Sound.xyz was a web3-native music platform that let artists release songs as NFTs, with fans purchasing limited editions and becoming part-owners of tracks. Founded in 2021 by David Greenstein, the platform raised a $20 million Series A round in July 2023 led by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z Crypto fund, alongside participation from Snoop Dogg, Ryan Tedder and Tay Keith. [1] The platform went offline on January 16, 2026, with the team directing users to its successor project, vault.fm. [2]
Design and History
Sound.xyz underwent a major rebrand in 2023, executed by the Stockholm-based design studio Studio Herrström, led by Erik Herrström. [3] The studio worked closely with the founding team to redesign the brand identity, a project that contributed to the platform’s $20 million Series A funding round. [4]
The earlier logo featured a pixelated “S” emblematic of music on blockchain technology. The updated version kept the iconic “S” but opted for a less squashed form. [5] The new identity introduced a modular system of building blocks representing the artists and fans at the heart of the platform. [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
Artists and listeners are described as the building blocks of Sound.xyz, and its symbol is built up by these building blocks, which can transform into different constellations. The constellations can represent the shape of the platform’s community or the audience of a specific release from an artist. [6] The studio also developed scalable patterns from the mark to visualize discovery, network effects and growth. [4]
The identity also used sound wave-inspired audience graphics, visualizing how ownership and engagement ripple across the platform. This mechanic mirrored how early listeners earn front-row access, just as fans would at a concert. [4]
Typography and Design
The brand uses Acid Grotesk, a typeface designed by Folch Studio. [3] The identity is a flexible, editorial system built on core shapes and a full-spectrum color palette, allowing the brand to make editorial choices in marketing and promotions. [6] The system was designed to flex between artist-facing and audience-facing content while remaining coherent and expressive. [4]
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