Over the past year, artists, musicians, and creators have been actively embracing the innovative tools offered by the Web3 space to connect with their communities and gain more control over their work.
From the transformation of Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit track “Company” into a nonfungible token (NFT) for fan royalty-sharing, to the release of Michael Jackson’s long-lost demo version of his song “Big Boy” on the blockchain as digital vinyl, numerous significant moments have occurred.
One notable event took place towards the end of the year when the renowned American thrash metal band, Megadeth, launched an exciting new NFT collection with the aim of strengthening its community in both the physical and digital realms. As one of the “Big Four” American thrash metal bands, alongside Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, Megadeth boasts millions of fans and followers across the globe, including a thriving online community.
Cointelegraph had the opportunity to speak with members of the Megadeth Digital team – Isabel Caballero, Jillian Valentin, and Alex Viruet – who have been diligently working to bring the community into the Web3 space. According to Valentin, the driving force behind the band’s foray into Web3 is its frontman, Dave Mustaine.
Valentin mentioned that in the mid-90s, Megadeth created an official website to promote one of their upcoming albums, a move that was unprecedented at the time. The website, known as “Megadeth Arizona,” aimed to be a virtual town in cyberspace where fans could gather, interact, and find information about the band, including news about their album, music samples, and tour dates.
This early initiative by Megadeth aligns with the vision of many in the Web3 space, but now, with the advent of new tools, these capabilities can be further enhanced.
Caballero highlighted how Dave Mustaine has always been eager to incorporate the digital aspect of life into his fans’ experiences. She stated, “If he discovers something that he believes will benefit his fans, he wants to embrace it wholeheartedly.”
All three members of the Megadeth Digital team expressed their satisfaction with the success of their Web3 initiatives in attracting fans from previous generations who were unfamiliar with concepts like wallets. Valentin described it as an incredible sight to witness.
Moreover, the team revealed that they have observed fans coming together in online spaces, supporting one another and providing assistance when needed.
Caballero used the analogy of a mosh pit to describe the Web3 space. She likened it to a chaotic and intense environment, similar to a rager, but emphasized that there is always someone nearby to offer help, whether it’s to pick someone up, stop the chaos, guide them out of the crowd, or get them back on their feet.
This perspective held by both the Megadeth Digital team and the entire community reflects their approach as they embark on this new era of digital spaces with Web3.
The team affirmed that the recently launched NFT collection, which debuted in December, is just the beginning of their plans to bring the metal community into the future.
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