Audius

Audius redefines digital music streaming by leveraging blockchain technology to build a permissionless, artist-first platform. It is more than just an app — it's a fully decentralized protocol that brings artists, fans, and node operators into a shared ownership model. Audius has constructed a protocol architecture that splits its infrastructure into content nodes, discovery nodes, and smart contracts across both Ethereum and Solana, ensuring scalability, decentralization, and performance.

Artists can upload content directly to the network, mint artist tokens, and gain access to tools such as tipping, fan engagement badges, and premium content monetization. Fans can stream music for free or engage with exclusive releases, while also participating in community governance and rewards. Developers are encouraged to build on top of Audius using tools like the Javascript SDK, REST API, and the command-line utility npx create-audius-app. This open development model has led to a rich ecosystem of third-party applications and integrations.

Audius is currently supported across all major platforms including Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, and Linux, with modern browser compatibility. The protocol is maintained and extended by a global community of open-source contributors. Users can run their own service nodes to help decentralize the network further, providing infrastructure in exchange for protocol incentives. Its commitment to openness and modular architecture makes it a viable, long-term alternative to legacy streaming giants.

Competitors in the space include Sound.xyz, and Catalog, though none offer the same level of decentralization, open access development tools, and artist monetization features as Audius.

Audius provides numerous benefits and features that make it a standout project in the decentralized audio streaming ecosystem:

• Full Artist Control: Artists can upload tracks, release albums, and monetize content directly without giving up ownership.
• Decentralized Infrastructure: Built on Ethereum and Solana, Audius operates via a fully decentralized node network including discovery and content nodes.
• Developer-Friendly: Open-source SDKs and APIs make it easy for developers to build apps, analytics tools, or music players on top of the Audius protocol.
• Zero Upload Limits: Artists can upload unlimited tracks with no duration caps, fostering creative freedom.
• Exclusive Fan Perks: Fans can earn badges, gain early access to releases, and participate in community governance.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Audius works across web, iOS, Android, and desktop operating systems.

Audius makes it easy for anyone to begin streaming or uploading music with just a few steps:

• Step 1 – Create an Account: Visit audius.co and sign up using your email or a connected wallet.
• Step 2 – Explore the Platform: Use the built-in player to browse trending tracks, follow artists, and stream music instantly.
• Step 3 – Upload Music: If you're an artist, head to your dashboard and upload tracks or full albums — with no limit to how much you can share.
• Step 4 – Use Audius Apps: Download the Audius app from the App Store or Google Play for seamless mobile access.
• Step 5 – Build With Audius: Developers can run npx create-audius-app to start building their own integrations using the open SDK and API.
• Step 6 – Join the Community: Participate in protocol governance, contribute to the codebase on GitHub, or run a discovery or content node to support the network.