British singer and songwriter Imogen Heap has discussed how blockchain technology could help empower musicians.

Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt London yesterday, Heap, a self-confessed technologist and Grammy Award winner, told the audience that a revolution among artists was impending and that smart contracts on the blockchain could transform the ways in which people in the industry interact with data.

She added:

“We are at an amazing point in history for artists. A revolution is going to happen, and next year it’s going to take over. It’s the ability of artists to have the control and the say of what they do with their music at large. The answer to this is in the blockchain.”

Heap made headlines earlier this year when she released her song “Tiny Human” and its associated data on the Ethereum blockchain at a special event hosted by The Guardian.

During her panel discussion, at yesterday’s event, the singer also picked up on the issue of monetisation within the music industry.

“The single biggest problem for an artist right now is payment. We need a fair trade industry,” said Heap, adding: “I would love to be part responsible for a fair trade music industry … it [the blockchain] could spark up many new platforms and services that would enrich all of our lives.”

Image via Yessi Bello Perez for CoinDesk