Well, that escalated quickly 🤷♂️🚀 From idea to awards in 6 months 🫠
In January we didn’t exist, and yesterday we won top prize in one of Europes best music tech accelerators - Wallifornia. Still processing tbh.
When I rocked up to Liège last weekend, I was buzzing to be one of 10 selected startups from across Europe, but winning? Not even on my radar. Was just excited to meet some nice humans, be challenged by experts, and make a few connections for the road ahead.
But what a week it’s been. Way beyond expectations. The questions were tough, the other founders incredible, and the mentors really cared about what we’re all building. It felt less like an accelerator and more like a family gathering, full of masterclasses in how to do this properly.
It’s just kudos, not cash, and more proof that what we’re building isn’t just needed (I’ve lived it, we know this), but also that smart people who know this industry inside out think we’re onto something really special.
Super grateful to the team at @LeanSquareBE for having us, and @SuperteamUK for giving us some funding to get there 🫶
My name is Frank
I’m f**king tired
And today, we rest 🙃
(before another busy week full of meetings, APPG’s and trip to Paris) 😴
Another week of epic meetings and our first bit of press, a lovely article in @MusicAlly 🫶
I figured it was about time we told people what we’re building, and spoiler alert - it’s not another dashboard. It’s the first music MMO - a place where artists rule the world, fans play the game and everyone levels up. The article also went a little further, showcasing our Tape Deck, linking out to the @edsheeran collab in #OneSongaWeek I’d almost forgotten about and mentioning my work with @FeaturedArtists and @UK_Music. Thanks Stuart for the words and Helena for the photo. Read it here: https://t.co/AHEmPSzs4r
My name is Frank
We’re just getting started
And Peggy has insisted I take a day off 🙃
Another week of epic meetings and our first bit of press, a lovely article in @MusicAlly 🫶
I figured it was about time we told people what we’re building, and spoiler alert - it’s not another dashboard. It’s the first music MMO - a place where artists rule the world, fans play the game and everyone levels up. The article also went a little further, showcasing our Tape Deck, linking out to the @edsheeran collab in #OneSongaWeek I’d almost forgotten about and mentioning my work with @FeaturedArtists and @UK_Music. Thanks Stuart for the words and Helena for the photo. Read it here: https://t.co/AHEmPSzs4r
My name is Frank
We’re just getting started
And Peggy has insisted I take a day off 🙃
This week I went to Westminster for an APPG - ‘AI beyond copyright’ 🤖
Was a great debate, and while we went off script so I didn’t get to throw in some juicy soundbytes about the AI campaign so far, I did manage to talk about vibe coding, dead internet theory & Mountainhead 🤷♂️
Well, that escalated quickly 🤷♂️🚀 From idea to awards in 6 months 🫠
In January we didn’t exist, and yesterday we won top prize in one of Europes best music tech accelerators - Wallifornia. Still processing tbh.
When I rocked up to Liège last weekend, I was buzzing to be one of 10 selected startups from across Europe, but winning? Not even on my radar. Was just excited to meet some nice humans, be challenged by experts, and make a few connections for the road ahead.
But what a week it’s been. Way beyond expectations. The questions were tough, the other founders incredible, and the mentors really cared about what we’re all building. It felt less like an accelerator and more like a family gathering, full of masterclasses in how to do this properly.
It’s just kudos, not cash, and more proof that what we’re building isn’t just needed (I’ve lived it, we know this), but also that smart people who know this industry inside out think we’re onto something really special.
Super grateful to the team at @LeanSquareBE for having us, and @SuperteamUK for giving us some funding to get there 🫶
My name is Frank
I’m f**king tired
And today, we rest 🙃
(before another busy week full of meetings, APPG’s and trip to Paris) 😴
Super excited for a trip to Belgium this weekend (and so is Peggy)🇧🇪
Thanks @LeanSquareBE for the invite and thanks @superteamuk for giving us a grant to make it happen 🫶
So wtf are we building? Well I can’t say too much yet, but I promise it’s not a streaming platform or another boring dashboard with a reskin - it’s a whole new world. One where artists get to choose what works for them and fans get a place to call home. Culture, identity, connection.
The goal? 5k sustainable careers within 18 months. 100k by 2030. Softly, then all at once 🚀
Plot twist: The kid who used to beg for playlist scraps just got accepted into one of Europe’s most prestigious music tech accelerators 🚀
It’s been a mad few months. From @AnthropyUK to @sxswlndn, crazy valuations, pitches, panels, new friends and wonderful mentors, setting up a CIC (non profit), Peggy turning 4, and so much more 🙃
But here’s the thing that really changed - me. My confidence. Self-belief. Purpose. I stopped asking for permission to do things and doffing my cap to an industry of dinosaurs who treat artists like disposable trash and think ‘direct-to-fan’ is a revolutionary new concept (🫠).
I don’t know when it happened, but old Frank is dead. The one who used to get sad and wish he was a nepo baby with a family war chest. New Frank is turning into a proper little monster - albeit a nice one who’s actually fixing problems instead of getting depressed and moaning about them.
The truth is, I’m bootstrapping all of this from my overdraft and might need to sign on soon. Can’t even pay bills, let alone find £25k to finish the album. But weirdly, I’m not stressed about it - the universe has been kind this year. Though I have been mulling over some backup plans, including crowdfunding (which always felt a bit awkward to me, maybe I’m overthinking it idk). What do you reckon?
Whatever happens, this is my first weekend off since March so I’m taking a moment to poke my head up, say hi, and reflect on how wild and wonderful 2025 has been so far. 6 months ago I was stressing over the annual Christmas show in a beautiful church! Which reminds me, shall we do that again? Maybe even that same church?!
I’ll stop now but heres the tldr:
This is for the 13 year old who heard a Blink 182 song and felt less alone in the world.
And for the 33 year old who sunk so low he nearly gave up on his dreams.
For every artist and fan who deserves better.
Still an artist.
Now a tech founder.
Let’s f**king go! 🫶
It’s been a wild and wonderful few weeks. Here’s the tldr:
• Wrapped a closed beta with 50 fans - engagement stats were insane 💁♂️
• Caught up with several new and inspiring friends from @AnthropyUK 🤝
• Entered a hackathon with 72 hours to go, pitched on Saturday and walked away with incredible feedback - plus a few offers we didn’t see coming 👨💻
• Set up MEME RECORDS FUTURES as a CIC because it’s not just about tech, it’s about transformation ♻️
• Probably forgetting a few things idk 🤷♂️
Last month I was getting lost in my head. Someone I was excited to meet cancelled. Another person told me to dilute the idea. Someone else I’ve helped a tonne refused to even take a call about returning the favour.
And yep, after 15 years as a full-time artist, self-doubt is a thing. It starts to creep in and everything gets cloudy. Can I actually pull this off? Have I just wasted a year of my life?
Hell no! This is what artists need and fans want. I’ve lived the problem since MySpace ffs. Who better to build it?! 🧱
And now we’ve got proof - from fans, artists, builders, and even some investors, way ahead of schedule. The belief is back. The mission is clear. It’s not just an idea anymore - it’s happening.
Far too early for a thank you speech but grateful to everyone who’s given up their valuable time so far - to hear the vision, give steer, challenge my thinking, and help turn me into an unapologetic believer 🙏
Also thankful for the pretenders. The ones who talk a good game about pushing things forward but whose actions show otherwise. If you think this is you, maybe it is - and that’s okay!
Beyond excited for phase 2, the slow transition out of stealth mode and some other bits I’ll bore you with soon 🥱
Still an artist. Now a tech founder.
By artists and fans. For artists and fans.
Let’s f**king go 🚀
Dove in headfirst at @SuperteamUK’s London Buildstation this week for the @colosseum hackathon. First time pitching after months in dev mode.
Intense, inspiring, and v grateful to the team, mentors & everyone involved.
The future’s bright - and we’re just getting started 🎧🚀