Humans have always valued utility. From developing stone tools to perfecting animal husbandry, our ancestors crafted technology that creates value by making life easier — or, sometimes, simply more interesting. Look around, and you’ll find that we’ve never lost that mindset, it’s just evolved. Nowhere is that clearer than NFT projects with utility, which show how the Web3 internet is helping people and businesses connect.

Most of us first learned about NFTs (non-fungible tokens) because of their relation to digital art, but the technology is capable of much more. NFTs that function as utility tokens act as a gateway to the new possibilities afforded by Web3 technology. By embracing utility NFT benefits, brands will be better equipped to engage audiences in any industry, from music to apparel and beyond. Let’s dig into some examples of successful NFT projects and how you can implement their lessons into your project.

Maybe your entertainment brand has already dove into the deep end of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) with a range of artist and community collaborations. Or maybe you weren’t convinced by the early days of NFTs and observed from a distance instead. Either way, the still-young technology has steadily redefined public perceptions of scarcity and value in ways no one expected. But now that it’s integrating with another technology that promises to redefine how we work and play, it may be time for your next (or first) on-chain project. We’re talking about AI (artificial intelligence) NFTs.

NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have become a foundational part of the internet’s web3 future in the few short years since they burst onto the scene. While some still see them as fancy jpegs (or, more accurately, pngs), the truth is that NFTs are much more than digital pictures. With NFT utility, brands can offer unique ways to engage audiences, ranging from proof of ownership of physical goods to access passes for major events. By the time you’re finished with this article, you’ll understand the major types of NFT utility as they exist today.

Music NFTs are changing the dynamic between fans and artists, giving both parties new ways to engage online. The new dynamic is made possible by music NFT companies, who are fueling the transition with innovative new types of tokens that can be bought, sold, and traded online. Music NFTs allow fans to own portions of a song’s royalties, iconic memorabilia, or even access to digital concerts. Here are the companies making the biggest impact.

More people are minting unique NFTs than ever before, offering potential buyers and sellers plenty of online storefronts to choose from when purchasing unique digital tokens. In fact, there may be too many to choose from if you’re on the business side and just trying to find the right platform to bring your assets to the blockchain.

Everything’s going digital these days — even physical assets. We’re not talking about staking out the virtual equivalent of real estate in a metaverse somewhere and hoping the land will appreciate in value. We’re talking about brands and organizations finding effective and profitable ways to monetize the real, physical assets they hold using the blockchain. It’s a new way of doing business, but it’s already a potent one. If you want to get started right, your best bet will be to follow the example of or partner up with dedicated asset tokenization companies.

The same modern streaming platforms that make digital distribution possible also pay fractions of a penny with each play. Thankfully, artists are finding new ways to engage directly with fans by selling exclusive tracks, assets, and collectibles. There’s just one problem — understanding how to tokenize music without falling into the same pitfalls that plagued the old ways of digital distribution (or discovering all-new ones). Thankfully, the process is far less complicated than even the biggest names in music might realize.

From NFT (non-fungible token) art galleries featuring the late Kobe Bryant, to digital trading cards, to the renaming of the Staples Center to Crypto.com Arena — blockchain technology in sports is here to stay. The opportunities within this exciting space are only continuing to grow.

Sports cards have been a staple of sports fandom since at least 1909, the year American Tobacco stashed its first cards as freebies in cigarette and tobacco packs. The industry has grown significantly since those early days, and technology has matured alongside it. Now, the blockchain provides the perfect meeting point for the two.