Zedge Launches Tapedeck Music Platform

Zedge, Inc., a leader in digital marketplaces and interactive games, today announced the launch of Tapedeck, a groundbreaking new music app and service designed to give musicians more control over their work and ensure fairer compensation. Known for enabling creativity, empowering self-expression, and fostering community, Zedge is now bringing its creator-first approach to the music industry.

Since 2017, Zedge has made it easier for creators worldwide to make a living from their art through its thriving Zedge Premium marketplace, paying out millions of dollars annually. Tapedeck applies that same model to music, giving artists more control over pricing, royalties, and fan engagement. The service is the brainchild of Zedge’s SVP of Product and music industry veteran Tim Quirk, who has played a key role in shaping the digital music landscape. Quirk is the lead singer of Too Much Joy and was instrumental in launching Rhapsody in 2001. He later helped build Google Play in 2011 and founded Freeform Development, a start-up Zedge acquired to enable its global network of creators to better monetize their work.

Reflecting on the early days of streaming, Quirk emphasizes that fair artist compensation was once achievable. “When Rhapsody launched it set the standard at a penny per play, while at FreeForm we knew there had to be more and we proved that superfans showed they’ll pay extra to support the artists they care about most. Zedge Premium furthered this by enabling a self-serve platform that put the artist in charge. Tapedeck’s goal is to prioritize fan passion over mass numbers of casual users ensuring that control over destiny stays exactly where it belongs – with the artist.” Quirk points out that modern royalty systems often leave artists earning mere fractions of a cent per stream from their labels, creating an urgent need for change.

Tapedeck introduces a number of features aimed at empowering musicians. Artist-driven pricing allows licensors, whether individual artists, labels, or distributors, to set their own prices for streaming, track downloads, and album purchases based on what they know about their audience. A penny per play is the minimum, ensuring artists receive fair compensation for every listen. Revenue share is also generous, with Tapedeck paying licensors 80 percent of revenue for each download and stream. Fans can optionally pay more than the listed price, creating incremental revenue opportunities for the artists they love. There are no subscription fees, meaning artists can participate without upfront costs, ensuring the platform remains accessible and scalable.

“We’re not aiming to compete with Spotify on day one,” Quirk adds. “We’re here to prove eager fans can support the artists they love in ways that aren’t available today.” The initial launch of Tapedeck is a three-month pilot program in the United States, partnering with Symphonic and initially available on iOS. The company plans to add more licensors continuously and expand to Android, web, and international markets in 2026.

With Tapedeck, every play and purchase gives more direct support to the artists who create the music fans love. The platform is designed to shift power back to the musicians, allowing them to retain more control over their work and their earnings while fostering a closer connection with their audience.

Zedge continues to operate as a leading ecosystem for consumers and creators alike. Its suite of platforms enables creativity, self-expression, and e-commerce, and fosters community through fun competitions. Its offerings include the Zedge Marketplace, a freemium platform offering mobile wallpapers, video wallpapers, ringtones, notification sounds, and the generative AI image maker pAInt, GuruShots, a skill-based photography challenge game, and Emojipedia, the most trusted source for all things emoji.

Tapedeck represents the next chapter in Zedge’s commitment to creators. By prioritizing fair compensation and direct artist engagement, the platform seeks to transform how music is monetized while giving fans meaningful ways to support the artists they love. The launch marks a significant step in Zedge’s ongoing mission to empower creators across mediums and industries.

For more information, visit Zedge’s investor site at https://www.investor.zedge.net

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