From Streaming To Owning: MRKD.dj’s Co-Creator Economy

Joanna Orlova sat down with Jaime Schwarz, founder of Markd.dj, to explore how the platform is rethinking music ownership. Schwarz filed a patent in 2017 for authentication of media and digital goods and partnered with Keith Shocklee of Public Enemy to bring legal remix culture to the mainstream.

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From Streaming to Owning: Jaime Schwarz on Building Markd.dj

Streaming turned songs into ads. Jaime Schwarz wants fans to own music again, and to build on it. With Markd.dj, he’s laying the groundwork for a co-creator economy where value flows through every remix.

Q: What problem is Markd.dj solving in the music industry?
Jaime: The system is broken. Streaming turned music into marketing, and ownership disappeared. Markd.dj is a full vertical solution that lets fans actually buy tracks they can use, remix, and build on.

That vision didn’t come from nowhere. Schwarz had been working on the foundation long before Markd.dj launched.

Q: How did you create the foundation for this model?
Jaime: I filed the world’s first NFT patent for authentication of media and digital goods in 2017. It took five years to get through, but it set the stage for a system where ownership is provable and transferable.

Once the foundation was in place, the focus shifted to culture and how music could regain its roots.

Q: What role does remix culture play in your vision?
Jaime: One person’s song can be another person’s instrument. That idea goes back to folk music and was pushed forward by Keith Shocklee of Public Enemy. Sampling isn’t theft, it’s the modern form of oral tradition, and it should create value for everyone.

This philosophy directly influenced how Markd.dj was designed for fans and creators.

Q: What does the product experience look like?
Jaime: It starts with a single sign-on via DJ name. Every track you own comes with all formats, future-proofed in your wallet. Physical items can link through NFC. A built-in player lets your collection run like a jukebox, and limited editions evolve into new products over time.

For Schwarz, the future of music is simple: ownership should be creative, connected, and valuable again. And his advice to founders: Practice in public. Present often, listen to the room, and evolve. Memorize your story, then be ready to throw it out when the moment calls.

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