Muse’s ‘Will of the People’ could be first UK Number One using NFT tech
The band's ninth studio album is currently outselling the rest of the UK Top 10 combined
Muse are looking likely to claim the UK Number One album spot this week with Will of the People, which would make it the UK’s first-ever chart-topping record to do so using NFT technology.
According to Official Charts, the British rock trio’s ninth studio record is currently outselling the rest of the Top 10 combined, and is on track to become the band’s seventh UK Number One.
Will of the People was released with a limited-edition “digital pressing” as a collaboration between Warner Music UK and “eco-friendly” NFT platform Serenade, making it the first chart-eligible NFT album.
Fans were not required to have an existing crypto wallet, but instead had one created for them after purchasing.
NFTs had become chart-eligible earlier this year, but Muse’s album is the first to be released through a chart-eligible retailer such as Serenade. Meanwhile, Aitch’s debut album Close to Home became the first NFT project to enter the UK Official Chart last week.
Serenade founder Max Shand wrote on Twitter that Muse’s pioneering ‘Digital Pressing’ would be “the first of many to come”.
He added: “With each release, we will be supporting artists who want to give their fans a deeper experience of their music through engaging, collectible Web3 formats that make sense.”
Earlier this year, Matt Bellamy described Will of the People as the bands “best” record yet.
“We’ve always tried to think outside the box,” Bellamy told Apple Music 1 (via NME). “We’ve never been one particular genre.
“This album goes from metal all the way to pop to my first version to an Adele song… a lot of electronica. It’s like a full…We produced it ourselves. We were analysing everything we’ve done to date. The last song on the album is called ‘We Are Fucking Fucked’. I’m really happy and proud of it. I genuinely think it’s our best album.”
Matt Bellamy and co. will embark on a new UK stadium tour in 2023, performing four dates in Plymouth, Huddersfield, Glasgow and Milton Keynes. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.