James Blake is intent on disrupting the current landscape within the music industry that leaves artists severely under-compensated by streaming platforms.  

Blake explained on Twitter that artists currently earn between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream depending on the platform, meaning that one million plays equals $3,000. That’s before the label, management, and production costs are factored in.  

His solution? A new music platform called Vault.  

Built on a philosophy similar to Patreon, Vault offers artists a direct link with their audiences where fans can subscribe to them for several benefits, namely access to unreleased music. Additionally, Blake shared that his subscribers on Vault will be the first to learn about tickets, new music, and other news.  

In the first post on Vault’s Twitter account, it says, “You set the price. You decide when. You own the audience.”  

In an industry where artists have become overly dependent on touring to make a living through their craft, James Blake is spearheading a new way to empower his fellow artists.