RESCENE Introduces New Music Ownership Opportunity Through “Busy Boy” Collaboration

Photo: RESCENE OFFICIAL X

On February 27, RESCENE released “Busy Boy,” the first single in a unique move integrating music and intellectual property (IP) ownership through blockchain networks. “Busy Boy” is part of the AA Project, a “global music collaboration” between K-Pop artists and DJs. The project is backed by Aria, an initiative that allows holders of certain blockchain tokens, digital assets, to gain royalties on music. This collaboration brings both new music and investment opportunities to audiences already consuming global artists’ works. 

“Busy Boy” 

RESCENE stays true to their sound in this collaboration. With elements of electropop and classical instruments, “Busy Boy” sounds cute and soft. It comes off with a type of gentleness and excitement that betrays its lyrics. Though the yearning comes off easily in the instrumental, the lyrics truly show this feeling as anything but positive. It depicts how insecurities and romantic feelings towards someone can grow in tandem; while love grows, so can frustration. “I hate you, busy boy,” RESCENE sings, lamenting why anyone without commitment would enter a relationship.  

The performance video released for “Busy Boy” integrates this message, a surprise for what is normally choreography. Shot through the lens of an office worker, the video features a male employee overwhelmed by work, with no time for love. He sits away from where RESCENE dances, like a distant partner as demonstrated by the song. 

Song Royalties

As mentioned earlier, RESCENE’s new single launched as an example of Aria’s way to offer music ownership through blockchain systems, or networks of digital transactions. Last June, the company launched $APL, the first exchangeable digital token that grants split ownership of music IP rights. Songs under Aria’s asset catalogue include songs by BLACKPINK, BTS, Madonna, and Justin Bieber. By the end of October, Aria distributed over $314,000 USD in royalties to $APL holders. 

Royalties also transfer over when people create additional content like remixes. In January, Aria finished a collaborative remix contest with soloist and former After School member NANA, who allowed people to remix songs from her Seventh Heaven 16 single album. As Aria Protocol Labs co-founder and chief IP officer David Kostiner told The Korea Times in November, “We're creating living economies where remixes, adaptations and derivatives can generate value shared between creators, rights holders, and investors.” 

The company has also revealed  that “Busy Boy” will receive a remix by Swedish producer and DJ Galantis soon. In the meantime, fans can enjoy seeing RESCENE promote the song on music shows. RESCENE sure are keeping busy! 

Edited by Clark Royandoyan