The Streaming Revolution

David vs. Goliath, Streaming Edition

Rhythm Records* had a problem every indie label dreams of: too much success. With three viral artists and 50 million monthly streams, they were drowning in opportunity but lacked the infrastructure to capitalize. Major streaming platforms were circling, but their offers were predatory—standard deals that would lock up rights for pennies while the platforms made millions.

The founders came to us with a simple question: "How do we compete with labels 100x our size?" The answer would require rethinking everything about artist-platform relationships.

*Client name changed for confidentiality

Flipping the Script

We didn't approach this as a licensing deal. We structured it as a strategic partnership. Instead of selling streams for fixed rates, we created a hybrid model: guaranteed minimums plus equity-like participation in platform growth. The label wouldn't just supply content; they'd become stakeholders in their own success.

Our three-pronged approach: First, we audited every single track for clean chain of title. Second, we mapped revenue models across 25 international markets. Third, we built in unprecedented creative control—the label retained approval rights over playlist placement and marketing strategies.

48 Hours That Changed Everything

The platform's legal team arrived with 12 lawyers. We had two. But we had something they didn't: a vision for the future of music streaming that benefited both sides. Over 48 marathon hours, we negotiated terms that had never been seen in an indie deal: revenue sharing that scaled with performance, marketing commitments worth $500K, and most importantly, a "most favored nation" clause ensuring our client would always get terms as good as the majors.

When they pushed back on the MFN clause, we walked. Six hours later, they called back. The deal was on.