Drawing on her own battle for creative control, Kesha is building a tech startup that gives power back to artists through transparent contracts and fair collaboration
A New Stage for Kesha: Tech CEO
Kesha — the bold, glitter-soaked pop icon who ruled airwaves with “TiK ToK” — is stepping into a surprising new role: startup founder and CEO of a music-tech company. Her app, Smash, is a bold attempt to fix a broken industry from the inside out — one where she herself once fought for years to reclaim control over her own voice and music.
- Smash is a music collaboration platform where artists can connect, co-create, and set clear terms for their partnerships.
- The app generates customizable, artist-friendly contracts, protecting creatives from the predatory deals that Kesha herself once endured.
From Trauma to Transformation
Kesha’s pivot into tech is no random celebrity vanity project. It’s rooted in lived experience. After years of being trapped in a contract with producer Dr. Luke — a relationship she alleges was abusive — Kesha is turning her pain into purpose.
- Her lawsuit against Dr. Luke in 2014 became a watershed moment in the music industry’s #MeToo reckoning.
- Despite the legal battle, she was forced to release three more albums under his oversight — until this July 4, 2025, when she finally dropped music on her own terms.
“I regained the rights to my voice back for the first time in my adult life… Predatory deals like that are normal,” she said.
How Smash Works
Smash aims to simplify and secure music collaboration by automating the contractual process.
- Artists can set their own terms: upfront fees, royalty splits, or licensing agreements.
- Smash then auto-generates contracts that are transparent and mutually agreed upon.
- The platform takes a small cut of payments made through the app, ensuring a sustainable business model that supports creators without exploitation.
“We want to give music creators access to the community they need to create independently,” said Kesha’s co-founder and brother, Lagan Sebert.
Building Smash: Real Tech Talent, Not Just Star Power
To bring Smash to life, Kesha partnered with proven Silicon Valley talent.
- Alan Cannistraro, a former Apple engineer who built early iOS apps, serves as CTO.
- Lars Rasmussen, co-creator of Google Maps and early Canva investor, is one of the company’s first backers.
- Together, the team blends industry-grade technical know-how with Kesha’s deep cultural insight into what musicians really need.
A Platform with Purpose
Beyond contracts, Smash is being positioned as a community for music creation — from beat licensing to remix contests.
- To test its features, Smash recently ran a remix competition for Kesha’s song “Boy Crazy.” Winners will be paid and featured on her label.
- The company is still in early stages, aiming to launch to a limited number of artists later this year.
“The goal is to shift the power back to the hands of the creators,” Kesha declared at a tech festival in Greece, underscoring her mission.
A Cultural and Technological Bet
In an age where music creation is more accessible than ever, Smash could solve a pressing gap: how to collaborate safely and fairly without a major label.
- Kesha’s journey from exploited artist to empowered founder gives the platform authentic credibility.
- Smash reflects a broader movement where artists are taking back control — not just through music, but through technology and ownership.
