According to Blockworks, LimeWire, once a popular file-sharing platform, has transformed into an AI-powered content publishing platform with a focus on blockchain technology. In 2021, brothers Julian and Paul Zehetmayr acquired LimeWire's intellectual property and rebranded it as a blockchain-focused project. The company's new AI Music Studio allows users to create and publish music using generative AI tools, making the content ownable and tradeable via blockchain technology. Creators can monetize their content through an ad-revenue share program.
All content created in the LimeWire AI Music Studio is minted on either Polygon or Algorand, according to LimeWire co-CEO Julian Zehetmayr. The company raised approximately $10 million in April 2022 and launched a music-focused digital collectibles marketplace to lower barriers of entry into the world of NFTs. LimeWire's NFT marketplace went live in 2022, and its public LMWR token sale closed in June. The platform's multi-chain approach allows creators to choose which blockchain to mint content on.
LimeWire debuted its creator studio with image generation capabilities in August, minting content to the Polygon blockchain. The company acquired image generation platform BlueWillow in September. Co-CEO Paul Zehetmayr emphasized the company's dedication to providing aspiring musicians with cutting-edge tools to empower and amplify their artistic expression.