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About VAULT
VAULT is a Web3 music platform for superfans, offering limited-edition digital music collectibles. Artists release exclusive singles, albums, and live recordings in small batches, and fans can purchase and own them permanently.
Its core narrative is 'Cassette Culture 3.0'—reviving the DIY spirit of cassette tape culture from the late 1970s to early 1990s through NFT-based live recordings. The platform records performances at iconic venues like New York's Bowery Electric and Baby's All Right, then sells each live album as 100–150 NFT editions priced at $5–10. Fans listen via a dedicated mobile app and get extras like behind-the-scenes content and performance videos. Artists receive 70% of proceeds, with VAULT covering minting, storage, and credit card fees.
The market pain point is clear: streaming platforms like Spotify pay independent artists poorly, and lesser-known musicians often earn more from live shows than from streaming royalties. VAULT addresses this by giving artists a new revenue stream from exclusive live recordings, while giving fans true digital ownership—something streaming subscriptions cannot offer.
In the past six months (March to September 2026), VAULT has continued expanding its Cassette Culture 3.0 initiative. It has confirmed over 30 artists beyond the initial lineup, including Middle Part, Sum Sun, Sid Simons, and Charlotte Rose Benjamin. The program has been recording at additional New York venues such as Mercury Lounge and The Bitter End, and is in talks to expand to Nashville, London, and Amsterdam. The platform continues to operate with weekly live recording drops, maintaining its focus on underground and independent scenes.
Founded in 2018 by FanDuel co-founders Nigel Eccles and Rob Jones, Vault initially operated as a mobile Discord-like platform called Flick. In summer 2021, the company pivoted to become a Web3 music platform, introducing Digital Music Collectibles (DMCs) on the Solana blockchain. This shift marked a strategic move from social audio to NFT-based fan monetization. In October 2022, a milestone partnership with singer FLETCHER saw over 3,000 DMCs sold during her US tour, validating the DMC format's market appeal and demonstrating superfans' willingness to pay for exclusive experiences. In February 2023, Vault announced a $4 million Series A round led by Placeholder VC, bringing total funding to $13 million. The funding supported scaling the DMC format and launching the open, decentralized VAULT protocol, enabling third-party platforms to support DMC playback and trading—a foundational step toward establishing a portable music ownership standard.
Nigel Eccles (CEO & Co-founder): Previously co-founded FanDuel, serving as CEO, and later founded BetDEX, StarStock, Flick, etc. In 2021, he co-founded Vault to help artists connect with and monetize superfans through digital music collectibles.
Rob Jones (CPO & Co-founder): Previously co-founded FanDuel as EVP of Design, and later worked on Flick, BetHog, etc. With Nigel, he co-founded Vault, leading product design and experience.