With record labels tanking and internet piracy showing no signs of abating, many artists are looking to crowdfunding websites likes Kickstarter, PledgeMusic and IndieGoGo to help them raise money from fans in exchange for a variety of rewards. Here are five memorable crowdfunding campaigns that reached their goal.
Black Tambourine
When these long-lost indie pop legends sought $5,000 to record and release a double-seven-inch of Ramones covers, they raced past their goal in under 24 hours. As of press time, the reunited fuzz band is nearing $9,000 raised. Who doesn't like exclusive goodies like coloured vinyl and hand-sewn tote bags?
Public Enemy
Think only broke indie bands rely on crowdfunding? Think again. During this 2009-2010 SellaBand campaign, these rap legends revised their unrealistic original goal of $250,000 to a more manageable $75,000, and their ultimate success validated crowdfunding as a legitimate business model for major acts and up-and-comers alike. Public Enemy plan to use to the cash to release two LPs in 2012.
Gang of Four
The British post-punk veterans staged what just might be the grossest PledgeMusic campaign to date when, for around $70, they sold the "Ultimate Content Can." This contained a CD copy of their album Content plus, among other goodies, a vial of the band members' own blood. The campaign worked and the group easily surpassed their goal, but that doesn't make it any less icky.
Rose Cousins (pictured)
This Canadian songwriter isn't exactly a household name, but she proved just how many supporters she has when she exceeded her $20,000 Kickstarter goal by more than five grand. If you weren't already a fan, the massive groundswell of support for the newly released We Have Made a Spark may have done the trick.
Polyvinyl Records
It turns out that Kickstarter is just as good for labels. Faced with the downsizing of their warehouses, this indie record company had to sell off more than 10,000 records from their back catalogue. Their goal was to raise a relatively modest $1,000, but fans rallied around the label and pledged more than $15,000 for the old stock. Everybody wins!
Black Tambourine
When these long-lost indie pop legends sought $5,000 to record and release a double-seven-inch of Ramones covers, they raced past their goal in under 24 hours. As of press time, the reunited fuzz band is nearing $9,000 raised. Who doesn't like exclusive goodies like coloured vinyl and hand-sewn tote bags?
Public Enemy
Think only broke indie bands rely on crowdfunding? Think again. During this 2009-2010 SellaBand campaign, these rap legends revised their unrealistic original goal of $250,000 to a more manageable $75,000, and their ultimate success validated crowdfunding as a legitimate business model for major acts and up-and-comers alike. Public Enemy plan to use to the cash to release two LPs in 2012.
Gang of Four
The British post-punk veterans staged what just might be the grossest PledgeMusic campaign to date when, for around $70, they sold the "Ultimate Content Can." This contained a CD copy of their album Content plus, among other goodies, a vial of the band members' own blood. The campaign worked and the group easily surpassed their goal, but that doesn't make it any less icky.
Rose Cousins (pictured)
This Canadian songwriter isn't exactly a household name, but she proved just how many supporters she has when she exceeded her $20,000 Kickstarter goal by more than five grand. If you weren't already a fan, the massive groundswell of support for the newly released We Have Made a Spark may have done the trick.
Polyvinyl Records
It turns out that Kickstarter is just as good for labels. Faced with the downsizing of their warehouses, this indie record company had to sell off more than 10,000 records from their back catalogue. Their goal was to raise a relatively modest $1,000, but fans rallied around the label and pledged more than $15,000 for the old stock. Everybody wins!
