Get All Access for $5/mo

Grimes, Who Once Banked $5.8 Million in 20 Minutes By Selling Crypto Art, Says She's Made More From NFTs Than From Her Entire Music Career She recently offered to split 50% of royalties with anyone who made a song featuring her AI vocals.

By Palmer Haasch

Key Takeaways

  • Grimes says she has made more money selling NFTs than she has through her entire music career.
  • The Canadian musician made more than $5.8 million in less than 20 minutes from selling NFTs in 2021.
Getty Images via Business Insider
Grimes

This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

Grimes says her earnings from selling NFTs outpace what she's earned over the course of her music career.

The artist, whose given name is Claire Boucher, reflected on her venture into crypto and non-fungible tokens in a wide-ranging interview with Wired's Steven Levy.

She launched "WarNymph," a collection of 10 NFTs made in collaboration with her brother, Mac Boucher, in 2021. The NFTs brought in more than $5.8 million in less than 20 minutes.

"That was on my brother," Grimes said of the money she earned selling NFTs. "He had a real vision, and we wound up doing one of the first big ones. It did actually change my life."

When asked whether she had made more money selling NFTs than her music career, Grimes said, "Yeah."

Grimes holding up a book while wearing a science-fiction-inspired costume with a metal mask.

Grimes at the 2021 Met Gala in New York. Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Grimes, who shares two children with Elon Musk, has been releasing music since 2010 and dropped out of school in 2011. She released her breakout album, "Visions," in 2012 and the critically acclaimed album "Art Angels" in 2015.

The musician recently released AI-voice software that allows creators to create vocals using her voice and offered to split 50% of royalties with users who made a song with the software.

"Two, in particular, were very, very good," Grimes told Wired of user-generated tracks featuring her voice. "They're so in line with what my new album might be like that it was sort of disturbing. It's like, 'Who am I, and what am I here for?' On the other hand, it's like, 'Oh, sick, I might get to live forever.'"

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

Is One Company to Blame for Soaring Rental Prices in the U.S.?

The FBI recently raided a major corporate landlord while investigating a rent price-fixing scheme. Here's what we know.

Side Hustle

This Former Starbucks Employee Started a Side Hustle That's Making More Than $70,000 a Month — and He's Not Done Yet

When Tom Saar moved to New York City, he spotted a lucrative business opportunity.

Business News

Amazon Has a Blank Book Problem: Buyers Report Receiving Fakes of Bestselling UFO Book

The book looked fine on the outside, but the inside was out-of-this-world.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Paramount Leadership Alludes to Layoffs If Merger Does Not Go Through

Paramount is awaiting approval on its merger with Skydance Media from majority shareholder Shari Redstone.

Marketing

6 SEO Tips to Help You Rank in the New Era of Quality Content

What is the best SEO strategy after Google's March 2024 core update? Here's what you need to know.