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WebFund's MusicHy.pe disrupts the music industry

Iconic NZ indie rock band, The Mint Chicks sent their major label Warner packing last December, and signed up with NZ start-up MusicHy.pe to launch their new EP “Bad Buzz”. The Mint Chicks will take their music directly to where their fans are, on the web.

Using the MusicHy.pe platform The Mint Chicks are running three major competitions. The first competition offers stems (sound files for each individual instrument) from their major hit “Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!” to musicians. Using a Creative Commons license musicians can download the stems and remix and upload their own version of the classic. Musicians can also perform a cover of the song using the available tabs, chords and lyrics. The MusicHy.pe community will choose the finalists and the two grand prize winners will perform with the Mint Chicks on their NZ EP tour.  Further competitions will allow fans to make the official music video for their new track “Bad Buzz” and design the official Mint Chicks T-shirt.

WebFund Chairman Dave Moskovitz said “We wanted to do something positive to replace the current broken business models of the music industry with a new way for  bands and fans to build valuable relationships with each other and enable bands to build sustainable revenue streams based on real value delivered to fans. A more participatory model will bring out the latent musical talent in just about everyone; broadening, deepening and interconnecting the gross creative product of people who love music.”

“The old music industry model is dead,” says Annabel Youens, MusicHy.pe Digital Strategist. “The major labels are a drag on the industry, pushing CDs which are a dead medium, hoovering cash away from bands, turning fans into criminals and creating friction between artists and their customers. We are fixing the industry by cutting labels out of the food chain and helping bands interact directly with their fans in smart digital ways.”

The Mint Chicks, originally from Auckland, have achieved something rare for a rock band - massive popularity without losing their cult status amongst music fans. Their second album, Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! was recently voted best NZ album of the decade by Real Groove magazine. The Mint Chicks currently split their time between Portland, Oregon and their hometown of Auckland.

“We were looking to do things differently,” says Ruban Nielson of the Mint Chicks. “The major labels are slow moving, risk-averse dinosaurs, and increasingly irrelevant. We wanted to work with someone who got what we were trying to do, and wanted to take some chances. We were introduced to MusicHy.pe through mutual friends and after our first meeting I knew we'd found the right people.”

MusicHy.pe's New Zealand beta runs until the end of March 2010, after which they are planning a North American launch later in the year.