Winamp Media Player for Windows Returns with Added Music NFTs

The classic media player prominently featured in the early days of the internet, Winamp, returns with a new version. But there’s a twist – Winamp decided to dive into the world of Web3 by adding support for music NFTs.

Winamp in Web3: Can OG Player Disrupt the Music Scene?

The new version of Winamp, 5.9.1, will have the ability to play music NFTs. Once downloaded, the NFTs can be imported through the MetaMask wallet. For that, Google Chrome, Brave or Firefox can be used. Besides, the new version of the legendary media player supports two blockchains – Ethereum (ETH) and Polygon (MATIC), which had a relevantly successful year compared to the most of TOP 100 altcoins.

However, Winamp’s entrance into music NFTs and Web3 raises another question. Are Nullsoft, the developers behind Winamp, trying to contribute towards the decentralization of the music scene?

According to famous artist Pitbull, “NFTs hold a great deal of promise for musicians, especially those in careers where outside forces are suffocating musicians’ creativity.” In a nutshell, the musician refers to the fact that streaming services have gradually become the largest chunk of the music industry but are controlled by a few major corporations.

The unfair royalty system by leading streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music has led iconic artists like Paul McCartney of the Beatles to voice their opposition. As a result, he and 149 other famous musicians signed a petition to ‘fix streaming’ on 21st April 2021.

Decentralized and blockchain-based music streaming platforms like Audius have made great efforts to put the control back in the creators’ hands. However, young projects like Audius have gone through their own issues in 2022, suffering from a hack that has sent $18 million of the music company’s native token down the drain.

On the Flipside

• The new Winamp version that supports ETH and MATIC is only available on Windows.
• Despite crypto enthusiasts enquiring about the mobile version, Nullsoft developers haven’t responded yet.

Why You Should Care

Legacy brands diving into Web3 can significantly accelerate adoption and spread awareness about the benefits of decentralization.

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