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 initiative responds to widespread concerns about transparency in an industry where independent musicians frequently face complex deal structures and limited visibility into how their work is marketed and monetized.
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. This approach maintains the platform's commitment to artist autonomy while providing new tools for those seeking more structured support.
The NOISE Foundation operates as a service and infrastructure organization focused on documenting and managing music campaigns in a transparent, standardized way. Its role is to support artists and partners through clearly scoped agreements, consistent reporting, and long-term stewardship of supported projects. This partnership represents a significant step toward addressing what many industry observers have identified as systemic transparency issues affecting independent musicians worldwide.
For artists navigating the complex landscape of music distribution and promotion, this collaboration offers potential alternatives to traditional models that often bundle services with unclear terms. By separating distribution from optional professional services and providing clearer reporting structures, the partnership aims to empower artists with better information for career decisions. Additional details on participation and available programs will be announced in the coming months through the Unchained Music website at https://www.unchainedmusic.io.
The importance of this development extends beyond the immediate services offered. It represents a broader movement toward greater accountability in an industry where independent artists have historically operated at an information disadvantage. As streaming continues to dominate music consumption, transparent systems for tracking promotion, funding, and rights management become increasingly critical for artists seeking sustainable careers. This partnership signals growing recognition that transparency infrastructure is not merely a competitive advantage but a fundamental requirement for a healthy independent music ecosystem.
For the music industry at large, initiatives like this partnership between Unchained Music and the NOISE Foundation could help establish new standards for how artists are supported and compensated. As more platforms prioritize clear reporting and straightforward commercial terms, pressure may increase on traditional industry players to improve their own transparency practices. This development matters because it addresses power imbalances that have long characterized artist-label relationships, potentially creating more equitable conditions for independent musicians worldwide.
