Deadmau5 and Portugal The Man Make Music History with NFT Release

The Historic Collaboration

In a groundbreaking fusion of music and technology, dance music legend Deadmau5, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, has teamed up with Grammy-winning rock band Portugal The Man to launch their latest single, “This is Fine,” as an astonishing 1 million NFTs. Yes, you read that right—one million! A number that might make even the most die-hard collectors faint, but hey, it’s 2021, and who needs traditional music formats anyway?

NFTs: The New Vinyl?

This ambitious project, released under Deadmau5’s label, Mau5trap, seeks to be the very first NFT single to achieve platinum status, and by platinum, we mean certified for 1 million units. Call it nostalgic for those vinyl days or just a fun 21st-century twist, but it’s definitely something to watch. The duo minted these musical treasures on the Near Protocol blockchain, and they launched them on the Mintbase marketplace during the illustrious Art Basel’s Miami Beach event.

Collecting in the Metaverse

The initial 250,000 units hit the market just in time for the art extravaganza, showcasing not only the single but also unique artwork by the talented Wooden Cyclops, the artistic genius behind much of Portugal The Man’s visuals. But hold your horses; each NFT also offers some mysterious metaverse integrations and collector rewards. Yes, it’s full of surprises like a Halloween candy bag, but just like Halloween, details remain scant—what gives?

Pricing and Accessibility—It’s Like iTunes, but Cooler

Pricing for these NFTs is set to make you feel a bit nostalgic—in a good way. Each goes for 0.25 NEAR, roughly equivalent to around $2.20, reminiscent of the pre-streaming days when you could actually own a tune outright. Of course, if you don’t want just a single, you can keep an eye out for the bundled units, which promise to come with unique attributes. Prices for those are still as shrouded in mystery as a magician’s best-kept tricks.

Deadmau5: The NFT Pioneer

Deadmau5 isn’t a newbie when it comes to NFTs. Setting sail in December 2020 with artist Sutu, he co-created “In Titan’s Light,” an audio-reactive artwork. The following month, he dropped two NFT art collections with the acclaimed Mad Dog Jones. Meanwhile, Portugal The Man was also getting in on the crypto action—launching PTM Coin—which serves to grant fans exclusive access to events and various perks. Together, they’re making music history, leaving us to contemplate if our playlists will soon be referred to as “digital albums” instead.