Episode Overview
Join Thomas as he sits down with Ryder Havdale, CEO/Founder of HIO Music, to discuss how they're transforming music streaming on Solana with a platform that prioritizes artist compensation and community engagement.
Key Topics & Timestamps
Ryder's Journey & HIO's Origins [00:01:50]
* From web developer to musician with Broken Social Scene
* Personal experience with streaming payouts
* Identifying transparency issues in current streaming models
The HIO Difference [00:03:40]
* 100% of subscription revenue goes to creators
* Current catalog of 6M+ songs, expanding to 100M
* Direct artist uploads and minting on Solana
* Comparison to traditional streaming platforms' payment models
Platform Features [00:05:15]
* In-app merch sales capabilities
* User-generated content integration
* Community engagement rewards
* Upcoming social feed and artist-fan interaction features
Solana Integration [00:09:30]
* Why they chose Solana over other blockchains
* Integration with Solana Mobile/Saga
* Benefits of blockchain technology without complexity
* Making Web3 accessible to mainstream users
Upcoming Features [00:31:20]
* Pre-release capabilities
* Ticketing integration
* Live show recordings
* Direct artist-fan messaging
* Playlist import functionality
Token Launch & Community [00:34:00]
* HIO token utility and rewards
* Community engagement incentives
* Airdrop plans for early users
* Platform growth strategy
Notable Quotes
"Our mission is to get a billion creators paid. It's not about onboarding a billion people to Web3, it's about actually getting creators paid." - Ryder Havdale
Team Highlights
* Recent addition of Arabian Prince (NWA founding member) as Chief Innovation Officer
* Collaboration with George Brown University on music discovery AI
* Partnership with Merge Records
Where to Find HIO Music
* Website: hiomusic.com
* Twitter/X: @hiomusic
* Instagram: @hiomusicforever
* Available on Apple App Store, Google Play, and Solana Saga
Looking Forward
* Token launch coming within next few weeks
* Major platform updates incoming
* Expanding catalog and feature set
* Focus on building creator-fan relationships
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thomasbahamas.substack.com