David Bowie Estate to Drop 'Bowie on the Blockchain' NFTs, Sale Receives Backlash From Fans

The David Bowie estate recently announced it is launching a series of non-fungible token (NFT) collectibles called “Bowie on the Blockchain.” Following the official announcement, however, a number of Bowie’s fans chastised the project and called it a pyramid scheme. Bowie’s blockchain collectibles will launch on Opensea on September 13, and proceeds from the sale will go to the global anti-poverty nonprofit Care (care.org).

‘Bowie on the Blockchain’ Digital Collectibles to Launch on September 13 via Opensea — Fans Criticize the NFT Drop

It seems when it comes to NFTs people either love them or hate them, and the recently announced “Bowie on the Blockchain” NFT collection has received some backlash. David Bowie is a famous English singer-songwriter and actor who passed away in January 2016.

Bowie is considered one of the most influential musicians, well known for his album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” and his hit single “Space Oddity.” The NFT collection will feature artwork that pays tribute to Bowie, and the digital collectibles are backed by the David Bowie estate and a Web3 venture called We Love the Arts.

The NFT marketplace Opensea has been teasing the “Bowie on the Blockchain” NFT collection on Twitter and in one particular tweet Opensea said: “On September 13th, David Bowie’s undying influence will impact yet another new frontier as nine of the world’s leading crypto-artists come together to celebrate his legacy and put #BowieOnTheBlockchain.”

Statements from the official announcement detail that all of the funds from the Bowie-centric NFT sale will be donated to Care. Bowie’s widow, the supermodel known as Iman, is a care.org global advocate. Following the announcement, a number of individuals berated the idea of putting Bowie on the blockchain.

“How about we just don’t with the NFT guff and just raise money for charity without using a pyramid scheme,” one user wrote to David Bowie’s official Twitter page. “David Bowie would not want this,” another individual opined. However, a few people disagreed and mentioned how Bowie created “Bowie bonds.” Bowie bonds were asset-backed securities backed by Bowie’s album sales and funds made from live performances.

“He pretty much pioneered it with Bowie Bonds but go off lol,” one person said, replying to the individual who insisted the now-deceased musical legend would not want an NFT collection to drop.

According to Rolling Stone journalist Jon Blistein, Bowie’s estate was “reaching out to get Bowie on the Blockchain.” The estate found the solution in the Web3 venture We Love the Arts and co-founder Andrew Keller mentioned concepts like Bowie Bonds to Blistein in an email.

“The more you think about what the crypto art space really is, the more you realize how ahead of his time Bowie was with some of the ways that he engaged with his fans — be it Bowie Art, Bowie World, Bowie Bonds, Bowie Net,” Keller remarked.