Empowering musicians, photographers, designers, and DJs to harness blockchain technology — grow your creativity and get paid on your terms.
Cardano / ADA
ADA for Artists is a dedicated space for creative professionals to discover the full potential of blockchain technology — without the noise and complexity.
Whether you're a music creator, DJ, photographer, or graphic designer, we provide the guidance and tools you need to understand how Web3 can expand your creative and financial freedom.
Built on Cardano, one of the most sustainable blockchains in the world, our platform bridges the gap between artistic expression and decentralised payments.
From first-time wallet setup to advanced on-chain distribution — we guide you every step of the way.
Clear, practical explanations of how Cardano and ADA work for creative professionals — no jargon.
Cut out intermediaries. Receive payments from fans and collaborators anywhere using ADA.
Step-by-step guidance on using Cardano-powered platforms for release and royalty management.
Your AdaHandle is your unique on-chain identity — a human-readable wallet address just for you.
Explore artist-led collections and learn how to mint and sell your own digital work on Cardano.
Connect with other artists building in the Cardano ecosystem — share, collaborate, and grow.
Join a growing community of artists leveraging Cardano to distribute, monetise, and protect their work.
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Selling, publishing, and collecting royalties — everything you need to know.
Selling your music online can be a straightforward endeavour. Numerous platforms provide detailed step-by-step guides on setting up an account. Below you'll find a list of music distributor websites you can use depending on your genre.
Music publishing is an essential process that involves developing, protecting, and valuing music. Music publishers are crucial in nurturing talent and managing the business aspects — enabling composers and songwriters to focus entirely on their creativity.
The business of music publishing relies heavily on a robust copyright framework that protects the rights of creators. Without adequate copyright protections, there would be little motivation for writers and composers to share their gifts or for publishers to support their journeys.
The relationship between a music publisher and a songwriter is built on trust and mutual respect, supported by a publishing contract. Songwriters assign the copyright of their music to the publisher, who promotes, exploits, and protects that music. In return, the publisher shares a portion of income earned as royalties.
IMRO (the Irish Music Rights Organisation) administers the performing rights for copyrighted music in Ireland. Broadcasters, venues, and businesses pay a blanket licence fee, giving them freedom to play music without securing rights for each individual song.
IMRO collects these funds and distributes them fairly to songwriters, composers, and publishers — a process known as public performance royalties.
The following platforms can help you distribute your music online.
Replace complex wallet addresses with a memorable human-readable name on Cardano.
AdaHandles is a unique NFT, minted and issued on the Cardano blockchain. Ada Handle is a human-readable address system for Cardano, simplifying transactions by replacing complex wallet addresses with memorable names.
When making transactions on the blockchain, senders typically need to copy or type a receiver's full wallet address — a long, complex string. Here's what that looks like before and after an AdaHandle:
Before & After AdaHandle
SubHandles are an extension of Handles for individuals, companies, and dApps that need more than one handle associated with a brand. For example, $djmark@mixcloud or $techno@mixcloud — where $mixcloud is the root Handle.
Each of the following handles is priced around $10.
Curated links and articles to help artists understand and navigate the world of Web3 and Cardano.
A deep dive into how NFT technology can benefit the music industry — from direct fan monetisation to royalty transparency and beyond.
nmkr.io ↗Claim your unique on-chain identity. Replace complex wallet addresses with a memorable handle for easy payments and tipping.
handle.me ↗Connect directly with fans, monetise your music, and launch your career on your own terms using blockchain technology on Cardano.
soundrig.io ↗Create, manage, and sell NFTs on Cardano. NMKR handles the minting infrastructure so you can focus on your creative project.
nmkr.io ↗NFT-powered, permissionless content monetisation for filmmakers, musicians, and creators. Also tackling fraud and scalping in ticketing.
nucast.io ↗Create and sell Media Tokens giving users true ownership of digital content including books, music, movies, and podcasts.
stuff.io ↗Hot wallets for daily use, cold wallets for maximum security. Choose what's right for you.
Connected to the internet — ideal for everyday transactions, staking, and interacting with dApps and NFTs.
Manage digital assets, access NFTs, DApps, and DeFi services. Send, receive, stake ADA, and send multiple assets in one transaction.
Visit lace.io ↗All-in-one gateway to Cardano DeFi, DApps, and NFTs. Easy to send and receive ADA and all native Cardano assets.
Visit eternl.io ↗Open-source lightweight mobile wallet. Manage ADA on the go — launches instantly and you can start sending or receiving within minutes.
Visit yoroi-wallet.com ↗Non-custodial mobile light wallet for Cardano, prioritising security of your digital assets with exceptional ease-of-use.
Visit vespr.xyz ↗Next-generation Cardano wallet with easy onboarding and a step-by-step guide to enter the new era of finance.
Visit begin.is ↗Unites Web2 and Web3 with cashback rewards, native financial integration, governance, multichain support, staking, and seamless on/off ramps.
Visit gerowallet.io ↗Private keys stored offline — protects your assets from hackers and malware. Recommended for holding larger amounts long-term.
Stores your private keys in a secure, offline environment — giving you peace of mind and complete control over your assets.
Visit ledger.com ↗Hardware wallet that keeps your crypto safe from hackers and malware by keeping all sensitive data completely offline.
Visit trezor.io ↗Seamlessly compatible with MetaMask, Eternl, Solflare, and others. Top-tier security for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide range of cryptocurrencies.
Visit keyst.one ↗Cardano-powered platforms and tools being built for artists, musicians, and creative professionals.
A revolutionary platform designed to empower musicians and music lovers worldwide. By leveraging blockchain, SoundRig ensures fair compensation for artists while offering fans high-quality, encrypted music. Provides the tools to connect directly with fans, monetise your music, and launch your career on your terms.
Visit soundrig.io ↗A decentralised platform born from a filmmaker's vision for permissionless content distribution. On a mission to revolutionise entertainment through NFT-powered content monetisation with secondary market capability. Also modernising ticketing to tackle fraud, scalping, and counterfeiting.
Visit nucast.io ↗Revolutionises digital ownership by creating Media Tokens — giving users true ownership of digital content like books, movies, music, and podcasts. The Creator Portal lets creators publish, mint, and sell encrypted digital media in just 3 steps.
Visit stuff.io ↗Helps you create, manage, and sell NFTs — unique digital assets that represent ownership or authenticity of content like art, music, or collectibles. Ideal for monetising digital creations on the blockchain. NMKR handles the minting infrastructure while you focus on your project.
Visit nmkr.io ↗ADA for Artists is a place for artists and upcoming artists to explore the potential of blockchain technology.
ADA for Artists is a dedicated space for creative professionals — whether you're a music creator, DJ, photographer, or graphic designer — to show the potential of blockchain technology and understand the tools available to grow and expand your creativity.
We believe that artists deserve direct access to tools that let them get paid fairly, protect their work, and build lasting careers without depending on centralised platforms that take a large cut of their earnings.
Cardano is a third-generation blockchain built with a research-first approach. It's one of the most energy-efficient blockchains available — a responsible choice for creators who care about sustainability. Its peer-reviewed development process means the network is robust, secure, and built to last.
For artists, Cardano offers low transaction fees, a thriving NFT ecosystem, native token support, and a growing community of builders creating tools specifically for creative professionals.
A beginner-friendly guide to installing, creating, and securing your Cardano Lace wallet.
Lace is a browser extension wallet developed by IOG (Input Output Global), the company behind Cardano. It's one of the most polished and feature-rich Cardano wallets available. This guide covers setup via the Chrome browser extension, which works on Chrome, Brave, and Edge.
Open your browser and go to the official Lace website at www.lace.io. Always make sure you are on the correct URL before downloading anything.
Click the "Download Lace" button on the homepage. This will take you to the Chrome Web Store to install the browser extension.
On the Chrome Web Store page, click "Add to Chrome", then confirm by clicking "Add extension" in the pop-up dialog.
Once installed, you'll see the Lace icon appear in your browser's extension toolbar. Click it to open the wallet for the first time. You may want to pin the extension to your toolbar for easy access.
When Lace opens for the first time, you'll be given two options: "Create a new wallet" or "Import an existing wallet". Since this is your first time, choose "Create a new wallet".
Enter a wallet name — this is just for your own reference and can be anything you like.
Next, create a strong spending password. This password is used to authorise transactions from within the Lace interface. Choose something secure that you will remember, but do not use the same password as your email or banking accounts.
Lace will generate a 24-word recovery phrase, also called a seed phrase. This is the most important step in the entire process.
Your seed phrase is the only way to recover your wallet if you lose access to your device or forget your password. Anyone who has your seed phrase has complete access to your wallet and all its funds.
🔒 Golden rules for your seed phrase:
• Write it down on paper — never type it into a phone, computer, or online form
• Store it somewhere physically safe — not in your email, cloud storage, or a screenshot
• Never share it with anyone — not a friend, a support agent, or any website
• If anyone asks for your seed phrase, it is a scam — no exceptions
Write down all 24 words in the exact order shown. Lace will ask you to verify them on the next screen — make sure they match exactly.
Lace will ask you to re-enter several of your 24 words in order to confirm you've written them down correctly. Carefully enter the requested words from your written copy.
Once verified, your wallet will be created and you'll be taken to the main Lace dashboard.
You're in! Your Lace wallet dashboard shows your ADA balance, your wallet address, and quick links to send, receive, and stake ADA.
To receive ADA, click "Receive" and share your wallet address — or better yet, set up an AdaHandle to give people a simple, memorable address to send to.
To send ADA, click "Send", enter the recipient's address or handle, the amount, and confirm with your spending password.
For extra security — especially if you plan to hold a significant amount of ADA — you can connect a hardware (cold) wallet such as a Ledger or Trezor to Lace. This means transactions require physical confirmation on the device, protecting you even if your computer is compromised.
Visit the Wallets page to learn more about cold wallet options.
Before you dive into the world of Web3 and Cardano, please take a few minutes to read this guide. It could save you from losing everything.
Your seed phrase (recovery phrase) and private keys are the master access to your wallet and everything in it. This is the number one rule in crypto — no exceptions.
Scammers create fake websites that look identical to real ones to steal your credentials and funds. Always verify you are on the correct URL before connecting your wallet or entering any information.
Scammers frequently impersonate well-known figures, official support teams, and trusted community members to trick people into handing over access to their wallets.
Security vulnerabilities are regularly discovered and patched. Staying up to date is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself.
Building good habits from the start is the best way to protect yourself and your assets over the long term.
ADA for Artists is an informational resource. All content on this site, including guides, links, and recommendations, is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice.
The use of any wallet, platform, or service linked to or mentioned on this website is entirely at your own risk. ADA for Artists cannot be held responsible for any loss of funds, assets, or data arising from the use of any third-party service, scam, user error, or security breach.
Cryptocurrency and blockchain assets carry inherent risk. Values can go up or down. You may lose some or all of the value of any digital assets you hold. Only invest what you can afford to lose.
Always do your own research (DYOR). The security of your wallet and assets is your responsibility alone.
A complete guide to publishing and selling your music, art, and books as digital Media Tokens on Cardano.
Stuff.io is a decentralised platform built on Cardano that lets creators publish and sell digital content as Media Tokens — giving buyers true, verifiable ownership of their purchase on the blockchain. Unlike traditional digital downloads, Media Tokens cannot be duplicated or stolen, and creators keep a share of every resale through built-in royalties.
The platform supports three main content types that artists will find immediately useful:
Albums, singles, EPs, DJ mixes, and soundscapes. Fans own the file, not just a licence.
Digital artwork, photography collections, illustrations, and printable files.
eBooks, poetry collections, zines, guides, and written works of any kind.
You'll need two things ready before you can publish on Stuff.io:
Go to stuff.io using your browser. Click the "Connect Wallet" button in the top-right corner of the site.
A prompt will appear asking you to select your Cardano wallet. Choose the wallet you set up (e.g. Lace, Eternl, or Yoroi). Your wallet extension will open and ask you to approve the connection — click "Connect" or "Authorise".
Once your wallet is connected, navigate to the Creator Portal. You'll find this in the main navigation menu or at stuff.io/creator.
If this is your first time, you'll be asked to set up a creator profile. Fill in your creator name, a short bio, and optionally a profile image. This is what buyers will see on your storefront, so make it reflect you and your work.
Click "Create" or "New Product" inside the Creator Portal. You'll be asked to select your content type — choose from Music, Art, or Book.
Fill in the details for your listing:
Set the price in ADA (₳) for your Media Token. You can price it at whatever you feel reflects the value of your work — there is no minimum or maximum.
You'll also be asked to set a secondary market royalty percentage. This is the percentage you earn every time your token is resold on the secondary market. A common range is 5–15%, but it's entirely your choice.
You can also set a limited edition — for example, only 100 copies available — which can increase the perceived value and collectibility of your work.
Once you're happy with your listing details and pricing, click "Publish" or "Mint". Your wallet will open and ask you to approve a small transaction — this is the on-chain minting fee, typically just a few ₳.
Confirm the transaction in your wallet. After a few moments, your Media Token will be minted on the Cardano blockchain and your listing will go live on the Stuff.io marketplace.
Congratulations — your work is now live, tokenised, and available for anyone in the world to purchase.
For musicians, Stuff.io is also connected to Book.io's wider ecosystem, which supports audio content. When listing music, consider offering tiered releases:
Buyers receive the file directly in their wallet or via the Stuff.io app. They can re-sell it, gift it, or hold it as a collectible — and you earn your royalty every time.
For visual artists and photographers, Media Tokens are a powerful alternative to traditional NFTs on platforms like OpenSea. On Stuff.io your work lives on Cardano — a greener, lower-fee blockchain.
Stuff.io is closely linked with Book.io, one of the leading platforms for blockchain-based eBook publishing. Authors can publish directly and reach readers worldwide — without a publisher taking a cut.
Visit book.io for the dedicated author publishing portal.
Your listing is live — now it's time to let people know. Stuff.io gives you a direct link to your product page that you can share anywhere.