Grammy-winning artist Wyclef Jean has partnered with Jaeson Ma, co-founder of Asian music collective 88rising, to launch OpenWav, a platform that promises artists higher earnings via fan engagements.
The startup, based in Los Angeles, was launched on Wednesday (June 11) during A2IM Indie Week in New York City, with backing from creator economy-focused fund Connect Ventures, Warner Music Group, Goodwater Capital, Soma Capital, SuperScrypt, Dragonfly, Galaxy Interactive, and Animoca Brands.
Wyclef Jean will serve as Chief Music Officer, while Jaeson Ma will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the new company.
Wyclef Jean, the Haitian-American musician who co-founded The Fugees and produced hits for Destiny’s Child and Shakira, has also founded other music ventures including Carnival World Music Group, which provides creative artists with music publishing and distribution resources.
He has also invested in companies like AI voice platform Kits.AI, and helped launch a suite of new music tools dubbed ‘Music AI Sandbox’ for Google and YouTube.
“The music industry is broken. Most artists can’t make a living off streams, and social media rewards clout, not connection. OpenWav was built to change that.”
Jaeson Ma, OpenWav
Ma, meanwhile, is the founder of East West Ventures, a brand strategy and investment firm, and 88rising, a music platform and record label primarily for Asian American artists. He also co-founded Stampede Ventures, an independent entertainment media company with franchises across film, television, and digital.
OpenWav says Ma has raised capital and advised on deals totaling over $1 billion.
Ma said: “The music industry is broken. Most artists can’t make a living off streams, and social media rewards clout, not connection. OpenWav was built to change that. We’re giving artists the power to monetize their superfans directly, own their audience, and finally build a real, sustainable career doing what they love. No middlemen. No gatekeepers. Just artists in full control.”
Another co-founder, Eric Tu, was named Chief Operating Officer. Tu has worked with brands like Nike, Beats by Dre and Google.
Veteran music manager Madeline Nelson also joined OpenWav as senior advisor, bringing three decades of experience including roles at Sony Music Entertainment and Amazon‘s music division.
Nelson recently founded Purple Cow Innovation, an entertainment agency staffed entirely by women. She also served as SVP at Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation, and is the co-founder of music jingle/ scoring company. SodoMoodLab.
“I’m energized about what OpenWav is building right now. They’re creating a pathway for artists to get discovered, build a solid foundation, and create a sustainable business model for themselves rooted in cultural currency that is true to them.”
Wyclef Jean, OpenWav
OpenWav says it combines ad-free music streaming with AI-powered creator tools, e-commerce, exclusive drops, ticketing, and fan community features. It lets artists sell merch, tickets and exclusive content directly to fans. The platform employs artificial intelligence to help musicians design products and analyze audience data.
Commenting on the launch, Wyclef Jean said: “Coming into this game as a young composer, having a chance to produce for The Fugees, Destiny’s Child, and Shakira, just to name a few, my passion has always been about discovering. I really believe deep in my soul that with OpenWav, we are headed back in that direction. The system is currently constructed in a way that prioritizes promotion and algorithms over artistry.”
“We’re not just launching a platform, we’re launching a movement to redefine the future of independent music and give rising stars a chance to build superfandom right from the very beginning.”
Eric Tu, OpenWav
“But OpenWav does the reverse, putting artists first. This is why I’m energized about what OpenWav is building right now. They’re creating a pathway for artists to get discovered, build a solid foundation, and create a sustainable business model for themselves rooted in cultural currency that is true to them. The platform allows them to bypass the gatekeepers, creating a platform built on artistic equity-from events to merch. The future of music we all want to see is right here.”
Eric Tu added: “We’re not just launching a platform, we’re launching a movement to redefine the future of independent music and give rising stars a chance to build superfandom right from the very beginning. We built OpenWav to empower indie artists with tools to gain control of their artistry and superfans.”
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