Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are a second wave of sort of cryptocurrencies. They run on the same decentralized, block-chain technology that powers Ethereum, where every transaction is recorded by the network of computers running the platform.
NFTs are unique- there can only be one that is authenticated by the token, thus creating it’s value. Jack Dorsey’s first ever tweet, co-founder and CEO of Twitter, sold for an astonishing amount of money. This tweet is still available to the public- You can still read, “like,” and embed the tweet, but only one can own the token.
Taylor Swift has taken an alternate approach here- she is her own NFT. She recently re-released her second studio album called Fearless – Taylor’s Version. This was a more mature recording, but the exact same songs and music and nearly identical production.
She did this after a spat with her former record label and wanted to own all the rights to her music (short story: she owned the songs, but not the recordings, thus, she re-recorded it). This twitter thread goes into all the details, it’s a fascinating read.
What Taylor realized is the same that Dave Chapelle realized- we are all our own NFTs. These two realized the power and loyalty was to the fans- the ones who make the record labels, production companies, book publishers have a viable business model, and they spoke directly to them. They sold directly to them, they empowered their fan base.
The same can be true for each and everyone of us. Most people are employed at jobs, where their employer advances the paycheck in exchange for IP, time, effort, skills, etc. But leveraging your own NFT-ness and going direct to someone who values what you offer is another viable option.
It’s a ton of work, and takes a ton of time. Dave and Taylor put in the work. Winston Churchill did, too. And so did Gahndi, Einstein, and Yo-yo Ma.