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Blake, Wm. Job and His Family Restored to Prosperity, object 21. 1821.

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James Blake has launched Vault, a new platform designed to connect artists directly with fans through a subscription model. For a $5 monthly fee, fans can access music straight from Blake, sidestepping traditional music industry constraints.

Vault was developed in response to Blake’s criticism of the current streaming economy, which he says fails to adequately compensate artists. By allowing artists to set their own subscription prices, Vault aims to create a more sustainable income directly from their fanbase.

James Blake: “Most musicians are not extroverts who are social media and branding geniuses, least of all me. And I wanted to find a way for musicians to make money directly from the music they make, not least to be able to reinvest in the very expensive process of renting studios, hiring musicians, etc.”

“So I’m going to start the experiment off by releasing from my Vault of unreleased music for a subscription of $5 a month. It’s music direct from me to you, where no one can gatekeep what I release to you, or delay my releases. And I’ve got a chat section for everyone to discuss the music. This is hopefully a step towards allowing artists to be as authentic as possible, while still making a living.”