Wyclef Jean, Grammy Award-Winning Artist, Joins as Chief Music Officer, Veteran Music Manager Madeline Nelson Tapped as Senior Advisor
OpenWav today launched a revolutionary new music platform where artists engage with fans and deliver event ticketing, exclusive merchandise, and digital content experiences — all while valuing creativity and building sustainable careers.
As part of its official debut, OpenWav is launching during A2IM Indie Week in New York City, one of the most influential gatherings for the independent music community. To celebrate, the company is hosting a special launch event on Wednesday, June 11, featuring Grammy-winning artist and OpenWav Chief Music Officer Wyclef Jean, OpenWav Co-Founder Jaeson Ma, and music executive Madeline Nelson. The event will introduce the platform to industry leaders, showcasing how OpenWav is redefining the future of independent music through its all-in-one, ad-free, AI-powered model for monetization, fan engagement, and creative ownership.
Jaeson Ma, CEO and Co-Founder of OpenWav, said, “The music industry is broken. Most artists can’t make a living off streams, and social media rewards clout, not connection. OpenWav was built to change that. We’re giving artists the power to monetize their superfans directly, own their audience, and finally build a real, sustainable career doing what they love. No middlemen. No gatekeepers. Just artists in full control.”
OpenWav’s new economic model empowers independent and rising artists to generate meaningful revenue in the face of the current broken model of streaming, social media, and ticketing that commoditizes music and creativity, while generating unlivable payouts. The platform's monetization and community tools also provide valuable insights and analytics, enabling artists to understand their audience better and tailor their content strategy. In early testing, artists generated five figures per week on OpenWav, exceeding what the vast majority of artists earn in a year from streaming.
OpenWav integrates music streaming with social commerce, ticketing, and fan communities, allowing artists to build multifaceted campaigns around new music releases and existing catalogues. With OpenWav’s robust tools, artists can design premium products with a full design studio using their own artwork (or use Generative AI for album art), bundle physical sales with digital music purchases, and launch exclusive merch drops that drop ship worldwide, with no upfront costs or need for warehousing and fulfillment services. OpenWav handles customer service for the music artists, which is fully integrated into the app experience.
Wyclef Jean said, “Coming into this game as a young composer, having a chance to produce for The Fugees, Destiny’s Child, and Shakira, just to name a few, my passion has always been about discovering. I really believe deep in my soul that with OpenWav, we are headed back in that direction. The system is currently constructed in a way that prioritizes promotion and algorithms over artistry. But OpenWav does the reverse, putting artists first. This is why I’m energized about what OpenWav is building right now. They’re creating a pathway for artists to get discovered, build a solid foundation, and create a sustainable business model for themselves rooted in cultural currency that is true to them. The platform allows them to bypass the gatekeepers, creating a platform built on artistic equity-from events to merch. The future of music we all want to see is right here.”
Eric Tu, OpenWav Co-Founder and COO, said, “We’re not just launching a platform, we’re launching a movement to redefine the future of independent music and give rising stars a chance to build superfandom right from the very beginning. We built OpenWav to empower indie artists with tools to gain control of their artistry and superfans.”
From day one of downloading OpenWav, artists are provided detailed instructions and videos about how to monetize their work using the in-app creator tools and engage with their fans. Later this summer, OpenWav will announce an industry-disrupting discovery competition, offering rising artists the opportunity to share their original songs and receive valuable feedback from leading music industry professionals. Judges will evaluate submissions based on creativity, originality, and overall musical composition. For more information and future updates, follow @openwav_official on social media channels.
OpenWav is co-led by media executive, artist, and serial entrepreneur Jaeson Ma, who has a successful track record launching companies including 88rising, EST Studios, Stampede Ventures, East West Ventures, and an early investor in Muscial.ly (TikTok) & other consumer tech platforms; and Eric Tu, an award-winning development executive who’s worked with major brands including Nike, Beats by Dre and Google. Notable investors include Connect Ventures – a creator economy-focused fund backed by CAA / NEA, Warner Music Group, Goodwater Capital, Soma Capital, SuperScrypt, Dragonfly, Galaxy Interactive, and Animoca Brands.
About Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean, a three-time Grammy-winning producer, actor, and philanthropist, has been a prominent figure in music for over two decades, both as a solo artist with seven albums selling nearly nine million copies and as the founder of the Fugees. The Haitian-born singer-songwriter, who plays multiple instruments, started with The Refugee Camp before launching his solo career in 1997 with "Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars." His subsequent albums explored diverse musical styles and his Haitian heritage. Over the last decade, Jean has also contributed to film and collaborated with numerous rap and R&B artists.
About Madeline Nelson
Madeline Nelson is an Emmy-nominated producer, Grammy Award-winning artist manager, influential music executive, and women’s rights advocate with over three decades of experience shaping the world of music and culture. She is the founder and CEO of the newly formed Purple Cow Innovation, a boutique entertainment agency staffed completely by women, and co-founder of SodoMoodLab, a music jingle/ scoring company. Previously, Madeline has held numerous roles across music and culture spaces, including Head of Independent Label Relations for Amazon Music’s Indie Division, SVP at Sony Music Entertainment, and SVP at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation. Madeline Nelson's unique strength lies in her blend of sharp business sense and artistic intuition, driving innovative work across diverse creative fields. She prioritizes integrity and equity, particularly for women, and her mentorship has propelled many into successful careers, solidifying her impact on the industry.
About OpenWav
OpenWav is a next-generation music platform that empowers artists to monetize and engage their superfan communities, available on the App Store and Google Play Store. OpenWav enables artists to create their own branded products risk-free, while providing world-class proprietary technology tools and global supply chain.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250611033497/en/
OpenWav redefines the future of independent music through its all-in-one, AI-powered model for monetization, fan engagement, and creative ownership.
Contacts
Media Contact:
Natalie Yallouz, natalie@buzzerpr.com
Ryan Bender, rbender@mprm.com
