Proof of Concept - Soundcheck

Public Music Initiative: Soundcheck

Executive Summary

I propose the creation of a government-funded digital music platform called "Soundcheck" that would serve as a public alternative to commercial streaming services like Spotify. This initiative would be freely available to all citizens, funded through federal budget allocations, and would provide substantially improved compensation for musical artists.

Background

Current commercial streaming platforms typically pay artists minimal royalties per stream, leading to unsustainable income for many musicians. For context, the current defense budget is approximately $895 billion, suggesting potential fiscal capacity for arts and culture investment.

Artist Compensation Model

For a mid-tier artist (approximately 1 million monthly streams):

• Enhanced Per-Stream Rates: $0.01-$0.02 per stream, representing a 2-6× increase over standard commercial rates

• Income Floor Protections: Minimum guaranteed payments regardless of streaming metrics

• Equity-Focused Structure: Higher compensation rates for independent and emerging artists to promote diversity in musical expressions

• Infrastructure Support: Government-funded recording facilities and development grants

Financial Impact Comparison

• Commercial Platform: $3,000-$5,000 monthly income

• Proposed Soundcheck: $10,000-$20,000 monthly income (~$120,000 annually, comparable to senior technology sector salaries)

Projected Benefits

1. Fair compensation structure for creative professionals

2. Job creation across technical and artistic sectors

3. Significant increase in artist revenue, potentially stimulating cultural production

4. Demonstration of effective government support for arts and cultural development

5. Increased accessibility to professional resources for emerging artists

Implementation Considerations

This initiative would require allocation of federal funding in the billions, representing a fraction of current defense expenditures, while potentially transforming the economics of music creation and distribution.

some potential logos: