The independent music distribution platform Unchained Music has announced a partnership with the NOISE Foundation to develop new infrastructure aimed at improving transparency and accountability across music funding, promotion, and rights management. This collaboration addresses persistent industry challenges including unclear marketing spend, opaque recoupment arrangements, and limited visibility into how promotional support is structured and measured.
The partnership combines Unchained Music's global distribution platform with the NOISE Foundation's work on structured, auditable campaign support for independent artists. Under this arrangement, artists using Unchained Music may have access to optional, clearly defined services including curated marketing campaigns, promotional support, and publishing administration. These services are offered separately from distribution and are designed to provide artists with greater insight into campaign structure, costs, and outcomes.
"Independent artists often struggle to understand how promotion is funded and how returns are calculated," said Matthew Waters, CEO of Unchained Music. "This partnership is about creating clearer, more accountable systems so artists can make informed decisions about their careers without sacrificing control." The NOISE Foundation operates as a service and infrastructure organization focused on documenting and managing music campaigns in a transparent, standardized way, supporting artists through clearly scoped agreements, consistent reporting, and long-term stewardship of supported projects.
Unchained Music will continue to operate as a standalone distributor with no changes to artist ownership, royalty flows, or existing account terms. Participation in any additional services introduced through the partnership is entirely optional, with no automatic enrollment or obligation. Additional details on participation and available programs will be announced in the coming months.
This development is significant because it directly addresses transparency deficits that have long plagued the independent music sector. Artists frequently encounter complex deal structures where marketing expenditures, recoupment terms, and promotional outcomes remain unclear, making it difficult to assess the true value of support services. By creating systems that document and standardize these elements, the partnership aims to empower artists with the information needed to make strategic career decisions while maintaining ownership and control over their work.
The implications extend beyond individual artists to potentially influence industry standards. As more artists gain access to transparent systems, pressure may increase on other industry players to adopt similar practices. This could lead to broader shifts in how independent music is funded and promoted, with clearer accountability becoming an expected rather than exceptional feature of artist agreements. For artists, this means potentially better-informed decisions about resource allocation, more predictable financial outcomes, and reduced risk of unfavorable contractual arrangements.
Unchained Music operates globally, serving artists across genres and markets through its platform at https://www.unchainedmusic.io. The company remains committed to empowering independent artists with tools and infrastructure that compound value over time rather than extract it, separating distribution from optional professional services to maintain artist autonomy.
