OpenWav has launched a brand new app, which positions itself as an artist-centric platform that goals to present musicians larger management over their careers. Somewhat than counting on conventional streaming providers and intermediaries, the app presents a direct-to-fan mannequin the place artists can launch music, promote merchandise, host pop-ups, set up listening events, and construct communities in a single place. The purpose is to create an area the place artists personal each their content material and their viewers, whereas additionally holding a bigger share of income.
The corporate was formally launched on the Fortune Brainstorm Tech convention in September 2025 by CEO Jaeson Ma and Grammy-winning musician Wyclef Jean, who now serves as OpenWav’s chief music officer. Each argued that the present music trade is weighted towards artists, notably newcomers who wrestle to generate truthful earnings by streaming alone.
Talking in an interview on the Fortune Brainstorm Tech occasion, Wyclef Jean described the present system as unsustainable. “In the event you’re a brand new artist, the quantity of streams that you need to [accumulate] to get $10,000 is actually a rip-off. So now you’ve a continuing revolt,” he stated. Jean pointed to a latest instance from Cardi B, who promoted her newest album by promoting bodily CDs and vinyl data on the road in a TikTok video. Whereas many viewers took the clip as a joke, Jean stated it underscored the frustration even established artists really feel with streaming economics.
Ma expanded on the numbers throughout his personal interview on the identical convention, noting that “Proper now on Spotify, for $3,000 you need to hit 1 million streams.” He defined that OpenWav’s mannequin is constructed on cultivating “true followers” reasonably than chasing large streaming counts. In accordance with Ma, if an artist builds an viewers of 1,000 loyal listeners, every contributing $10 per thirty days, they might generate $120,000 yearly. This, he stated, would enable musicians to maintain careers independently.
OpenWav’s income system extends past music streams. Ticket gross sales are cut up so artists preserve 80 % of earnings, whereas the platform takes 20 %. Merchandise is obtainable by a dropshipping mannequin, which means no upfront prices for creators. Importantly, artists additionally retain possession of their fan information, together with contact particulars and neighborhood engagement channels.
Wanting forward, OpenWav plans to introduce AI-driven instruments to assist artists with design, promotion, and tour planning. Ma referred to as AI “your finest pal as an artist,” highlighting its potential to assist each artistic and enterprise features of a musician’s work. The app is presently out there on iOS and Android, and its founders imagine it may well reshape how artists join with audiences whereas reclaiming a fairer share of the trade’s earnings.
