I recently got the opportunity to see Rhiannon Giddens' Old Time Revue at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. A running joke through the night was the number of ways they could slip plugs for their merch into the banter. But, later in the night, Giddens got a bit more serious about the subject, reminding attendees that with record sales practically dead and streaming payouts notoriously low, merchandise sales are the primary income source for most touring musicians. That's one draw of crowdfunding for many artists. Not only is it a place to entice fans into buying your music, but most campaigns also feature the t-shirts, buttons, or tote bags that would normally inhabit a merch booth at their shows. Some even create campaign specific merchandise that can't be bought on tour. This month's three campaigns all feature Kickstarter exclusive merchandise.
Abe Partridge- New Album (click here to view project)
I’ve seen Abe Partridge multiple times over the years. It's always been unique and it's always been entertaining. Partridge has an easy sense of humor that mixes Arlo Guthrie with Todd Snider. This time out, Partridge has tapped Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth to produce his album. With that level of production talent comes a higher price tag and Partridge set an ambitious $42,000 funding goal for his Kickstarter campaign, but he's already surpassed it and is now in stretch goal territory to pay for manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. In addition to his musical talents, Partridge is an accomplished visual artist, a skill that is all over his campaign's backer perks. In addition to the album in digital, CD, and vinyl formats, you can also get a Kickstarter exclusive t-shirt, a trucker hat, a pair of high-top sneakers with Partridge's artwork on them, a hand-painted guitar, and a 24x24 original painted portrait.
Hollie Rogers- Everything's Fine (click here to view campaign)
London-based singer-songwriter Hollie Rogers is a veteran crowdfunder. The campaign for her new album, Everything's Fine, is her third (she fully funded the first two successfully). She's also a diverse artist, transitioning from intimate acoustic melodies to lushly orchestrated folk-pop songs. The diversity shows in the range of acts she's supported live over the years, including Midge Ure, Suzanne Vega, and Paolo Nutini. For her new album, Rogers has recruited some high profile talent to help out. Elles Bailey and Beth Neilsen-Chapman co-wrote the title track and she's being produced by multi-time Grammy nominee James McMillan (Whitney Houston, Sia). She's already passed her initial $9,000 funding goal so she's carving farther into what she calls in her campaign “a $22k iceberg.” For this campaign, you can get the album in digital and CD formats. You can also get hand drawn lyric sheets with the lyrics written out in the shape of the title's first letter, a backer exclusive livestreamed concert, spy-cam access to half a day in the studio, and an album of unreleased demos and bootlegs.
Jake Farr- Hollowed Out Book (click here to view campaign)
It isn't often you see a crowdfunder giving something away. But that's how Jake Farr begins his campaign video, with the promise of a writing prompt e-book to anyone who watches the video, even if they don't donate. That said, the Austin-based singer and guitar teacher would certainly appreciate donations to fund his new album Hollowed Out Book, which has already surpassed its modest $4,000 funding goal and has added another backer perk as a stretch goal if he reaches $7,000. The album comes in digital and CD formats, both with a backer exclusive track that won't be available on the final album. You can also get a vintage hollowed out book filled with handwritten lyrics, a one hour session with Farr, and a house concert.
Comments ()