Muus Collective joins Web3 music accelerator headed by Warner Music Group and Polygon

Muus Collective, an entertainment studio fusing mobile games and digital collectibles, is participating in a Web 3 music accelerator program.

Headed by Warner Music Group (WMG), the global music and entertainment giant, and Polygon Labs, a Web3 growth and development force behind the Polygon network, this program is set to drive the next evolution of the music industry through blockchain technology.

Muus Collective, cofounded by Sarah Fuchs and Amber Bezahler, is a community-centric platform centered around shared passions for style.

Muus has crafted a playable platform that fosters engagement, inspiration, and connection. Augmented by digital collectibles, Muus Collective introduces new dimensions of self-expression and community rewards.

The studio’s inaugural fashion game, developed in collaboration with cutting-edge retailer Revolve, is slated for launch in Q2 2024. The company’s advisers include influential figures like pop culture icon and web3 innovator Paris Hilton, alongside actor, writer, and gaming enthusiast Felicia Day.

“We are honored to have been selected as part of the inaugural class of this accelerator program,” said Bezahler, co-CEO of Muus Collective, in a statement. “Music and fashion have long been inextricably linked, and we see a wealth of opportunity to explore this relationship in a gamified virtual environment where players interact and express themselves with both music and fashion. We are thrilled to collaborate with Warner Music Group and Polygon Labs as we build the next era of music creation and expression through our gamified lifestyle experiences.”

Joining Muus Collective in this journey is MITH, a fan engagement platform developed in collaboration with prominent creatives like Jack Harlow, Emilia Clarke, and Halle Berry. MITH’s platform integrates commerce, streams, threads, and rewards, providing artists with AI-driven insights and analytics based on their first-party data.

Cofounded by industry veterans including Michelle Sanchez and Natalie Bruss, MITH aims to reshape artist-fan relationships by capturing first-party data on fan interactions, purchases, and engagement.

“We are deeply appreciative to have a shared vision with WMG and Polygon Labs on the transformative potential of on-chain fandom. This represents a paradigm shift in the way we perceive and cultivate artist-fan relationships,” said Sanchez, in a statement.

Participants in the Web 3 Music Accelerator program will receive comprehensive support, including industry endorsements from WMG and Polygon Labs. The program offers mentorship, strategic advising, networking opportunities, and marketing support to facilitate the growth of selected projects.

Jillian Rothman, vice president of new business & ventures at WMG, said in a statement, “MITH and Muus Collective are the perfect platforms to launch with WMG and Polygon Labs’ Web3 Music Accelerator because of their fan-first approaches to building communities across music and fashion. Providing meaningful ways for artists and fans to connect, and fans to express their fandom are at the core of WMG’s mission. We’re looking forward to seeing these companies grow, and exploring mutually beneficial innovation.”

Brian Trunzo, head of business development for North America at Polygon Labs, said in a statement, “Both MITH and Muus Collective are best-in-class platforms redefining what’s possible in fan community engagement, and we are thrilled to welcome them as part of the Web3 Music Accelerator program.”

The selection process for the Accelerator program was rigorous, with more than 120 applications received from companies and entrepreneurs operating at the intersection of music, technology, and Web3.

Evaluation criteria encompassed various areas, including fostering artist-fan communities, decentralized music production and distribution systems, ticketing solutions, merchandise and digital/physical collectibles, and the integration of music with interactive technology and gaming.

Muus Collective has 15 people and it has raised $5 million to date. It’s currently raising money. The company said its strategy is to integrate music as a core element of immersive fashion gaming experiences, leveraging the deep connection between music and fashion to create a vibrant, interactive environment for players.

“By incorporating music into our games and, hopefully, collaborating with artists, we seek to enhance the cultural relevance and appeal of our mobile styling game, fostering a unique space where music and fashion enthusiasts can engage and express themselves creatively,” the company said. “Our inclusion in Warner Music Group x Polygon Labs Music Web3 Accelerator program underscores our commitment to this vision and opens new possibilities for innovation at the intersection of music, fashion and the metaverse.”