5,000 ADA
• Initial testing and setup verification.
• Administrative: 5,000 ADA
• Includes initial administrative setups and miscellaneous tasks.

Milestone 2: Development (25,000 ADA)

• Project Management: 6,000 ADA
• Ongoing project oversight and management.
• Development: 12,000 ADA
• Core development work, including backend and frontend.
• QA: 4,000 ADA
• Regular testing and feedback incorporation.
• Documentation: 3,000 ADA
• Documentation of development progress and technical details.

Milestone 3: Launch(25,000 ADA)

• Marketing: 8,000 ADA
• Marketing campaigns and public engagement.
• Project Management: 5,000 ADA
• Coordination and launch preparation.
• Development: 7,000 ADA
• Final adjustments and setup for launch.
• QA: 5,000 ADA
• Final pre-launch testing and quality checks.

Milestone 4: Finalization (25,000 ADA)

• Project Management: 5,000 ADA
• Closing project phases and ensuring all criteria are met.
• QA: 5,000 ADA
• Final testing of the entire platform.
• Documentation: 5,000 ADA
• Final project reports and user documentation.
• Community Engagement: 5,000 ADA
• Feedback collection and community interaction post-launch.
• Reporting: 5,000 ADA
• Final reporting back to the community and stakeholders.

This structured approach aligns with our goal of maintaining high levels of accountability and delivering value to the Cardano community.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The project costs have been diligently considered, taking into account industry standards, market-driven rates, and the comprehensive skill sets required.

This ensures that every ADA spent contributes to the successful execution of the project, aligning with Cardano's vision for a decentralized and informed community.

The budget reflects not only the project's immediate needs but also its enduring impact on the Cardano ecosystem.