Chune.xyz: a new path for African music artists to unlock more revenue beyond streams

Streaming has changed how we listen to music, but for most independent African artists, it hasn’t changed how much they earn.

A million Spotify streams might sound like success for an African artist, but in reality it translates to just $400–$1,500 before splits with producers, labels, or collaborators.

For emerging talents across Afrobeats, Amapiano and Afro-House, that’s simply not enough to build a career.

That’s the problem Chune.xyz is looking to solve.

Instead of trying to replace Spotify or Apple Music, Chune complements them by creating a new revenue lane where artists earn more upfront and fans get a real stake in the music they love. Think of it as digital vinyl collecting rare, scarce editions of songs, minted on the Ethereum blockchain.

Why independent artists need more than streams

Streaming is fantastic for exposure but terrible for payouts. Fewer than 14,000 artists globally earn over $50,000 annually from Spotify. In Africa, where recording costs are high and industry infrastructure is thin, breaking even is nearly impossible without outside funding.

Fans also feel the gap. You might decide to loop a track all day, but it doesn’t give you direct connection or ownership. Vinyl once filled that role, but pressing and shipping records is too expensive for the majority of indie artists.

Chune.xyz brings that sense of exclusivity and ownership back without the plastic, warehouses, or shipping fees.

How Chune Works

Chune makes it simple for artists and fans to connect directly, no middlemen required.

For Artists

• Create a user account using your email & fill the Artist onboarding form.
  
  Once approved, you will receive an email address with a link on how to upload your first track.
• Upload your first track, add your artwork and choose how many digital editions to mint (100, 250, or 500), and set a fair price.
• Mint On-Chain: Each edition becomes a tamper-proof token on Ethereum, recorded forever.
• Get paid instantly: When fans buy, ETH goes straight into your account. 
• Artists can fund future projects without waiting months for stream payouts.
• Earn forever: If a collector resells their edition later, smart contracts send you royalties automatically.

From Testnet to Mainnet Beta

Before launch, Chune spent six months testing on Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet. In that time, more than 1,000 digital song editions were purchased by over 50 early users.

Some drops even sold out in under 12 hours, proving that fans are ready to support artists through direct ownership. Now, Chune is launching on the Ethereum mainnet, making every collectible carry real, tradable value. 

A Spotlight on African Music

Chune’s debut releases will feature collaborations with Amapiano groove records, the pioneering label blending human talent with AI-generated Afrobeats and 3-step Afro-house tracks. Each drop will be capped at 100–250 editions, ensuring scarcity and collectibility.

This is just the beginning. The platform’s roadmap includes expanding to more artists across Africa and other emerging markets, creating a global community where music is owned, celebrated, and fairly monetized.

Why Chune stands out

Unlike Spotify or Apple Music, Chune isn’t about endless playlists, it’s about giving independent artists more value and giving fans a chance to become true supporters.

It’s not a replacement, but a complement. Artists can still release music on streaming platforms for reach, while using Chune.xyz to monetize directly and build tighter fan communities.

• Artists keep up to 90% of sales.
• Fans gain verified “day-one” bragging rights.
• Everyone benefits from transparent, automatic royalty splits.

Join the Movement, head to beta.chune.xyz now as a user to sign up, check out early releases, and grab a digital collectible from Africa’s next stars.

Follow on X @chune_xyz or LinkedIn for more.