Kesha is taking a bold leap beyond her music career with the launch of Smash—a groundbreaking platform she calls “LinkedIn for music creators.” Launched in May 2025, Smash is more than a tech startup—it’s a mission-driven project aimed at shaking up the music industry’s outdated structure and giving creators the control they’ve long fought for.
At its core, Smash is built to connect musicians, songwriters, producers, and engineers in one secure digital space. It’s a blend of professional networking and marketplace dynamics, wrapped in a blockchain-based foundation that guarantees full ownership and fair compensation for creators. The platform has already attracted over 50,000 waitlist signups in just three days—a sign of its massive potential in a $2.97 billion market.
Smash enters the scene at a time when independent artists are increasingly demanding rights retention. A 2024 survey by Music Business Worldwide found that 83% of indie creators now prioritize keeping their masters over signing with traditional labels. Smash answers that call with smart contracts, built-in payments, and NFT-based tools to manage ownership in a transparent, tamper-proof way.
From Artist to Founder: Kesha’s Drive to Build a Fairer Industry
Kesha’s personal journey fuels this venture. She signed her first record deal at 18, which she later described as deeply exploitative. Years of legal battles followed—costing her more than $50 million and highlighting the harsh realities artists often face. Smash is her answer to those struggles. It’s a platform designed to remove the old tradeoff between access and autonomy.
With Smash, Kesha aims to build a space where creators don’t have to sacrifice ownership to succeed. Collaborators can connect, build projects, manage contracts, and distribute music—all while retaining full rights. And with secure blockchain infrastructure, every contribution is automatically recorded and protected.
The Tech Powering Smash’s Creative Ecosystem
Kesha isn’t doing it alone. Serving as CTO is Alan Cannistraro, a seasoned tech leader who previously built products at Apple and Facebook. Under his guidance, Smash runs on a scalable, serverless AWS backend, with a React Native-powered mobile app and AI algorithms that recommend potential collaborators based on style, tools, and project goals.
The platform’s matching engine considers 15+ variables—from genre fit to past work and gear compatibility—to pair creators more intelligently. This isn’t just a networking app; it’s an intelligent ecosystem where creative synergy is engineered.
Smart contracts automate royalty splits, and upcoming NFT features will allow limited-edition drops and digital collectibles. For creators, this means no more relying on handshake deals or hoping spreadsheets get it right—Smash handles the business so they can focus on the art.
Creative Launch and Strategic Momentum
To mark its debut, Smash launched a remix contest for Kesha’s new single, BOY CRAZY. Participants get access to the track’s raw stems and submit their remixes, with the winner released under Kesha’s independent label. This move highlights the platform’s collaborative features and gives early users real industry exposure.
Behind the scenes, Smash is backed by a powerful mix of industry VCs and artists-turned-investors. Though the full details of the ongoing seed round remain private, investors reportedly include WndrCo—the fund behind Mixcloud’s expansion—and The Weeknd’s Blue Icon Group. Kesha herself is also a major backer.
Smash’s monetization strategy includes a premium subscription model, with analysts predicting strong recurring revenue as the platform scales. There’s also potential in licensing its rights management tools to indie labels and global music festivals.
Rethinking the Music Industry’s Infrastructure
Where other platforms fall short, Smash sets a new standard. While tools like SoundBetter and BandLab support basic collaboration, they often lack robust IP protection. Smash goes further by combining talent discovery, project matching, built-in contracting, and blockchain-backed ownership verification—all in one place.
This isn’t just a platform; it’s an infrastructure overhaul. Smash empowers creators to track, protect, and monetize their work confidently, making it a first-of-its-kind tool for the music industry.
The roadmap is just as ambitious. A public beta with NFT-based royalty payouts is planned this year, followed by integrations with Kesha Records for talent scouting. In 2026, Smash will debut predictive A&R analytics to help labels spot rising stars using data-driven insights. And future expansions may target film, television, and advertising—with secure IP tracking for visual media collaborations.
A Movement, Not Just a Startup
Kesha’s entry into tech isn’t a celebrity side project. It’s a mission to shift the balance of power in the entertainment world. Smash gives artists what the traditional system often withholds: control, protection, and professional tools to build sustainable careers.
As she puts it, “This isn’t just about music—it’s about building the creative middle class.” With Smash, Kesha could spark a movement that extends well beyond the studio, changing how creators everywhere think about ownership, collaboration, and success.
