Scheduled for launch in June, Lume has been announced as a conceptually new Kiwi-designed digital platform for artists to sell albums and related artist features, which fans can buy and own.

Developed by The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive, in partnership with Justin Warren, Tim Harper and Sacha Judd, the Lume platform is designed for album-oriented artists and fans – with the very appealing promise of 80% of net revenue going to artists and their associates.

‘We know that there are problems with the current digital music economy, particularly for those who make and love albums. We think that a revival of collecting, curating and deep listening is needed for both artists and fans.’

As the website explains it, Lume functions like a streaming device, while inviting fans to go deeper into the albums they love. It’s not a subscription-based service, users buy each Lume individually and own it permanently.

‘Lume is a new digital format for albums. When an artist releases a Lume, you can buy the full album alongside the content they’ve chosen to share around it – which may include demos, alternate versions, live recordings, handwritten lyrics, behind-the-scenes footage, unreleased photography, and more. You buy it once and own it forever.’

The new app is not intended to compete with established digital music providers, but started from recognition that streaming doesn’t work for albums the way it does for singles.

‘Lume is for albums. Streaming is for tracks. Streaming gives you access to music for as long as you keep paying – it’s optimised for singles, playlists, and background listening. Lume is ownership: you buy an album once and it’s yours to keep, alongside the content the artist has chosen to share around it. And a single Lume purchase puts the equivalent of around 3,000 streams’ worth of revenue directly in the hands of artists and their partners.’