Des Agyekumhene (BSc (Hons), MSc)
Thesis title: An Evaluation of the Rights of Musicians and Music Creators in a Changing Digital Music Consumption Landscape
PhD
Year of study: 5
- Edinburgh University Law School
- SCRIPT Centre
- SGSAH AHRC Creative Economies Studentships
Contact details
- Email: des.a@ed.ac.uk
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PhD supervisors:
Address
- Street
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Somerset House, Strand
- City
- London
- Post code
- WC2R 1LA
- Street
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University of Edinburgh, South Bridge
- City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9YL
Background
With an ambition to help impact the way the world experiences music through blockchain technology, Des finds himself in a unique position of being an academic and blockchain enthusiast working in the music business.
Des is a music executive undertaking doctoral legal research at the University of Edinburgh, School of Law. He prides himself on knowing the latest technological developments in Web3 but his music industry background means he vitally understands the culture.
As an award-winning PhD candidate researching artist remuneration rights in the digital era, Des co-founded Soga World after recognising the music industry's flaws in always hanging on the coat-tail of tech companies. Des understood that there was, and still is, an extremely steep learning curve when it came to Web3, but felt that his special power was to reduce that curve and bridge the gap between music and tech. But more importantly, Des wanted to make music industry stakeholders feel comfortable by showing them low-risk opportunities within the Web3 space and showing them that they could create truly impactful cultural moments using ideas that shift and content that connects with fans and the masses.
Most notably Des helped achieved the first NFT project to impact the Official Album Charts worldwide, working with Aitch on his debut album “Close to Home”, reaching number 2 in the charts. He also accomplished the first NFT project at OVO Wembley Arena, working with Ne-Yo on his sold-out UK tour, selling meet and greets experiences as NFTs.
Committing himself to leverage his experiences to research and help creatives engage with fans in today’s digital landscape, Des has also participated in the broader policy affairs surrounding remuneration rights, intellectual property, and copyright law within the industry. His doctoral thesis assesses if the legal regime policing the rights of creators is fit for purpose in this evolving digital landscape.
Des’s aim has been to tip the scales and gives some of the power back to the creatives and balance the power dynamic between the creatives and tech companies. That is and will be his core mission for the future.
Qualifications
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Global Public Health and Policy (MSc)
University of Portsmouth
Biomedical Sciences BSc (Hons)
Research summary
My doctoral research is the first socio-legal academic study that fully understands and evaluates the role and place of streaming services within digital music consumption and assesses how the legal regime can be made fit for purpose.
Current research interests
1) Economics of Streaming 2) Copyright Law/ Intellectual Property 3) Web3 (Blockchain, NFTs, DAOs, Defi) 4) AIPast research interests
Global Public Health and Policy, Infectious DiseasesAffiliated research centres
Invited speaker
Socio-Legal Studies Association Conference 2023
NFT.NYC London 2022
AIM Connected 2022
Ireland Music Week 2022
Great Escape Festival 2022
SensoriaPro 2022
Liverpool Soundcity 2021