EQUA.LS is a new iOS app for sharing music. It pays users to recommend tracks to others. Through its ‘tastemaker’ program, users earn a 5% fee on sales from their personal ‘Grid,’ effectively becoming affiliates for the artists they promote. EQUA.LS takes this fee from its own platform fee, not from the artist's share.
Users can recommend only the tracks they’ve purchased and can feature up to 15 songs on their Grid at a time. Tastemakers earn credits for their recommendations. They can use these credits to buy more music on the platform or soon withdraw them in local currency. The app includes a search function to help users discover Grids. Artists such as Babymorroco, Saint Ludo, and Scott Garcia are already on the platform, with more joining soon.
A diverse team developed EQUA.LS, including members from Meta, Nike, and Boiler Room. The app launches at a crucial time for the music industry, which is currently debating fair streaming economics and artist compensation. EQUA.LS aims to transform the industry with its peer-to-peer recommendation system. This system values genuine engagement and avoids the issues of hidden algorithms.
This launch follows the closure of Aslice, a company founded by DVS1. Aslice encouraged DJs to share part of their earnings with the producers of the music they played. Addressing fair pay for artists remains challenging, but EQUA.LS offers a new approach to this issue.
Learn more on the EQUA.LS website here.