Viberate Seeks to Disrupt Music Royalties as Industry Hesitation Lingers

Viberate, a blockchain-based music and NFT platform, has introduced VIB tokens to streamline direct payments and music royalties, aiming to reduce intermediaries in the industryViberate and the Challenge of Blockchain Adoption in the Music …^[1]. The platform leverages blockchain technology to enhance transparency and speed in royalty distribution, positioning itself as a competitive alternative to traditional systemsViberate and the Challenge of Blockchain Adoption in the Music …^[1]. By enabling artists to receive direct payments via VIB tokens, the initiative lowers transaction costs and accelerates settlement times compared to legacy collection societiesViberate and the Challenge of Blockchain Adoption in the Music …^[1]. Key figures, including Co-founder/COO Vasja Veber, emphasize the platform's focus on empowering artists through decentralized solutionsViberate and the Challenge of Blockchain Adoption in the Music …^[1].

Viberate's VIB token operates within a broader ecosystem designed to integrate music data analytics, smart contracts, and decentralized marketplacesViberate price today, VIB to USD live price, marketcap and chart ...^[4]. The platform's database, curated by user contributions, ranks musicians based on online popularity and facilitates transactions such as booking fees and promotional activitiesViberate price today, VIB to USD live price, marketcap and chart ...^[4]. VIB tokens also reward users for adding or updating artist, venue, or event data, incentivizing community participationViberate price today, VIB to USD live price, marketcap and chart ...^[4]. This model aligns with Viberate's goal of creating a transparent, data-driven marketplace for live music and royaltiesViberate and the Challenge of Blockchain Adoption in the Music …^[1].

Despite its ambitious vision, Viberate faces challenges in adoption and market traction. As of 2025, the VIB token's market capitalization stood at approximately $778,740, with a 24-hour trading volume of $31.68Viberate Price: VIB Live Price Chart, Market Cap^[5]. This represents a significant decline from its 2018 all-time high of $0.73 and highlights ongoing struggles to attract institutional partnerships or major exchange listingsViberate Expands Music Rights Management with VIB Tokens^[2]. Analysts attribute this stagnation to technical barriers for non-crypto-native users, skepticism from established industry players, and token price volatility, such as a 10.8% single-day drop in 2025Viberate Expands Music Rights Management with VIB Tokens^[2].

Comparisons to earlier blockchain music platforms like Audius underscore the challenges of scaling decentralized solutions. While both projects aimed to disrupt traditional royalty systems, Audius's token initially surged before facing similar adoption dipsViberate Expands Music Rights Management with VIB Tokens^[2]. Viberate differentiates itself through extensive music data integration and a bounty reward model, which experts at Kanalcoin suggest could enhance long-term artist benefitsViberate and the Challenge of Blockchain Adoption in the Music …^[1]. However, success remains contingent on overcoming industry inertia and demonstrating tangible advantages over existing systemsViberate Expands Music Rights Management with VIB Tokens^[2].

Looking ahead, Viberate's leadership has outlined strategies to improve user experience, including intuitive onboarding tools and strategic partnerships with independent labels or event organizersViberate Expands Music Rights Management with VIB Tokens^[2]. Additional features, such as direct-to-fan sales and NFT-based ticketing, could further drive engagementViberate Expands Music Rights Management with VIB Tokens^[2]. The platform's ability to align with evolving tax frameworks, such as the 2025 U.S. changes allowing capital gains treatment for music catalog salesMusic Royalties Tax Changes 2025 - Royalty Exchange^[3], may also influence its appeal to creators and investors.