While the NFT
are growing in popularity, including in the music sector, many artists had an unpleasant surprise at the beginning of February.
In fact, the site HitPiece claims to sell the production of thousands of groups in the form of NFTs without their approval.
HitPiece attracts the wrath of artists around the world
The NFTs of HitPiece have nothing of the “unique” character of each “non-fungible token” and, even worse, they have mainly generated anger, disappointment and misunderstanding. The anger, first of all, of hundreds of artists who have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction, in particular on Twitter, after having made an impromptu discovery. An American site, called HitPiece and describing itself as a platform dedicated to musical NFTs, has worked to offer NFTs of musical pieces for sale.
This is the whole problem: in a well-stocked catalog made up in particular of many indie rock bands still active, but also of international music legends such as John Lennon, none of the pieces presented for sale have, in fact, , received the approval of the holders of their rights.
Until Tuesday 1er February evening, HitPiece described itself as a means of ” allow fans to collect NFTs of their favorite sounds “. The next day, a major cleaning was carried out on the site, since no contract binding or remunerating the artists concerned was signed by HitPiece. Only the following message remains: We started the conversation and we listen “.
After viruses, fake NFTs disappoint fans
One of the major problems is that HitPiece previously argued the opposite: To be clear, artists get paid when digital goods are sold on HitPiece. Like all beta products, we continue to listen to all user feedback and are committed to evolving the product to meet the needs of artists, labels and fans. “. Except that after the outcry and anger, place to disappointment for the fans in question, since the products are no longer available.
At the moment there is misunderstanding. How? ‘Or’ What HitPiecelaunched on 1er December 2021 with its own blockchain (called “HitChain”) operating in parallel with that of Ethereum, was it able, for two months, to offer such NFTs for sale? This is all the more worrying since one of the founding members, Rory Felton, worked for more than twelve years for Sony Music and currently runs his own music label, while his partner is none other than rapper MC Serch.
If the future consequences for HitPiece are not yet known, the setbacks are multiplying at the moment between NFT and the music industry.
On the same subject :
When Ozzy Osbourne Goes NFT, Better Avoid Him
Sources: vulnerability
, Vice
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