From Broadway to Fairvu: How Sasha mereu Is Revolutionizing Music Industry Revenue Streams

Living the Dream with Curveball

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Ever wonder what happens when theatrical magic collides with punk rock energy? Sasha Mereu embodies this fascinating intersection as the self-styled "punk rock Willy Wonka" - and he's on a mission to transform how musicians earn a living.
Sasha takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable career spanning over 1,000 stages worldwide, including a Broadway run in 2016 with "The Illusionists: Turn of the Century" - which became Broadway's highest-grossing magic show. His performances blend theatrical elements with musical prowess, creating an electric, unpredictable energy that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Rather than avoiding eye contact like many musicians, Sasha dives into crowds, creating personal connections and sometimes conjuring balloon animals out of thin air.
Beyond his performances, Sasha delivers a compelling analysis of how the music industry fundamentally changed with Napster and subsequent streaming platforms. The traditional model of recording albums, touring, and selling physical copies has collapsed, leaving most musicians struggling to earn living wages. His response? Co-founding Fairvu, a benefit corporation building a digital platform that enables musicians to livestream concerts with virtual ticket sales, store media on-demand, and sell merchandise - all while keeping 90% of their earnings.
What makes Fairview unique isn't just its artist-friendly economics but its structure as a benefit corporation balancing profit with community benefits and complete transparency. Rather than seeking large investors, they're taking a grassroots approach by asking musicians to contribute just $5 each to build the platform together.
Whether you're a musician feeling the squeeze of streaming economics, a fan wanting to better support artists you love, or simply fascinated by creative entrepreneurs tackling industry-wide challenges - Sasha's insights offer a refreshing perspective on creating sustainable artistic careers in the digital age. Check out fairvu.net to support their mission and help reshape the music industry's future.

Want to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600

Chapters

1. Meet Sasha Merrow, Punk Rock Willy Wonka (00:00:00)

2. Creating Chaos: Music Meets Theater (00:04:01)

3. Broadway Dreams: The Illusionist Experience (00:08:45)

4. Music Industry Revolution: Fairview's Mission (00:11:25)

5. Creative Projects and Future Plans (00:19:13)

6. Supporting Fairview and Closing Thoughts (00:29:40)