Jonathan Oudekerk is a producer, founder, and CEO of SmartLabel, an OpenCore music streaming app powered by Web3 technology that allows artists to connect with fans and monetize their music. ^[1][2]

Education & Career

Oudekerk attended the SAE Institute in February 2021, where he studied Music Business, Entertainment, and Media. He then began his career as an executive producer at Oudekerk.media in September 2020, where he worked on various media projects until March 2022. He founded SmartLabel in March 2022 as CEO and business development executive. SmartLabel is an opencore music streaming app that provides artists new ways to connect with fans, monetize their music, and directly offer rewards. Oudekerk's work has centered on bridging the gap between artists and audiences through music streaming and digital engagement strategies. ^[1][3]

Interviews

Master Rights

On the SoundBreaker Podcast, Oudekerk discussed his background in the music industry and his inspiration for creating a music tech startup. Oudekerk’s journey began as the son of a musician who had struggled with unfavorable contracts and loss of royalty rights, which motivated him to address these issues through technology. Smart Label was initially a music distribution service that aimed to empower artists by providing a platform where they could retain control of their master rights, distribute music globally, and receive 100% of their royalties. Oudekerk also introduced "Tracks," a new streaming platform that leveraged Web3 technology, allowing artists to connect directly with fans, set prices, and monetize data. It offers an alternative to traditional music streaming services like Spotify. The platform emphasized open-source principles, direct artist-fan engagement, and pay-as-you-go pricing, distinguishing itself by prioritizing artist control and fan interaction. ^[4]

Oudekerk’s Journey

In the first episode of "The Pocket Podcast," Oudekerk shared his journey from his early life in the Netherlands, with family roots in British Guiana, to becoming an entrepreneur in the music tech industry. Raised by a reggae artist father, Oudekerk initially pursued a career in intellectual property law but shifted focus after realizing it wasn't his passion. In 2019, he sold his company in the legal field and ventured into the music industry, identifying outdated systems that hindered artists from effectively registering, protecting, and monetizing their work. He founded Smart Label to address these gaps, offering artists an alternative to traditional music distribution by allowing fans to invest directly in their favorite artists, thereby creating a new revenue model emphasizing transparency and direct engagement. Oudekerk discussed his belief in empowering artists to maintain control over their rights and connect with fans in ways that traditional labels and streaming platforms do not facilitate. ^[5]