QuickTune: Short Music Platform with Tokenization

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

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

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

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

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

Develop a Cardano blockchain-based platform, QuickTune, to secure artist content data, ensuring ownership, control, and fair compensation for creators.

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

[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.”

No dependencies.

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

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

Our project will use the MIT License for all blockchain integration code, ensuring transparency, free access, and broad usage potential. This includes our smart contracts for NFT minting and the token reward system, fostering community contributions and improvements.

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The project supports this by providing a platform for emerging music artists to showcase their talents, potentially leading to new economic opportunities in the music industry.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. By integrating blockchain technology into the platform, we're fostering innovation in the music industry and contributing to the development of new digital infrastructure for music distribution and promotion.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. The platform promotes responsible consumption by offering a platform for music discovery that encourages users to explore a diverse range of artists and genres, thus supporting a more sustainable model of music consumption and production.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Statement:

Traditional music platforms often fail to provide artists with tangible ownership or effective monetization options. This limitation hampers innovation and reduces engagement from potentially creative individuals who could contribute to a diverse music landscape.

Description:

Existing music platforms often fail to empower artists with true ownership rights or effective monetization options, leading to a lack of innovation and engagement.

Innovative Solution:

• QuickTune enables musicians to create NFTs of their tracks, ensuring undeniable ownership and authenticity.
• Artists can mint their original music tracks into NFTs on the Cardano blockchain, establishing indisputable ownership and authenticity.
• This empowers music creators by offering a unique means to safeguard their intellectual property and potentially earn revenue from their creations through a transparent and secure digital ledger.
• Empowers artists by providing a secure and transparent way to protect their work and earn directly from their fans.
• This empowers music creators by offering a unique way to protect their intellectual property and potentially earn revenue from their creations through a transparent and secure digital ledger.
• Users can support artists by giving them with tokens, fostering a more interactive and supportive community.
• Enhances user engagement by incentivizing participation, fostering a more vibrant and collaborative music community.
• Implement a decentralized voting system for users to curate content, ensuring that the best music gets recognized and promoted.
• Establish a decentralized marketplace for trading music NFTs, creating new avenues for artists to monetize their creations.
• Manage premium content subscriptions with smart contracts, ensuring fair and automated access to exclusive content.
• Record and verify users' music milestones and achievements using blockchain technology, ensuring they are tamper-proof and verifiable.
• Establishes trust with the platform, as users can confidently share their music accomplishments with industry professionals or within their social circles, enhancing the app's utility and personal value.
• Implement a decentralized system where users can vote on music quality using tokens, influencing which content gets promoted or featured.
• Encourages high-quality music submissions and active community involvement, ensuring that the best music is recognized and rewarded, thereby continuously improving the platform's content standard.
• Establish a marketplace where users can buy, sell, or trade their music NFTs using Cardano's secure and scalable blockchain technology.
• Opens up new economic opportunities for artists, enabling them to monetize their music creations in a dynamic market environment.
• Utilize Cardano smart contracts for managing subscriptions to premium music content, ensuring an automated, transparent, and fair process.
•  Reduces administrative overhead while providing a seamless and trustless experience for premium music access, enhancing the platform's attractiveness and ease of use.

Benefits to Cardano:

• Demonstrates the versatility of Cardano beyond traditional financial transactions.
• Showcases practical blockchain applications in everyday music creation and consumption.

1. Diversified Use Cases: QuickTune showcases Cardano's ability to support diverse and innovative use cases beyond traditional financial transactions, expanding its utility and appeal.
2. Community Engagement: By providing a platform that empowers artists and fosters a vibrant music community, QuickTune enhances user engagement within the Cardano ecosystem.
3. Economic Growth: QuickTune creates new economic opportunities for musicians and users, contributing to sustainable economic growth within the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Technology Showcase: The integration of NFTs, smart contracts, and decentralized voting on QuickTune serves as a compelling showcase of Cardano's advanced blockchain technology and scalability.
5. Global Impact: QuickTune's global reach and potential to revolutionize the music industry demonstrate Cardano's potential to drive positive change on a global scale.
6. Adoption Driver: By offering a practical and user-friendly music platform, QuickTune can drive broader adoption of blockchain technology, positioning Cardano as a leader in innovative solutions.

These benefits highlight how QuickTune not only addresses a critical need in the music industry but also contributes to Cardano's growth and impact in the broader ecosystem.

Unique Approach:

• Leveraging Cardano's advanced smart contract capabilities and commitment to sustainability.
• QuickTune leverages the Cardano blockchain for its security, scalability, and sustainability. By integrating with Cardano, QuickTune ensures that its platform is secure and reliable, providing users with a trustworthy environment for discovering and enjoying music. Additionally, by utilizing Cardano's smart contract capabilities, QuickTune can offer innovative features such as tokenized rewards and automated royalty payments, further enhancing the user experience.
• QuickTune is more than just a music platform; it is a community where artists and listeners can connect, collaborate, and share their love for music. Through features such as decentralized voting on content quality and tokenized rewards for user contributions, QuickTune fosters a vibrant and engaged community that actively participates in shaping the platform's content and direction.
• QuickTune is not just a standalone platform; it is part of a larger ecosystem of Cardano-based applications and services. By contributing to the growth of the Cardano ecosystem, QuickTune helps build a more robust and sustainable blockchain ecosystem that benefits all its participants.

Measuring Impact:

• Key metrics include the number of music NFTs created, token transactions, user engagement, and platform adoption rate.

Significance:

• Enhances music creation and consumption experiences, aligning with Cardano's vision of empowering individuals and driving blockchain adoption.

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

The positive impact of our project on the wider Cardano community includes:

1. Increased Adoption and Awareness: By showcasing the practical utility of the Cardano blockchain through our platform, we aim to attract new users, developers, and investors to the Cardano ecosystem, thereby increasing its adoption and visibility.
2. Enhanced Reputation: Through our innovative approach and successful implementation, we will contribute to enhancing Cardano's reputation as a leading blockchain platform for driving meaningful and impactful innovation.
3. Economic Growth: Our project will create new economic opportunities for artists, creators, and entrepreneurs within the Cardano community, leading to overall economic growth and prosperity.
4. Community Engagement: We are committed to fostering a strong and engaged community around our project, encouraging active participation, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing within the Cardano ecosystem.
5. Technological Advancement: By pushing the boundaries of what is possible with blockchain technology, we will contribute to the overall technological advancement of the Cardano ecosystem, inspiring further innovation and development.
6. Education and Awareness: Through our educational programs and community initiatives, we will help increase awareness and understanding of blockchain technology and its potential, empowering more people to participate in the Cardano ecosystem.
7. Partnerships and Collaborations: Our project will create opportunities for partnerships and collaborations with other projects and organizations within the Cardano ecosystem, leading to a more interconnected and collaborative community.

Overall, our project aims to have a transformative and lasting impact on the wider Cardano community, contributing to its growth, innovation, and sustainability.It has a high impact on the cardano ecosystem.

Value Creation: QuickTune will create value for the Cardano community by demonstrating the practical application of blockchain technology in the music industry. This will attract new users to the Cardano ecosystem, driving adoption and increasing the platform's utility.

Economic Growth: By enabling artists to monetize their content and engage directly with their audience, QuickTune will stimulate economic activity within the Cardano community. This will result in increased demand for ADA and other Cardano-based assets, benefiting existing stakeholders.

Community Engagement: QuickTune will foster a vibrant and active community of music enthusiasts and creators within the Cardano ecosystem. This will enhance the overall user experience and promote a sense of belonging and collaboration among community members.

Measuring Impact:

User Growth: We will measure the growth in the number of users on QuickTune and the Cardano blockchain. This will indicate the platform's success in attracting new users to the Cardano ecosystem.

Transaction Volume: We will track the volume of transactions on QuickTune conducted in ADA or other Cardano-based assets. This will reflect the platform's impact on the Cardano economy and its role in driving economic activity.

Community Engagement: We will monitor user engagement metrics such as the number of likes, comments, and shares on QuickTune. This will indicate the level of community engagement and the platform's success in building a vibrant community.

Sharing Outputs:

Community Updates: We will regularly share updates and insights on the growth and impact of QuickTune within the Cardano community through blog posts, social media updates, and community newsletters.

Collaboration Opportunities: We will actively seek collaboration opportunities with other projects and initiatives within the Cardano ecosystem to further enhance the platform's value proposition and impact.

Educational Resources: We will create educational resources and guides to help users and developers leverage QuickTune and the Cardano blockchain effectively. These resources will be shared with the wider Cardano community to promote learning and knowledge sharing.

[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?

The feasibility and capability to deliver our project with high levels of trust and accountability includes:

• Team Experience and Expertise:

Our project team consists of experts with significant experience in blockchain development, software Development and Engineering , and project management, specifically within the Cardano ecosystem. This expertise ensures that we are well-equipped to handle the technical and organizational demands of the project.

• Track Record

Our project team brings a proven track record in successfully delivering blockchain projects. At the forefront of our accomplishments is our notable participation in a Cardano Catalyst project.

• Dedicated Development Excellence

Each member of our team brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table. As developers, we have contributed significantly to Catalyst-funded projects, showcasing our dedication to excellence and our capacity to deliver high-quality results. Our collective experience extends beyond Catalyst initiatives, encompassing a diverse range of blockchain projects within esteemed high-tech organizations.

Collaboration with Local and Global Organizations: Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub

We are also partners with Emurgo Academy, Smart Blocks, and Ethiopian Blockchain Network serving as their ambassadors.

1. Market Conditions: Our project includes a thorough analysis of current market conditions and ongoing monitoring to adapt to any changes in demand or market trends. This proactive approach ensures that our project remains aligned with market needs, enhancing its feasibility.
2. Execution Risks: We have identified potential execution risks and developed robust mitigation strategies to address them. Our experienced team is well-prepared to handle technical challenges, navigate regulatory requirements, and manage unexpected delays, ensuring smooth project execution.
3. Budget Contingencies: Our budget includes a contingency plan to account for unexpected costs or budget overruns. This approach ensures that we can respond to financial challenges promptly, maintaining the project's feasibility without compromising on quality or scope.
4. External Factors: We have considered external factors such as changes in technology, legal frameworks, and economic conditions in our project planning. By staying informed and adaptable, we can effectively respond to external changes, minimizing their impact on the project's success.
5. Community Adoption: Community adoption is a key focus of our project, and we have developed a comprehensive strategy to engage and involve the Cardano community. By actively seeking feedback, addressing community needs, and fostering a sense of ownership, we aim to ensure high levels of adoption and engagement.

Validating Feasibility of the Approach

• Iterative Development and Pilot Testing: We will adopt an iterative development approach, beginning with pilot testing of the platform with targeted user groups from the Cardano community. This step is critical for ensuring that the platform's features and functionalities meet the actual needs of developers. Feedback from these initial users will inform necessary adjustments and enhancements before wider deployment.
• Performance Metrics and Continuous Evaluation: We will define clear, quantifiable performance metrics that measure user engagement, learning outcomes, and overall satisfaction with the platform. These metrics will be regularly evaluated against predefined benchmarks to assess the platform’s impact and effectiveness. Regular review meetings will be conducted to analyze these metrics, ensuring the project remains aligned with its educational goals.
• Feedback Loops :We will implement continuous feedback mechanisms to capture user insights and suggestions. These inputs will be essential for ongoing adjustments and enhancements, ensuring the platform evolves in response to actual needs.
• Performance Metrics and Benchmarks: Clear, quantifiable performance metrics will be defined to measure the project’s success. These will include user engagement rates, educational outcomes, and community growth metrics. Regular review meetings will assess these metrics against benchmarks to ensure the project is on track.
• Technical Validation:The feasibility of technical solutions will be validated through rigorous testing.

Risk Management: To address potential challenges and mitigate risks, we have developed a comprehensive risk management plan. This plan outlines key risks such as technical challenges, regulatory changes, and market fluctuations, along with corresponding mitigation strategies. By proactively identifying and addressing these risks, we aim to ensure the successful execution of our project even in the face of unforeseen obstacles.

Risk Management Plan

• Identification: We've identified potential risks like technical challenges, regulatory changes, market fluctuations, and operational issues.
• Assessment: Risks are categorized based on likelihood and impact as low, medium, or high.
• Mitigation: Mitigation strategies include regular testing, collaboration with Cardano experts, legal consultation, flexible pricing, and effective project management.
• Monitoring: The plan will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure effectiveness.
• Goal: By implementing this plan, we aim to minimize the impact of risks and ensure the successful delivery of the QuickTune project.

Community Engagement Metrics: We have defined specific metrics and benchmarks for measuring community engagement. These metrics include the number of active users, the level of participation in community events and discussions, and the rate of user-generated content creation. By tracking these metrics, we can assess the success of our community engagement efforts and make adjustments as needed to foster a vibrant and engaged community.

Scalability Plan: Our project includes a robust scalability plan to accommodate a growing user base and evolving technology landscape. This plan involves the use of scalable infrastructure and technologies, as well as continuous monitoring and optimization to ensure the platform remains relevant and effective in the long term. We will also consider future upgrades and enhancements to the platform to ensure scalability as the project grows.

Partnerships: We are actively seeking partnerships and collaborations that can enhance the success of our project. These partnerships could include collaborations with music industry organizations, technology companies, or other blockchain projects that align with our goals. By forming these partnerships, we aim to enhance our project's feasibility and create additional value for the Cardano ecosystem.

User Acquisition and Retention: To attract and retain users, we have developed a comprehensive user acquisition and retention strategy. This strategy includes targeted marketing campaigns, incentive programs, and partnerships with developer communities to ensure the platform's long-term success.

Budget Justification: Our budget has been carefully considered and is supported by a detailed breakdown of expenses. Each expense has been justified based on its importance to the project's success, ensuring that the budget is realistic and well-considered.

By incorporating these elements into our project proposal, we aim to increase its feasibility and demonstrate our commitment to delivering a successful project.

This structured validation approach ensures that our platform not only adheres to the highest standards of quality and security but also remains deeply responsive to the needs of the Cardano developer community. By integrating continuous user feedback and expert guidance into our development process, we can confidently deliver a robust and effective educational tool that enhances the capabilities of Cardano developers.

By detailing these strategies, the proposal will demonstrate a robust plan for maintaining high levels of trust and accountability, and a clear, practical method for validating the feasibility of the project approach. This comprehensive approach not only reassures stakeholders of the project’s potential success but also reflects a commitment to transparency and community collaboration.

The project has High Feasibility and Capability. The project leverages existing communities and content while utilizing modern web technologies and CMS for a scalable and maintainable platform. The development team is experienced in Cardano blockchain and blockchain technologies, machine learning, Mobile app developer , software development, and community building, ensuring the project’s successful delivery and proper management of funds.

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

Complete Mobile App Feature

• Objective: Complete Developing the core features of the mobile app, ensuring a smooth and user-friendly interface.
• Tasks:
• Complete Developing the user interface (UI) based on the design provided by the UI designer.
• Implement management features.
• Integrate functionalities for users.
• Implement basic social features.
• Deliverables:
• Fully functional mobile app available for testing and feedback.
• Basic user engagement features implemented and working smoothly.

Minting Platform Feature

• Objective: Implement the minting platform to allow users to mint their music content as NFTs.
• Tasks:
• Design and develop the minting interface within the mobile app.
• Integrate with the Cardano blockchain for minting NFTs securely.
• Implement features for users to specify ownership rights, royalties, and other metadata for their NFTs.
• Deliverables:
• NFT minting feature fully integrated into the the platform.
• Ability for users to mint their music content as NFTs on the Cardano blockchain.

Token Marketplace Development:

• Marketplace Design: Finalize the design and user experience of the token marketplace within QuickTune, ensuring it is intuitive, engaging, and secure.
• Smart Contract Integration: Implement smart contracts to facilitate the buying, selling, and trading of music NFTs, ensuring transparency and fairness in transactions.
• Token Integration: Integrate ADA and other supported tokens into the marketplace, allowing users to transact using their preferred cryptocurrencies.
• Marketplace Features: Develop advanced features such as bidding, auctions, and pricing mechanisms to enable dynamic and competitive trading of music NFTs.
• Security and Compliance: Implement robust security measures and ensure compliance with relevant regulations to protect users' assets and data.

Smart Contract and Payment Methods Feature

• Objective: Implement smart contract functionality and payment methods for royalty distribution.
• Tasks:
• Develop and deploy smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain for royalty distribution.
• Integrate payment methods for users to pay royalties and for artists to receive royalties and funds.
• Implement a transparent and automated process for royalty distribution based on NFT ownership.
• Deliverables:
• Smart contract functionality integrated into the platform for transparent royalty distribution.
• Payment methods implemented and tested for seamless royalty payments

Project Completion Report: A detailed document summarizing the entire project.

Project Completion Video: A concise video presentation providing an overview of the project, highlighting key achievements and outcomes.

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

The project team includes:

1: Eyasu Birhanu : Software developer | Cardano Smart Contract Developer | Lead Developer

• Experienced in programming languages such as Plutus, Haskell, Lucid, Mesh and Marlowe to build and deploy smart contracts.
• Experienced in Cardano blockchain-based projects such as stablecoin development (Cogito), real-world asset marketplace, education platforms for the Cardano blockchain, and payment gateways.
• Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA) Certificate 649c48006b7c38011005aeae
• Currently working at SingularityNet.io.
• Email: eyasu.birhanu@singularitynet.io
• Cardano Blockchain Education Ambassador @Emurgo Smartblock.
• Cardano Blockchain community builder.
• Responsible for smart contracts and blockchain related technology's.
• LinkedIn Profile: EyasuBirhanu
• Github: github account

2:Henok Gebere: Project Manager | Customer Service

• Linkedin: linkedin
• Customer Service Executive.
• Management.
• Honored with the highest score and gold medal in Management. Associated with Pharma collage hawassa campus.
• Oversees project execution, manages resources, and ensures timely delivery.

3: Dawit Melka- Software Engineer | Biomedical Engineer | AGI Research | Competitive Programmer @ A2SV | AURA Research @ UMICH | Full-stack Web Developer

• Research Assistant Intern @ University of Michigan
• LinkedIn Profile: Linkedin account
• Github: github profile

Experience

• Mobile application development
• Web application development
• Software Engineer
• Research Assistant
• A2SV | Africa to Silicon Valley

4: Wendwossen Dufera: Software developer | Web3 developer | AGI researcher

• Certified Software and Web3 developer.
• LinkedIn Profile: Linkedin
• Github: https://github.com/wendecoder
• Responsible for web development, focusing on Web-development and implementation. brings expertise in creating an intuitive and engaging user interface and Backend development.

5: Lemi Debela: Machine Learning Engineer

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemi-debela/
• Github: https://github.com/ldebele
• Responsible for AI related tasks.

6: Nahom Senay - Backend Developer | Software Engineering Student | Blockchain Developer

• Certified Cardano Blockchain developer
• Linkedin: linkedin profile
• Github: github account

7: Meheret B.: Project Manager/Technical Lead

• Cardano Blockchain Certified Associate (CBCA)
• Email: anulomeheret@gmail.com
• Role: Oversees project execution, manages resources, and ensures timely delivery.

8: Tibebe Solomon - Experienced Full stack web Developer | UX/UI Designer

• Linkedin: linkedin profile
• Github: https://github.com/ldebele
• Responsible for Web related tasks.

Licenses & certifications

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• User Experience Design: Demonstrates responsibility for creating intuitive and visually appealing user experiences.
• UI Design Proficiency: Proficient in applying user interface design principles and user-centered design methodologies.
• Interface Design Experience: Experienced in designing engaging and user-friendly interfaces for mobile and web applications.

Our team has actively participated in numerous projects closely related to this endeavor. Each team member is fully committed to executing this idea, drawing from our collective experience in implementing similar projects to a high standard of excellence

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

Mobile App Features Development (1st Milestone)

• Description: Completion of all planned features for the mobile app, including user profile management, music video, social, and basic browsing functionalities.
• Cost: 34,000 ADA
• Resources: Front-end developers, UI/UX designers, project manager

Music NFT Minting Platform (2nd Milestone)

• Description: Development of the platform's infrastructure to support music NFT minting, including smart contract integration, NFT metadata management, and user interface for minting.
• Cost: 44,000 ADA
• Resources: Blockchain developers, smart contract developers, UI/UX designers

Smart Contracts and Payment Methods (4th Milestone)

• Description: Integration of smart contracts for content ownership, royalty management, and payment processing. Implementation of payment gateways.
• Cost: 56,000 ADA
• Resources: Blockchain developers, payment gateway integration experts, legal advisors

Token Marketplace Development (3rd Milestone)

• Description: Creation of a marketplace for trading music NFTs and tokens, including features for buying, selling, and bidding on NFTs. Implementation of a secure and user-friendly trading interface.
• Project Completion Report and Video.
• Cost: 63,300 ADA

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

The cost of the project represents value for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

1. Value Creation: The project aims to create a vibrant marketplace for music NFTs, providing artists with new revenue streams and ownership rights over their creations. This aligns with Cardano's goal of promoting decentralized ownership and fair compensation in digital content.
2. Innovation: By integrating cutting-edge technologies like NFTs and smart contracts, the project pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the music industry, showcasing Cardano's capabilities in fostering innovation and new business models.
3. Community Engagement: The platform's features, such as token tipping and decentralized voting, incentivize active participation and community building. This can lead to a more engaged and committed user base within the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Economic Impact: The project has the potential to create economic opportunities for users, including artists, traders, and investors, thereby contributing to the growth of the Cardano economy.

In terms of cost justification, the project's budget is based on industry-standard rates for blockchain development, UI/UX design, and project management. These rates are competitive and reflect the level of expertise required to deliver a high-quality product. Additionally, the budget includes a contingency fund to account for any unforeseen expenses, ensuring that the project stays within its financial limits.

Overall, the project's cost represents value for money by delivering innovative solutions, fostering community engagement, and creating economic opportunities, all of which contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of the Cardano ecosystem.