MUSIC PUBLISHING FOR THE AI ERA: MAXIMALLY SCARCE EDITIONS, VERIFIABLE AUTHORSHIP

FFM Publishing explores how music can be released at a time when both scarcity and authorship are challenged by contemporary technology. Streaming has devalued music through unlimited reproduction, while AI has blurred the boundary between machine output and human creativity. FFM Publishing responds by treating music according to the publishing/distribution principles of fine art and with cryptographically proven authorship.

TWO PILLARS:

  1. Scarcity as Value
    Music is published as limited, collectible editions — digital works treated like art prints. Each edition is finite, numbered, and permanent, restoring economic and cultural weight to digital publishing.

  2. Authorship as Proof
    When music incorporates AI, FFM applies verification tools and legal standards to determine whether it shows substantial human intervention and whether it risks infringing on existing works. Each release is accompanied by a transparent provenance report, a blockchain-anchored certificate, and guidelines that give artists and industry confidence in authorship and originality.

Broader Vision

This publishing experiment is rooted in long-standing work with Russian music archives, education, and rights. Russian musicians — operating within one of the world’s most dysfunctional rights systems — provide a proving ground, a “trial by fire.” If a publishing model can survive there, it can inform global frameworks for fair compensation, cultural preservation, and AI-era copyright.

ENTER

  • Piracy has accompanied every new technology: gramophones, tapes, radio, cassettes, vinyl bootlegs, and now the internet. Web3 and AI introduce new risks: fraud, IP theft, laundering, censorship. In Russia, additional problems include: opaque royalties, piracy, poor payouts from VK/YouTube, regional fragmentation, gatekeepers, and state censorship.

    • Clear, fair revenue systems

    • Monetization beyond streaming

    • Reaching underserved markets

    • Tools for independent artists

    • Platforms supporting creative freedom

    • Smart contracts for transparent royalties

    • NFTs as proof of authenticity

    • Direct-to-fan sales

    • Decentralized platforms and DAOs

    • Global access without intermediaries

    • Censorship-resistant storage (IPFS)

  • Fans can pay in fiat, but the system still runs on crypto behind the scenes because smart contracts ensure royalties are split instantly and transparently. For the buyer it feels like a normal card purchase; for the artist it guarantees fair and permanent payments.

  • Web3, used properly, can give artists autonomy, fair pay, and closer fan bonds. Key benefits:

    • Decentralization and ownership

    • Immutable blockchain records

    • NFTs as unique, verifiable digital assets

  • Yes — a reimagined label can:

    • Empower artists and communities

    • Use smart contracts for transparent splits

    • Mint NFTs for ownership and provenance

    • Engage fans directly through tokens and DAOs

    • Diversify revenue with NFTs, fractional rights, and metaverse events

    • Educate users and navigate legal compliance

    • Define vision and problem

    • Research market and competitors

    • Outline revenue, costs, value

    • Build marketing and sales strategy

    • Plan finances and funding

    • Organize team, tech, milestones

    • Assess risks and mitigation

  • No. The UI is simple. Finances are decentralized (money goes straight to artists); publishing decisions are centralized to ensure quality and legality.

  • Polygon and Avalanche (proof-of-stake) are used, minimizing energy consumption.

  • Buyers could share files, but this devalues their own investment. Copies may even increase the value of originals. If stolen works are minted, the blockchain traces them back to the thief.

  • No. Blockchain is pseudonymous. Wallets can be traced if linked to real identities.

  • Yes. All transactions are permanent and transparent, which deters abuse.

    • Network censorship

    • Wallet providers/platforms blocking access

    • Jurisdictional enforcement

    • DMCA takedowns

    • Copyright/IP claims

ADDITIONAL SERVICES: SONGWRITING, SUPERVISION, AND BUSINESS PLANS

  1. songwriting. I am available for songwriting assistance, be it musical or lyrical. Arguably the most significant obstacle facing Russian-language singers is linguistic. And that expresses itself in three forms: poor grammar, incorrect stress/intonation, and a counterproductive accent––in that English-language speakers have a low tolerance for lyrics made obscure by pronunciation. That’s not excusable, but it is a reality. All these issues can be overcome.

  2. music supervision. Build the perfect soundtrack with a free music supervision service. With decades of experience curating and researching every genre of Russian music—mainstream, underground, or extreme noise—I can find exactly what you need. Whether you’re looking for a unique track or something unconventional, I’ll help you discover hidden gems while supporting the careers of emerging musicians. Fill out the form below, and let's create something extraordinary together.

  3. business plans. Having worked on the periphery of the Russian music industry for a quarter of a century, I am often troubled by low-quality business plans, combined with low levels of energy in their execution. If an artist is genuinely, consistently dedicated to a work plan, superior business options are available. I can build them.

How automatically generated ai-output from a text-to-audio service can be used/altered in order to make that same output copyrightable.

How automatically generated ai-output from a text-to-audio service can be used/altered in order to make that same output copyrightable.

If an individual exercises authorial control over the creation of music using AI, the result _may_ be recognized as an object of copyright.

If an individual exercises authorial control over the creation of music using AI, the result _may_ be recognized as an object of copyright.

An artist must significantly modify or arrange any material generated by AI. The artist’s contribution must be “sufficiently” expressive and creative

An artist must significantly modify or arrange any material generated by AI. The artist’s contribution must be “sufficiently” expressive and creative

The example of Suno. We have an AI-generated track, for which there is no legal protection without human revision.

The example of Suno. We have an AI-generated track, for which there is no legal protection without human revision.

What needs to be changed? We extract stems and alter them (significantly). Or write entirely new lyrics, etc. Verification through MIPPIA

What needs to be changed? We extract stems and alter them (significantly). Or write entirely new lyrics, etc. Verification through MIPPIA

Plagiarism check-tools incl. AHA Music and MIPPIA with similarity scores—emphasizing the legal need for originality verification

Plagiarism check-tools incl. AHA Music and MIPPIA with similarity scores—emphasizing the legal need for originality verification

How can we document/prove changes? SHA256 checksum / OpenTimestamps or an archive of versions and logs

How can we document/prove changes? SHA256 checksum / OpenTimestamps or an archive of versions and logs

Creative input is documented. Evidence is preserved. Legal protection is ensured

Creative input is documented. Evidence is preserved. Legal protection is ensured

Workflow example: (1) AI source; (2) Human modifications; (3) Software/hardware used; (4) Copyright claim; (5) Protection and ID

Workflow example: (1) AI source; (2) Human modifications; (3) Software/hardware used; (4) Copyright claim; (5) Protection and ID

Timestamping on the Blockchain: (1) File generation (two options); (2) Timestamping the hash (two options); (3) Keeping a change log; (4) Link to Ethereum blockchain

Timestamping on the Blockchain: (1) File generation (two options); (2) Timestamping the hash (two options); (3) Keeping a change log; (4) Link to Ethereum blockchain