The Opportunity

HIO is presented with a remarkable opportunity, perfectly timed to address the needs and desires of various user segments: 1. Social Media users 2. Independent music artists & content creators 3. Crypto & NFT enthusiasts HIO appeals to the vast, disgruntled user base of existing social media platforms. Meta, with its Instagram, Facebook, and Threads platforms, generated a staggering $88 billion in annual advertising revenue in 2022. However, a very large majority of the platform’s users do not receive any monetary compensation for the content they create, share and engage with. HIO seizes this opportunity by offering a platform where users can finally monetize engagement with their contributions and break free from the constant data mining that plagues traditional social media. With HIO vowing to never mine or sell user data, there is the potential to tap into a massive and eager market, with nearly 3 billion users craving fair treatment and financial recognition for their creative endeavours. Secondly, there is a significant opportunity to cater to independent artists who are struggling to receive a living wage from their art. Spotify and Apple Music boast 220 and 98 million subscribers respectively, and major labels heavily influence the current streaming landscape, resulting in disproportionate distribution of subscription fees towards their artists. Just 0.7% of the 8 million artists on Spotify receive 90% of the streams, leaving just 10% of streaming revenue for the remaining 99.3% of artists. These lesser-known and independent artists would embrace HIO’ compensation model. Further, Spotify has recently changed their model so that creators need to achieve 1,000 streams to receive any revenue from their streams. Finally, HIO has a unique opportunity to captivate the growing community of crypto and NFT enthusiasts. According to DappRader, the NFT market generated around $24.7 billion trading volume in 2022 across blockchain platforms and marketplaces. Also, according to Dune Analytics, OpenSea - the biggest NFT marketplace - now boasts 1.5 million active users. Additionally, 23% of millennials in the US are collectors of NFTs according to Statista. Given these statistics, it’s clear there is a burgeoning audience who would be interested in a platform that combines the best features of the likes of Instagram, Spotify and OpenSea. By leveraging the Solana blockchain, known for its advanced technology, proof-of-history mechanism and environmental friendliness, HIO is well-positioned to capture the attention and enthusiasm of crypto heads seeking innovative and artist-friendly solutions. The current landscape presents a unique confluence of factors that make this the opportune moment for HIO. Creators across various industries are grappling with the challenge of generating a sustainable income through existing mediums, while the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional revenue streams for artists - live performances. Simultaneously, the rise of NFTs as a transformative technology has enabled creators to establish provenance and monetize their work more easily than ever before. Against this backdrop, HIO emerges as a forward-thinking solution, aligning the interests of creators, users and the blockchain community. The convergence of market dynamics, technological advancements, and changing consumer expectations have created the perfect environment for HIO to shine as a transformative force in the music industry and the broader creator economy.