According to the Official Charts Company website, Muse’s latest album Will Of The People is the first album that uses NFT technology to hit the number one spot on the UK album chart. The British rock trio’s ninth studio album came out on August 26th and, as of now, is selling more than all the other albums in the Top 10 combined. The album reached the top spot at 4pm today and is the band’s seventh UK Number 1.
Will Of The People becomes the first UK chart-topper ever to include NFT components, the release included a limited edition “Digital Pressing”, produced in collaboration between Warner Music UK and green music web3 marketplace Serenade. After Aitch’s Close To Home became the first NFT project to enter the UK’s Official Chart last week, Will Of The People made history today reaching Number 1.
Congratulations to Muse – The world’s first chart eligible music NFT format, sold out in 25 minutes. pic.twitter.com/vWbZwbaYAX
— Warner Records UK (@warnerrecordsuk) September 1, 2022
The NFT release was limited to 1,000 copies worldwide and sold out in a blinding twenty-five minutes. It had a different album sleeve and came as a downloadable high-res FLAC file that the band signed digitally, and each of the buyers had their name logged on the ledger providing them with verifiable ownership and the ability to trade on secondary markets. Digital Pressings will also render accurate, perpetual royalties for musicians, whoever owns the content and copyright holders.
What number did everyone get? pic.twitter.com/39ThOKfUil
— Serenade (@serenade__co) August 26, 2022
The Official Charts Company reported on their website their Chief Executive, Martin Talbot, thoughts on the adoption of NFT technology, “Over their seven decades, the Official Charts have always strived to move with the times, reflecting consumption of new formats and all new ways of distributing music, as they have evolved. Just as vinyl, 8-track, cassette tapes, CDs and even MiniDisc, DCC and DAT have been welcomed into the charts, we will also welcome Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) – and we will be delighted when the first album delivered as an NFT contributes to the chart, with Serenade and Muse leading the way this summer. NFTs are a new, exciting format, the potential for which is only just beginning to be explored and I am sure will play a part in the Official Charts for years to come.”
Taking about Muse’s adoption of NFTs for their new album, Sebastian Simone, Vice President, Audience & Strategy of Warner Records UK, added, “Muse have always been at the forefront of technological innovation and were one of the first music artists to pioneer in Web3 back in 2020. Their fans have an appetite for collectable rarities, and this format brings them closer to Muse than ever before, propelling them into a new space and offering an entirely unique experience.”
Serenade Founder Max Shand, adds, “As a simple, standardised and chart eligible format, Digital Pressings will be a game changer on the global stage,” he continued, “I have always been a huge fan of Muse, so I am beyond excited that they will be the first artist to release a Digital Pressing with Serenade.”
Official ticket resale for the #WillOfThePeople 2023 UK Tour is strictly limited to @Twickets, a fan-to-fan resale platform. Learn more here: https://t.co/lNuPIQLVGS pic.twitter.com/RiTN2qOiQ2 — muse (@muse) August 26, 2022
Muse will be touring the UK in 2023 dates are below, and click here to see ticket availability.
27/05/2023 – Home Park – Plymouth
20/06 – John Smith’s Stadium – Huddersfield
23/06 – Bellahouston Park – Glasgow
25/06 – The National Bowl – Milton Keynes
