Berkeley-Based Tech Firm Launches New Platform For Artists

BERKELEY, CA — A Berkeley-based tech company has launched a new product that it says will help artists gain a little more control over how their work is distributed and take home a little more cash.

Eluvio announced the platform Thursday at South by Southwest, which this year is holding its annual media and arts conference virtually.

The Berkeley company’s platform will provide artists with the ability to stream low latency 4K video on multiple devices and provide the opportunity to monetize pay-per-view ticketing through blockchain, the company said in a news release.

Eluvio is betting that the shift to streaming events virtually amid the pandemic will continue in a post-pandemic world, creating opportunities artists will be able to tap into.

"Eluvio LIVE was created to address the fundamental shifts taking place right now across the music and entertainment industries," Eluvio CEO and co-founder Michelle Munson said in a statement.

"Artists and publishers want to reach audiences anywhere in the world, in a way that gives them the highest levels of financial control, video quality, and customization. The global shift towards streaming live events, necessitated by the pandemic, will become a permanent way to amplify in-person performances when they return, and the opportunity for artists to control their content destiny via blockchain technology has come together in a unique moment.

“Eluvio LIVE will enable these 'multi-experiential' viewing opportunities to reach beyond the confines of physical venues, and unlock the ability of artists and publishers to continually monetize their content."