Hi! I’m Sam Scribner, the Content Lead at BlockBeam. As our ecosystem grows, I have been having conversations with program graduates to showcase their Web3-related accomplishments. I recently spoke with Joey Zhuang, a professional musician and Music Performance Master’s student at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. JZ was introduced to blockchain in an entrepreneurship class, and quickly realized the benefits that the technology can unlock for musicians. With perhaps the most unique background of any BlockBeam graduate thus far, JZ shares fascinating insights on both her BlockBeam experience and how as a musician she is taking advantage of Web3. Here is her story:
Sam: So tell me about yourself and what you’re doing in school right now.
JZ: First of all, thank you for this opportunity! My name is JZ but my real name is Joey Zhuang. I’m a professional musician, a teacher, and an entrepreneur. This summer, I have been building my music program and some of my personal websites while also working on a music startup. I am active between Chicago, Toronto, and China. I always love exploring, expanding my skill sets, and meeting new people and cultures.
Sam: Awesome! I’d love to hear more about the music startup that you’re working on it seems super cool.
JZ: I was in this arts and entertainment entrepreneurship program, working with a couple of advisors, one of whom was the third employee of eBay. In this program, I was exposed to Web3 and dove into how blockchain can change the landscape for intellectual property rights. After the course, we had a startup project where we had to create our own business idea, and my group has been pursuing the idea ever since. Many of the details are confidential for now but we are working on a Beta and I would love to share more once that is released!
Sam: That’s really cool that you’re pursuing that. I had an idea that you were interested in crypto because of the IP-related innovation that blockchain unlocks. I’m curious about how you found out about crypto and how it has piqued your interest.
JZ: Yeah. That’s a good question. I found out about crypto while working on the startup project. We had a panel of advisors who mentioned blockchain technology but I had no clue what it was. When they referenced crypto, all I knew was Bitcoin which I was very hesitant to learn about it since it seemed so complicated. Many people in the program, however, were entrepreneurs and my teammates were very smart people. So they helped me learn the importance of blockchain and how it synchronizes with IP. Being an artist myself, I believe the technology can allow creators to protect their intellectual properties online which is so important in today’s digital age. After I finished that project in April, I came across BlockBeam’s Gateway to DeFi program on social media, took a screenshot of the post, and then ended up applying!
Even though I knew my background was different from most participants, I wanted to learn about DeFi and Web3 because I knew it could help me thrive in my industry and reach out to more people. Some of my friends do Twitch channels and I have an account in China with hundreds of thousands of views. So being able to understand blockchain and these emerging trends could really make a difference for me.
Sam: That’s such a good point. Even though there aren’t a lot of people in your industry right now who know about blockchain, you’re giving yourself that competitive edge. And I would argue that, even though we’re focusing a lot right now on payments and fintech-related use cases, I do think there is massive potential within the music and arts industry. I don’t think we’re there yet in terms of viable products, but I think the technology is there and we just need to figure out how to put the pieces of the puzzle together. We’re even seeing artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell leaving Spotify, so there’s definitely a “creator revolution” where artists justifiably want better compensation systems.
JZ: For sure. 80% of the music industry revenue goes to the top 1% of musicians. Spotify doesn’t give a lot of profits to the musicians as well, which really hurts independent artists and creators trying to make their own music because the famous ones are just going to get bigger. So my goal is to help the middle-class musician and those without a record label or management company.
Sam: Wow that’s a bonkers statistic that 80% goes to the top 1%! That wealth disparity is pretty incredible. You’re undoubtedly looking to solve a massive issue. What was your experience with the BlockBeam program?
JZ: At first, I was surprised that I got in because I assumed they were only looking for computer science and finance students. I was really happy to be accepted and I showed up to every single meeting, including the optional ones. I was so excited to meet people because I was surrounded by such a vast array of backgrounds and talent. I was at first a bit intimidated but I soon realized that everyone is so friendly. I also found that people were so generous in sharing their knowledge. I was essentially brand new to the space but my teammates were really supportive. I asked for tools to learn and to do research on my own time and eventually caught up pretty quickly for my part. We got third place in the project competition, which I was very happy with. Overall, I was very satisfied with the progress I was able to make and the journey of learning that I had. Always be open-minded and you can learn stuff from anything.
Sam: That’s really well said. Something I’ve observed just from conducting a lot of these interviews and being involved in crypto for a few years is that no one cares who you are. I don’t even mean to say that in a pessimistic way. It’s just that in many of these communities, people are pseudonymous and don’t go by their real identities. As long as you’re showing interest and are passionate, which you clearly were, people don’t bat an eye. Going off that, what about the program do you think is most beneficial for your career? Especially coming from a unique music and art background, how do you think the program benefited you in that regard?
JZ: I think knowledge-wise, this project gave me a lot of resources on where to find information and on how to better conduct research. Shoutout to Coin Metrics as well as Dune and The Defiant! Understanding how to use these tools gave me a better grasp on what is going on in the market, how the technology works, and what is being created in the space, which are all crucial things to know when trying to connect with other Web3 entrepreneurs.
I think there is value in learning research skills because it better equips you to make meaningful connections. I think this program also serves an important educational purpose. As an educator myself, I think they did a very good job in terms of inclusivity, being clear on the content that they want students to learn, and then allowing students to discover their potential through the final project. The program gives participants a space to step out of their comfort zone and take a shot at things they are passionate about.
Sam: I totally agree. When you’re in a group, it fosters this unique type of energy, where everyone wants to push each other. It makes it such that the group can do more collectively than each individual could independently. What advice would you give to someone who’s considering applying to a BlockBeam bootcamp?
JZ: Be passionate about the work you put in. Do your work deliberately. Even if you think you know nothing, just do it and be the best version of yourself. Show up. If you want it, go get it.
Sam: Timeless pieces of advice. Thank you, it was great speaking with you.
JZ: Thank you Sam and Blockbeam for having me!
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