If the success of Melbourne prog-metal band Twelve Foot Ninja’s music video campaign, smashing the previous record set by Eskimo Joe in February this year, has taught us anything – it’s that crowdfunding is here to stay.
Whether it’s as simple as a band recording a new album, raising funds for musicians to head overseas to tour, or simply a great music-related initiative, the likes of Kickstarter, Pozible, Pledge, Zoshpit, and IndieGoGo are realising the previously lofty goals of artists the world over.
New Little Stevies Album
Over the last 12 months the duo have been working away writing and recording their third full-length studio album, set to be released this September. Taking its name from the opening track, Diamonds For Your Tea is their proudest achievement to date. But before they set their baby free and release it into the wide world, they’re asking for some help.
In order for them to give the record its best chance to be heard by more people than have ever heard a Little Stevies album before, the ladies are asking you to make a pledge to buy the album now so they can put some money behind the official release.
Up for grabs if you pledge is a wide array of musical treats ranging from digital and physical copies of the album, to unrealeased material, to a postcard from the road, to private concerts and even a sung voicemail!
Campaign: Little Stevies – Diamonds For Tea
Target: $12,000
Square Sounds Melbourne
Ever heard of chiptune? No? Well why not! It’s synthesized electronic music produced by the sound chips of vintage computers, video game consoles, and arcade machines and SoundBytes – Australia’s longest running chiptune event needs some help brining the event to Melbourne.
As well as SoundBytes, they’ve been behind Blip Festival Australia and Square Sounds Melbourne and have brought some of the biggest names in chipmusic to Australia including Henry Homesweet, Bit Shifter, Hally, Patric Catani andTrash80. They’re planning another Square Sounds Melbourne at The Evelyn Hotel on the 28th and 29th of March 2014.
Up for grabs for those who pledge will be exclusive links to rare chiptune recordings, VIP tickets to the two-day event, custom merch, and access to the exclusive after party.
Campaign: Chip In For Square Sounds Melbourne
Target: $5,000
ACON Fundraiser Gig With Brendan Maclean
Tweeter extraodrinare, Brendan Maclean is looking to put on a fundraiser gig for ACON a health promotion organisation with a central focus on HIV/AIDS
Held at The Newsagency, a venue with a capacity of only 50 people, every one will be treated to VIP treatment. While your ears fill with musical love you’ll feel the warm and fuzzies knowing you are actively improving the lives of young people from all across the rainbow spectrum and providing financial support to one of NSW’s most respected health groups.
Headlined by The Great Gatsby‘s Brendan Maclean, the night will include sensational local acts including Sam Buckingham, Bayden Packwood, Rosie Catalano and James Leahy and special guests like Miss Little and Jack Colwell – all the profits from the event will go directly to ACON.
Up for grabs for pledgers is musical material from the artists playing, a ticket to the show, front row tickets, and more.
Campaign: Activate Your Slacktivism For ACON
Target: $2,000
First-Ever PledgeMusic Sponsored Tour!
Will Dailey, Bleu and a host of other extraordinary PledgeMusic talents are hitting the road for the first ever Pledge funded tour. Bleu has placed songs with Demi Lovato, the Jonas Brothers, Boys Like Girls, Selena Gomez, Tristan Prettyman, Chris Mann and Hanson to name a few, and Will Dailey has seen his work placed in more than 50 TV shows and has shared the stage with Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and more!
The nine city tour will take place throughout September all over the United States.
As the folks at the crowdsourcing website state “The PledgeMusic experience doesn’t end when an artist hits a target or drops a new album. We believe the meaningful artist-fan relationship begins with a campaign but also transcends it. We’re just trying to keep the spirit of music alive, and that means hitting the road.
Each step of the way we’ll be enhancing the tour by allowing the artists to engage their fanbases through tour-specific exclusives with their individual campaigns. Some possible incentives include signed tour posters and set lists, VIP passes and song dedications.”
Campaign: Announcing The First Ever PledgeMusic Funded Tour
Pozible Gigs Launches
In July of this year crowdfunding platform Pozible put up $10,000 in cash prizes and called on musicians, music managers and event coordinators to submit their ideas to be a part of an Australia wide live music crowdfunding extravaganza – Pozible Gigs.
The participating projects have now been chosen and can be seen live on the Pozible website, crowdfunding their way towards winning cash for Most Funds Raised, Most Supporters, Fastest to Target, Most Social Media Shares and the Pozible Pick.
Those to keep an eye on include the launch of a compilation album produced at The Artful Dodgers in Collingwood, a studio for young people experiencing difficult circumstances, run by Jesse Hooper of Killing Heidi fame, and a fundraising concert – Activate Your Slactivism – headlined by Brendan Maclean, looking to raise money for ACON, an organisation with a central focus on HIV/AIDS.
Rewards on offer include tickets to the shows, intimate follow up gigs at your house, songwriting workshops and studio sessions with high profile musicians.
“We are delighted at the quality and diversity of projects on offer and it’s a big bonus that so many of will result in a positive social outcome. I hope the crowdfunding community rallies, gets behind live music in Australia and sees as many of these campaigns get over the line as possible. There will be lots of fun to be had at these events!”, said Alan Crabbe, Pozible Director.
Pozible Gigs projects run until the 24th October, with winners announced on the 25th. All crowdfunding campaigns can be seen and supported at www.pozible.com/gigs.
Update On Previous Campaigns
Metal Evolution: Extreme Metal, a documentary series detailing the ins and outs of the hardcore music world, is currently 24% funded and with just over 6 weeks to go, still need your help.
Dub FX launched a fan funding campaign to record, remix, release and tour his forthcoming album Theory Of Harmony and will also create a music video for every song on the album, but not without your help! He’s a third of the way there so dig deep.
Sun God Replica have finished recording their second album, Devil And The Deep and like the good ol’ fashioned rockers they are, they’re releasing this latest LP on vinyl thanks to their fans! Great job guys.
After leaving Universal Music, Matt Walters took off on a trip to rediscover his deep love of songwriting. Going the independent route this time around, Walters needs some help with the recording and mixing of the album to be. With 96% funded and only 13 hours to go, it’s time for the final push!
Florida Death Metal behemoths Obituary are going back to the studio to record a brand new album, and they need your help. Well they needed your help but they actually funded this project within the first 24 hours! Now, with 20 days to go, they’ve funded more than 300% extra than what they needed. Metal fans rock.
