Audius is a blockchain-based platform that operates as a music-sharing and streaming protocol. It is community-owned, run and guided by artists, and aims to bring “the freedom to share, monetize, and listen to any audio” to everyone. The platform also seeks to improve transparency across the music creation and distribution landscape.

In practice, the system works through three groups of participants using Audius’ incentive-aligned design. These groups are artists, fans, and service providers. Artists upload and supply content, fans listen to and access that content, and service providers assist by handling app traffic, streaming songs, and helping secure the network.

AUDIO serves as Audius’ native cryptocurrency and has a total supply of 1104821182.

What are Audius’ key features and how does it work?

The Audius network is built on five core components, which serve as the foundation for its products to run effectively. They include the AUDIO token, content nodes, content ledger, discovery nodes, and governance.

Content nodes store content and manage permission access for that content. These nodes are operated by users on behalf of artists. The content ledger contains all data used by the Audius protocol. Discovery nodes are also user-operated. They catalog the content ledger to make metadata easier to find and retrieve. 

Governance for the Audius platform is handled by token holders and other network participants. Each token a user stakes grants the staker one vote within the protocol. Through the governance process, stakeholders can propose and carry out changes affecting both technical and nontechnical areas, such as new protocol features, token distribution, staking rewards, and more.

What can AUDIO be used for?

The AUDIO token supports three primary functions across the platform: security, access to features, and governance. Specifically, node operators stake AUDIO to operate the Audius protocol and help secure the network. With a bigger stake, a node has a greater likelihood of being selected for use by fans and artists. Artists and curators can also stake to unlock access to exclusive Audius features and services, which may include artist tokens, badges, and earnings multipliers.

As noted above, token holders who stake their AUDIO can receive votes that let them participate in governance.

Where can you buy AUDIO?

AUDIO is available on the CEXs and DEXs listed here. The most popular platforms with the highest liquidity are Binance, Huobi, and KuCoin. AUDIO’s price will differ based on the exchange you choose and wider market conditions. To see current and historical AUDIO market prices, check the price charts on this page.