Founder Spearheads Blockchain Platform To Solve Longstanding Issue In Music Industry

An Atlanta-based technology startup is working on a solution that could save the music industry billions of dollars.

The Labz, a tech platform based in metropolitan Atlanta uses cloud-based blockchain technology through an automated platform that may rectify a long-standing issue in the music business: copyright and documentation of music credentials.

Farah Allen, the woman behind the early stage startup, was an architecture engineer before turning to the music tech field. The proud Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University graduate moved to Atlanta for her first job. However, as time passed, she felt working in architecture wasn’t fulfilling her creative pursuits.

Enter a conversation with her husband, who works in music.

Allen discovered artists face anxiety over people stealing their music or not getting the proper credit through a process that has yet to be updated.

Farah Allen presenting her startup The Labz at The Farm Atlanta’s Demo Day

She knew there had to be an innovative solution. Matter of fact, she went back to school because of a major interest in tech. She earned her Master’s in Information Systems Management. Her work on projects to solve problems and automate in the architecture sphere and corporate world made her determined to find a better way for artists.

“The process of collaborating was a lot of the process that I was solving in the corporate world,” said Allen. “I was asking myself, why don’t they have better technology and actual data collectors?”

What emerged was a blockchain platform that allows artists and creatives to produce and collaborate on songs while protecting their work. Users instantly collect data for credentials and copyright forms — information that is usually left up to the minimal time, discretion, and potential oversight of the artists.

Allen says there’s nothing quite like it in the market, although a UK-based startup also automates digital forms for artists and filmmakers. However, Allen’s successful run through BIG Incubator program and The Farm Accelerator, plus strategic involvement with SXSW and A3C Festival and Conference, two of the biggest music events in the Southeast, prove that Allen is determined to see this enterprise succeed.

The process by which artists get credit for their work has been a technical nuisance for decades.

Glendino, an Atlanta-based producer and recording artist, says that he’s had his uncredited work used by big-name artists, as did his producer before him. Although he feels all parties know the score, and artists will forever need people to get new beats from, he believes all artists are at risk.

“As far as blockchain technology to provide instant music protection, I’m for it,” he added. “It’s an innovative approach that favors everyone in terms of collaborative efforts being fair. Split sheets are the norm, but why not ‘raise the bar’ by implementing tech?”

Not to mention, Allen’s target market is worth $2.5 billion dollars. That’s how much money goes unclaimed leaving a giant hole, or “black box” as it is referred to. Money that artists may never see.

In addition to the data being automated, the information will also be stored in the blockchain database, according to Allen. From there, an internet search will always match music contributions to their rightful owners.

Finally, a viable solution for a billion dollar problem in the music industry.