I've written before about crowdfunding and vinyl as a sales driver, but this month two of my three featured artists gave me a reminder of just how important, and expensive, it is. In one of those cases, the artist did a breakdown of where her funding goal was going and over a third of it was tied up in vinyl production, only $500 less than her budget for recording, engineering, and mixing. The other crowdfunder's entire campaign goal is for vinyl production, with any stretch funding going toward standard album making fees. Those kinds of numbers puts vinyl out of reach to many regional artists, but for those willing or able to stretch, it's a lucrative lure to crowdfunding success.
Christa Joy and the Honeybees- New Album
I featured Christa Joy and the Honeybees in this space during the Kickstarter campaign for their last album so I was excited to see this western Massachusetts- based band coming back for a second try (Joy's fifth overall). A full-time Kindergarten teacher in addition to her music career, there's a sense of that childhood wonder in Joy's songwriting, as well as a reverence for country's classic period without ever feeling like a tribute act. As far as vinyl, Christa Joy and the Honeybees are all in. Of their $16,500 goal, $6,000 of it is earmarked for vinyl production. That's because the band isn't just releasing their new album on vinyl, they're going back and laying their last album on vinyl as well, offering both as a bundled Kickstarter reward. It's a sign of the times that they're skipping the CD option altogether, the only other offering for the album being as a digital download. The only other backer rewards on offer are a sticker and a hat, so vinyl is making up the bulk of their crowdfunding muscle.
Since its establishment in 1926, Route 66 has been synonymous with America's car culture. Everyone from John Steinbeck to Bobby Troup to Pixar have featured the iconic highway that ran from Chicago to Santa Monica until its removal from the U.S. Highway system in 1985. Travis Linn, who records under the moniker Township & Range, is aiming to become the latest to write about Route 66 with his new concept album Sixty-Six. If anyone is full go on vinyl, it's Township & Range. All of the artist's $2,500 Kickstarter funding goal is earmarked for the production of vinyl, jackets, and sleeves. Only any stretch funding that the artist may reach will go to offset the costs of mixing, mastering, and studio time. In addition to the album on vinyl, which also includes a downloadable bonus song not available elsewhere, you can get the album in digital format, once again skipping the dying CD. Other backer rewards include a “motel life” keychain, handwritten lyrics to a song of your choosing, Route 66-inspired digital or physical artwork by Linn, a custom song based on your own Route 66 experience, or a house concert.
Ro Myra- Songs from a Dreamscape
Montana-based songwriter Ro Myra calls her brand of roots music “Dream Folk” and that's an appropriate name for her dreamy, sometimes airy, compositions. Much of her music is informed by her conservationist father, who encouraged her to journal her dreams and channel them into her songs. Now Myra is taking those dreams and working with co-producer Joshua Grange (Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams) to record a new album, Songs from a Dreamscape in Nashville. In addition to hand-cut signed and numbered vinyl (limited to 50), the album is available in both digital and CD formats. You can also get an album artwork postcard, a t-shirt, Montana-crafted lavender tea, handwritten lyrics, and a custom song.
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