NEWM: Multi-Track Releases (Albums)

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ryan Jones

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

Entity (Incorporated)

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

7

[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)

Develop and deliver the ability for artists to create, manage, and distribute “multi-track releases” within NEWM Studio’s existing distribution and minting user flow.

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

No

[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?

Yes

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

All development and addition to the NEWM GitHub repository made to deliver this solution will be open source similar to the existing codebase

[METADATA] Horizons

Music

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

NEWM Studio currently has an already implemented user flow for the distribution and minting (stream tokens) or single-track releases. Artists utilize this product to distribute their music to over 100+ streaming platforms and to have stream tokens minted for each track; however, they are limited to releasing one track at a given time, severely limiting the potential use of the product, total user base, and activity on the Cardano blockchain.

This project proposes the solution to enable support for more common “multi-track releases” (i.e., albums, EPs, etc.) which will allow artists to distribute and mint stream tokens for multiple tracks at once within a single release (an essential feature that is commonplace amongst all other distribution service providers). This solution will enhance the current distribution and minting user flow with which the artists are already familiar, allowing artists to create, save, manage, and ultimately distribute these releases

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

The success of this project will bring continued value to the Cardano community through the significant increase of new users into the NEWM ecosystem and resulting distribution, minting, and transaction activity on the Cardano blockchain. In the period of time following the initial release of NEWM Studio, our artist relations and support teams have conversed with potential new artists interested in utilizing our platform for their distribution and minting needs, but who have been delaying onboarding until the ability to distribute albums is available. The delivery of this feature will enable NEWM to more rapidly grow the user base and lead to more tracks minted on the Cardano blockchain.

[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 NEWM team has a proven track record of successfully delivering on catalyst proposals/projects and demonstrating our capability to execute with high levels of trust and accountability to the Cardano Community. 

Our commitment to transparency has strengthened our standing as an accountable team. We maintain and nurture open lines of communication through all of our community channels, and support a culture of mindful listening where community members feel heard. We also consistently share our code and development progress with the wider ecosystem, underscoring our dedication to open-source principles and community engagement. This level of openness encourages community feedback and critique, enabling continuous improvement and bolstering the reliability of our software.

We have also organized the team responsible for the delivery of this initiative and prioritized the work on our product roadmap such that required resourcing and all necessary skill sets would be available to implement immediately upon receiving project approval.

Past funded and delivered projects include, but are not limited to:

• The RecordStore 2.0 – newm.io/recordstore 
• NEWM Studio Music Distribution Platform – newm.studio 
• NEWM Marketplace 
• NEWM Music App
• Music Video Festival (annual event in collaboration with Nucast) – newm.io/musicvideofest
• Kogmios Library 

Our past successful Catalyst fund proposals, our continued achievement with adapting and bridging industry gaps and our commitment to transparent communication and code delivery provide a robust basis that ensures our ability to deliver this with trust and reliability.

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

Solution Research and Product Summary Documentation (1 Month)

A: Milestone Outputs:

Feasibility research conducted to determine refined project timeline and general solution requirements. Product feature documentation outlining functional (UX/UI) and technical (backend/server) requirements to build the multi-track release functionality. This documentation will be leveraged as guidance in the next phase of UI design and the creation of the formal Product Requirements Document (PRD).

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Functional and technical overview documentation is created and made available for the project team.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Feature summary document (Google Doc, PDF).

UI Design and Formal Product Requirements Document (1 Month)

A: Milestone Outputs:

Figma (or similar) UI wireframes and comprehensive designs and the feature’s Product Requirement Document (PRD), both of which will be utilized by the Product Delivery and Development teams to create development tickets and as a reference for Quality Management team members when reviewing and testing the to-be-developed feature.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Designs and PRD are created and leverageable by Product, Development, and Quality teams for the next phase (i.e., development).

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Figma files and PRD (Google Doc, PDF).

Product Development (3 Months)

A: Milestone Outputs:

GitHub repository(ies) updated and feature code developed. Feature code deployed to the staging environment and ready to test on TestNet.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Codebase and feature deployable to TestNet environment, developed to design and specification

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Codebase accessible via GitHub

Testing and Critical Bug Fixes (1 Month)

A: Milestone Outputs:

Feature QA and testing reports. Updated codebase with bug fixes and enhancements defined during the testing period.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

The codebase is tested and meets all requirements outlined in PRD and UI designs, all critical bugs have been resolved, and the feature is ready for Production/MainNet deployment.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Test case documentation (Google Sheet, PDF). Bug and enhancement report (Google Doc, PDF). Video of the creation of the multi-track release functionality (on TestNet) from within NEWM Studio demonstrating the feature prior to launch.

Final Milestone | Closeout and Production Launch (1 Month)

A: Milestone Outputs:

Final close-out report.

Final closeout video.

Feature launched in NEWM Studio Production environment.

B: Acceptance Criteria:

Final close-out report.

Final closeout video.

The feature codebase is deployed to the Production/MainNet environment.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion:

Final close-out report.

Final closeout video.

NEWM Studio Release Notes (Google Doc, PDF).

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

NEWM

Role(s): Product Management, Project Delivery Management, Solution Development

Link: NEWM

Responsibilities: Oversee overall project execution from design to delivery. Create all project milestone evidence documentation and deliver proposed solutions.

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

Project Lead: USD 1500 x 7 Month

Project Management: USD 1000 x 7 Month

Designer: USD 2000 x 2 Month

Developer (Frontend & Backend): USD 4000 x 7 Months x 3

Contingencies: USD 2500

= 108,000 USD or 300,000 ADA approx at 36 Cent per ADA

By quoting the Scope and milestones in advance we are taking an obligation to fulfill our promise even if the costs are higher than the current prices and saving the community risk of unforeseen price action or higher partnership costs.

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

Supporting multi-track releases will attract more artists to the platform, leading to higher engagement and greater minting of stream tokens, which directly increases the number of transactions on Cardano. Additionally, this upgrade aligns NEWM with industry standards, making it a more competitive and appealing option for artists looking to leverage blockchain for music distribution. By expanding the platform’s capabilities, the project will help drive the adoption of Cardano technology within the creative sector and provide a scalable, long-term solution that supports the growth of both artists and the blockchain ecosystem.