NMKR API Integration for NEWM Studio NFT Creation

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Jimmy Londo

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

Individual

[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)

Integrating the NMKR API automates the Cardano artists’ ability to create and publish music NFTs to The RecordStore directly from NEWM Studio.

[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.”

The NEWM product and engineering teams will need to coordinate closely with NMKR to obtain API specifications during the design and development phases of the project, as well as to assess the quality of the implementation and troubleshoot the integration as necessary during functional testing. This coordination will be essential to ensure that the solution is fully and correctly integrated at the completion of the project and that the artists are presented with an optimal user experience once the feature is launched.

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

No

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

The NMKR-owned API to be integrated into NEWM Studio as part of this feature will not be considered open source; however, any required additions to the NEWM GitHub repository made to deliver this solution will be open source like the rest of the codebase.

[METADATA] Horizons

Interoperability

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The integration of the NMKR API directly into NEWM Studio will address a critical need that the NEWM and Sick City teams have identified through previous onboarding of musicians to The Recordstore - an automated process for artists to create, publish, and manage music collectibles (NFTs). This Catalyst project would round out the NEWM team’s vision for NEWM Studio as a centralized product for musicians to not only manage their releases and mint and manage stream token sales, but also now to automate creation and publishing of NFTs to The RecordStore. The ability to create and sell these NFTs directly empowers the artists, giving them more overall ownership and control of their content, an additional revenue stream, and the ability to engage with fans in new unique ways through NFT-gated experiences.

We know that there is a growing demand for music NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as a means for artists to monetize their work and engage with fans in innovative ways. However, many artists face challenges in navigating the complex process of creating and managing NFTs, particularly when it comes to music, which requires specialized handling to ensure proper attribution, and authenticity. To date, this has been done manually by Sick City ahead of any publication to The RecordStore. Our approach to this problem involves leveraging the capabilities within NEWM Studio to provide artists a seamless experience and automated solution for creating these music collectibles as NFTs. By integrating NMKR’s API directly into NEWM platform, NEWM will streamline the process of minting NFTs from music files, eliminating the need for artists to rely on manual review and processing from Sick City. This solution resolves the current scalability issue necessary to overcome in order to expand user growth for The RecordStore. As part of this solution, the NEWM Studio backend will publish all music collectible NFTs automatically to The RecordStore to minimize this required manual handling by Sick City and remove the bottleneck for scalability.

To demonstrate our impact, we will track key metrics such as the number of music collectibles created (on-chain data), the revenue generated for artists through NFT sales, and the level of engagement from fans and collectors. The integration within the NEWM ecosystem, providing artists with a comprehensive platform for creating, distributing, and monetizing their music content is what sets our solution apart from all currently available products. This unique approach not only simplifies the process for artists but also fosters a more direct and transparent relationship between creators and fans, ultimately driving innovation and growth within the Cardano ecosystem building out the NEWM ecosystem.

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

The success of this project will bring significant value to the Cardano community in several ways:

Innovation in the Music Industry: By introducing an automated process for creating music collectibles as NFTs within the NEWM ecosystem, we expand upon our current contribution to the overall evolution of the music industry. This capability would not only empower artists to explore and take advantage of new revenue streams and engage with their fans in new, innovative ways but also would position Cardano as a leader in leveraging blockchain technology within the creative industries.

To measure the impact of our project on the Cardano community, we will track key metrics related to adoption, engagement, and economic activity:

• Adoption: We will monitor the number of artists, managers, and labels utilizing NEWM Studio to create these music collectibles as NFTs, as well as the volume of NFTs minted and sold within the ecosystem.
• Engagement: We will assess the level of engagement from artists, collectors, and fans through metrics such as social media interactions, platform usage, and attendance at related events and workshops.
• Economic Activity: We will track the revenue generated for artists through the sale of these NFTs created directly within NEWM Studio and sold on The RecordStore.

To share the outputs and opportunities resulting from our project, we will employ various communication channels and engagement strategies:

• Regular Updates: We will provide regular updates and progress reports on the project and its status within the NEWM ecosystem through social media, newsletters, and community forums, keeping the Cardano community informed of all achievements and milestones
• Commitment to Transparency and Accountability: We are committed to operating with transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

Overall, the success of our project will not only bring tangible benefits to artists and stakeholders within the music industry, but also contribute to the growth and vibrancy of the Cardano community as a whole.

[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 Sick City, NMKR, and NEWM teams have a proven track record of successfully delivering projects, demonstrating our capability to execute with high levels of trust and accountability. Our collective experience spans multiple industries and includes the successful implementation of initiatives ranging from community events to digital innovation projects. Here are some key aspects of our existing capabilities that demonstrate why we are best suited to deliver this project:

• Track Record of Success: Our teams have a history of delivering projects on time and within budget, showcasing our ability to effectively plan, execute, and manage initiatives from conception to completion. This includes events organized by Sick City, digital projects undertaken by NMKR, and community engagement initiatives facilitated by NEWM.

Expertise in Relevant Domains: Each team brings unique expertise to the table, with Sick City specializing in community engagement by successfully onboarding new artists to the Record Store, NMKR focusing on technology solutions (e.g., for creation of NFTs), and NEWM offering expertise in music industry dynamics and blockchain integration. This diverse skill set ensures that we can effectively address the multifaceted challenges of the project.

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

Solution Research and Product Summary Documentation (One Month)

A: Milestone Outputs: Feasible research conducted to determine refined project timeline and general solution requirements. Product feature documentation outlining functional (UX/UI) and technical (backend/server) requirements to integrate the NMKR API. 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 (One 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 / API Integration (Three 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 (One 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 music collectible (NFT) (on TestNet) from within NEWM Studio demonstrating the feature prior to launch.

Final Milestone | Closeout and Production Launch (One 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 and video are created and submitted and 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?

Sick City

Role: Project Advisor

Link: SickCity

Responsibilities: Guide and provide advice on general project execution, support communication with NEWM and NMKR, and provide expertise on current manual NFT creation process.

NMKR

Role: API Integration Specialist

Link: NMKR

Responsibilities: Provide expertise in integrating blockchain technology into the NEWM ecosystem and platform, ensuring seamless functionality for creating music collectibles as NFTs through leverage of the existing NMKR API.

NEWM

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

Link: NEWM

Responsibilities: Oversee overall project execution, coordinate team effort, and manage event logistics. Create all project milestone evidence documentation and deliver proposed solutions. Responsible for application development and enhancement of NEWM Studio to support the automated creation of music collectibles as NFTs (via the NMKR API), including specification, UX/UI design, front and backend development, and release management.

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

Budget breakdown for the integration project with a budget of 300,000 ADA:

Technical Development: 190,000 ADA

This allocation covers the costs associated with the technical development required for integrating existing blockchain technology into the NEWM ecosystem. It includes expenses such as resources required for software development, testing, and deployment.

Platform Enhancement: 80,000 ADA

This portion of the budget is designated for enhancing the NEWM platform to support the automated creation of music collectibles as NFTs. It includes user interface design improvements, backend infrastructure upgrades, and implementation of new features.

Project Management Costs: 14,000 ADA

Project management fees to oversee the integration project, including coordination, communication, and ensuring project milestones are met on time and within budget.

Contingency Fund: 16,000 ADA

Reserved for unforeseen expenses or additional requirements that may arise during the integration process. This ensures flexibility and allows for adjustments to the project scope if needed.

Total Budget: 300,000 ADA

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

The costs associated with the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem by investing in the integration of blockchain technology into the NEWM ecosystem, which subsequently will unlock new, innovative opportunities for artists and creators to leverage NFTs and this blockchain technology. This will allow the community to more efficiently and effectively onboard new artists from other blockchains onto the Cardano ecosystem.