With her app Smash, Kesha can be whoever she wants – even a tech CEO

Kesha, the iconic pop star known for her catchy hits, has embarked on a new venture as a startup founder. This transition from the music industry to tech may seem surprising, but it aligns with her complex persona. Bursting onto the scene in 2010 with playful tracks like "Blah Blah Blah" and "TiK ToK," Kesha has always defied expectations. Despite her glittery image, she has faced significant challenges behind the curtain, including struggles with exploitative contracts. Drawing from her personal experiences of battling against predatory record deals, Kesha is now introducing an innovative app called Smash. This platform aims to empower musicians by facilitating collaboration and ensuring transparent, artist-friendly contracts. Artists using Smash can generate contracts tailored to their preferences, whether that means licensing a beat for a set fee or opting to receive a share of future royalties. The app plans to sustain itself by taking a small percentage of transactions made through its platform. Lagan Sebert, Kesha’s brother and co-founder of Smash, emphasized the app’s mission: "We want to give music creators access to a professional network without the fear of giving up their rights or making life-altering decisions too soon." This vision stems from Kesha's own tumultuous journey in the music industry, including her high-profile legal battle with producer Dr. Luke over allegations of abuse and subsequent defamation counterclaims. After years of legal strife and being forced to fulfill her contract, Kesha finally released her first album independently on July 4. This monumental step towards regaining her artistic freedom has fueled her desire to help emerging artists avoid similar pitfalls. "The motivation behind Smash was to create a safe space where music creators can connect and collaborate without fear of exploitation," Sebert added. To bring Smash to fruition, Kesha sought the expertise of tech professionals. She connected with Lars Rasmussen, a co-founder of Google Maps, at an ACTAI Ventures event. Rasmussen introduced her to Alan Cannistraro, the app’s CTO, who has a rich history in tech, including over a decade at Apple working on creative products. During the Panathēnea festival in Greece, Kesha showcased Smash, stating, "This platform is designed to connect, create, and hire, while ensuring that creators retain rights to their work." She highlighted the importance of transparency in contracts, allowing artists to have control over their creations. Though still in development, Smash has already initiated a contest for artists to remix Kesha’s track "Boy Crazy," with winners receiving recognition and an industry-standard fee for their work. Kesha reflected on her journey, saying, "I regained my voice as a 37-year-old woman, and I want to change the narrative for others facing similar predatory situations in the industry." With Smash, Kesha is determined to shift the power dynamics, giving artists the tools they need for success on their terms.