Introducing Vault’s Fantasy Music Game
If you’re a fan of fantasy sports, then get ready for a new kind of fantasy game that focuses on musicians. Vault’s Fantasy Music game is currently in a private alpha stage and allows players to build a roster of five artists from the Solana-based NFT music platform. The game awards points based on increases in Spotify monthly listeners. To participate, players must own the limited-edition NFT drops of the artists through the Vault platform.
Vault is releasing an average of five new drops each week, with most of them eligible for the Fantasy Music game. These drops, which typically consist of 50 to 100 NFTs each, are selling out quickly due to their popularity. Last week, 50 players took part in the private alpha, with $500 given away in prize money. The prize pool will increase as the game scales up.
Vault CEO and co-founder Nigel Eccles, who also co-founded FanDuel, has been interested in creating a music-related fantasy league game for a while. He found inspiration in tracking the Spotify stats of artists involved with Vault and observing how playlist inclusions and exposure on TikTok impacted their popularity. For the game, Vault focuses on emerging artists with less than 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
The game utilizes Spotify’s data as it has become the industry standard for measuring music popularity. Vault is particularly interested in monthly listeners rather than total streams. Eccles believes that artist discovery is a key aspect of the game and wants players to find the next big artist.
While initially seen as a marketing exercise and a fun addition to Vault’s offerings, Eccles believes that the Fantasy Music game has already become more than that. Players are asking for tour dates, release schedules, and more information about the bands involved. Vault aims to showcase both the data and artistry behind the music going forward.
The game not only benefits players but also provides exposure to emerging artists. Eccles believes that the exposure gained through the game will be more valuable to the artists than the money they make from selling NFTs. Vault’s Fantasy Music game offers a unique opportunity for artists to connect with an engaged fanbase in a crowded music industry.
Some players are already strategizing in the game by purchasing NFTs from artists they believe will gain popularity. Eccles hopes to introduce communication features between players and genre-specific games in the future. The development of the game will be influenced by feedback and needs of the players, similar to how FanDuel grew.
Eccles draws parallels between fantasy sports games and their impact on fan engagement with Vault’s Fantasy Music game. He believes that the game directly supports artists at the beginning of their careers, provides fans with an exclusive product, and fosters a more direct relationship between artist and fan. Vault is careful not to commoditize music but instead aims to celebrate artists and help them succeed.
In conclusion, Vault’s Fantasy Music game is an exciting new venture that combines fantasy gaming with emerging musicians. It offers players a chance to discover new artists while providing exposure and support to those artists. With its focus on Spotify data and monthly listeners, the game aims to create a unique and interactive experience for both players and artists alike.