Preston Smith
Longtime music creators Chad Royce and Chris Jones have partnered to birth Ursa, a music streaming service whose goal is to revolutionize streaming by connecting artists and fans like never before. We at Fuzzable were lucky enough to chat with them about this project, where we got the complete rundown, including when it will be fully launched (hint: it’s sooner than you might think).
You might be asking yourself what makes Ursa different from other streaming platforms, such as Apple Music or Spotify, and that is exactly what we asked Chad and Chris only to discover that Ursa’s uniqueness comes twofold: Every aspect of an artist’s career is conglomerated into their specific pages so that fans can, for example, purchase concert tickets or view photos or liner notes while listening to an artist’s music, and the service offers the tools to ensure that every person involved in the production of every song is credited.
The crediting here is crucial, as other services might make credits impossible to find or could potentially have them obscure or simply incorrect. In this regard, we learned from Chris and Chad that music artists will have control of their pages and credits, so they will be able to ensure proper credits are distributed at all times. In this way, Ursa departs from longstanding resources such as discographies on Wikipedia and builds a new space where accurate discographies can be cultivated and maintained for the foreseeable future.
All of this culminates in a connection between fans and artists that has never been seen before, and it works on numerous levels: Fans will have access to everything the artist has to offer all in one place; artists will have control over their presence, allowing interaction where it is impossible on the leading streaming services; and artists will have increased streams of revenue, which, in turn, can help build tighter connections with their fans.
What’s more, Ursa continues to prove their devotion to artists and their connections to fans by sponsoring events that help all parties. For example, Ursa might purchase t-shirts from a band and hand them out to fans in return for said fans registering for their streaming service. This puts money in artists’ pockets, merchandise in fans’ hands, and new users for Ursa. They also help wherever they can; for instance, they have helped the band Real Estate, who needed projection screens at their show but were dealing with a strict budget.
All in all, Ursa has proven thus far that they are the champions up-and-coming artists and established musicians alike could use in their corner. With their goal to put voice and control in the hands of music artists, they have also strengthened preexisting and new bonds alike. And all of this comes during their beta period!
Ursa will launch in its entirety to the general public this fall. There are currently 100-150 artists and over 300 fans using the beta service, establishing a framework before its full launch this fall. For now, artists and fans alike can apply to use the beta version of the service and join those already using the service on Ursa’s website.
What are your opinions on streaming and music in general in the digital age? Tweet us @Fuzzable with all of your thoughts!
