Refraction and Livepeer Partner to Revolutionize Creative Livestreaming with Web3 Technologies

The Evolution of Live Streaming

Over the past decade, live streaming has transformed from a digital novelty to a cultural mainstay. Platforms like Boiler Room have evolved from pixelated broadcasts in East London's underground scene to streaming over 3.5 billion minutes of live DJ performances by 2016, attracting up to 400,000 viewers per event. This shift has redefined how we engage with music virtually, immortalizing live performances and enhancing their virality on social media platforms like Instagram.

Livepeer's Commitment to Innovation

As the world's open and decentralized video infrastructure network, Livepeer is dedicated to powering the future of innovation and creativity in global live streaming. Currently, Livepeer supports pioneering DJ streaming platforms like The Lot Radio, indicating a bright future for the live streaming community within the Livepeer ecosystem.

Refraction Joins Livepeer’s Video Disruptor Program

We are excited to announce a collaboration with Refraction through Livepeer's Video Disruptor Grants program. Refraction, a global, artist-owned community, leads the next wave of digital art, music, and culture both online and offline. This partnership aims to explore new frontiers in video technology and creative experiences, utilizing Web3 technologies to redefine live streaming possibilities.

Understanding Video Creator Needs

Refraction has been researching livestream artists' needs through focus groups, engaging directly with creators to understand their perspectives on streaming. These discussions revealed the necessity for artists to adapt to the internet's visual-centric nature and highlighted the challenges posed by current streaming technologies. Additionally, the flawed content ownership model of Web2 technologies has spurred interest in a more interactive and equitable platform, where moments from live streams can be owned and traded as tokens or NFTs, directly supporting artists.

Redefining Creative Livestreaming

Thanks to Livepeer’s Video Disruptor Grants program, Refraction is developing a new prototype that brings together visual artists, DJs, and musicians to create generative, audio-visual video content. This tool, designed with direct input from artists, aims to democratize high-quality live streaming, making it accessible without extensive technical expertise. By focusing on the needs and challenges identified during initial research, this collaboration seeks to redefine engagement and creativity in live streaming.

The Road Ahead

Moving forward, rigorous testing and development with the creative community will be crucial. Artists will actively use the prototype to create content, providing feedback that will guide further customizations. This iterative process ensures that the final product meets and exceeds creators' expectations. The culmination of this project will integrate the creative output into Refraction's evolving platform, showcasing the collective works generated through this initiative.

Final Thoughts

This partnership between Refraction and Livepeer marks a significant step towards empowering creators and engaging audiences in more meaningful ways through decentralized infrastructure. Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates on this pioneering initiative as we continue to reimagine the future of live music and performance.