Ice Cube said of the partnership: "Let’s create a world where every piece of content finds its true value."
Ice Cube with MyPremo Directors Cody McDowell, Pete Salom, Brent Thompson & James Gillies (Source: Supplied)
Ice Cube has partnered with the Australian tech start-up “content monetisation platform” MyPremo, a service that offers a “clean space” to monetise their work.
MyPremo was founded in 2020 by Perth-based entrepreneurs Cody McDowell and James Gillies. The pair have dramatic plans to “redefine the landscape” of the music industry and allow creators to monetise their work “without compromising their values”.
In an impressive model, MyPremo reportedly allows artists and creators to keep 80% of the money made by the content posted and monetised on the platform.
Ice Cube, the renowned founder of the rap group N.W.A., has sold tens of millions of albums, millions of concert tickets, and over $3 billion in box office movie sales.
“Artists and creators need better tools to go direct to consumer,” Ice Cube commented in a statement.
“Let’s create a world where every piece of content finds its true value. Timing is important and there are big changes happening in the music business right now. Direct to consumer solutions will be the artists biggest earners.”
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MyPremo’s Cody McDowell added, “Artists big and small are struggling at the moment, and the industry is broken. Not only are earnings from giants like Spotify and YouTube laughably low - unless your content is coupled with X-rated clickbait on sites like OnlyFans, the alternatives for 'clean creators’ are almost none.
“The current ecosystem stifles creative potential, compelling creators to hustle harder for less, and leaving 'clean' content with no rightful throne.”
McDowell has described MyPremo as “the alternative” and stated that the platform will provide a home for artists who “do not want to devalue their worth with salacious content.”
The founder continued, “Musicians, filmmakers, athletes and other creatives now have a purpose-built platform just for them. Our platform simplifies the process of selling any form of content down to just a few taps.
“Plus, unlike other streaming platforms, 80% of revenue generated from content sales on MyPremo goes straight into the pockets of the creator. And if they sign up their friends and colleagues to use the platform, they will earn an additional 5% of their referred sign-ups revenue for life. This ‘carrot’ will supercharge our onboarding of artists to the platform.”
According to a press release, MyPremo can be used as a “link in bio” function on social media channels, becoming a one-stop shop for followers to find an artist’s music and information and support them directly.
Ice Cube toured Australia in March 2023 with special guests Cypress Hill and, in a rare outing, A.B. Original. The Aussie duo replaced The Game on the impressive hip-hop bill.
Ice Cube made Australian history in 2018, becoming the first rapper to headline the Sydney Opera House. His return in 2023 marked his first time playing in the country since that show and lined up with the 30th anniversary of his 1993 album, Lethal Injection.