Following in suit of a number of high-profile entertainers and athletes, The Weeknd is taking stake in the world of NFTs.
The superstar is teaming up with Billboard to release digital collectibles in celebration of his single “Blinding Lights” becoming the new No. 1 song on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time Hot 100 Chart. Having spent 90 weeks on the Hot 100 Chart, it is also the all-time No. 1 song.
"Through this collection, we're excited to offer music fans a new, innovative format that allows them to engage further with our rankings and deepen their connection to an important milestone in music history," said Billboard President Julian Holguin "The Weeknd's NFTs capture the excitement that 'Blinding Lights' inspires, and music fans and collectors alike will gravitate towards these NFTs and be proud to own them for years to come."
The Weeknd x Billboard collection has been developed in partnership with Tom Brady’s Autograph, the world’s largest NFT marketplace, and Karvin Cheung, a Billboard collaborator and founder of The Infinite, which created collectible cards of musicians.
The Weeknds’ collectibles will be the debut series from The Infinite, a timely development following his joining of Autograph’s board of directors. With the goal of pushing the boundaries of art within culture, the Canadian singer aims to help shape the future of NFTS. As part of his pioneering actions, his collection will officially kick off Autograph’s new music vertical.
"Having The Weeknd join our board of directors and launch our music vertical with such a groundbreaking cultural moment speaks to our shared vision of communicating culture's most engaging stories and celebrating its most important moments as they happen through new digital formats," Autograph co-founder and CEO Dillon Rosenblatt said. "A visionary in terms of music and art, we're excited to leverage his creative power and expertise as we pioneer a new era of digital collecting together."
The 7-piece animated collection comes in four designs. One features The Weeknd’s recent Billboard cover, while the others are inspired by the “Blinding Lights” music video.The auction began on Dec. 20 and runs until Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. ET.
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Photography by: Billy Farrell/BFA.com
