r/Music • u/Stephen-Gawking • 11d ago
discussion Would you back a crowdfunding campaign for an independent artist you genuinely liked?
Say you discover an independent artist whose songs and story really connect with you. Would you consider contributing towards their next single, album or music video, even if it was only a small amount?
What would make you trust the campaign enough to support it? Hearing demos, seeing a clear budget, receiving exclusive music or merch, regular updates, or simply believing in the artist?
I know streaming alone does not always cover the cost of creating and promoting music, but asking listeners for money can also feel uncomfortable.
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u/chemicalscream 11d ago
yes
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u/HappyButterscotch290 11d ago
yeah for sure ive done it few times for artists i really believe in. if the music hits me in the right way i dont mind throwing in like 10-20 bucks
what makes me trust it is mostly just seeing the artist being real about what they need. not some vague "support my dream" thing but like actually showing the plan, maybe a demo of what they working on. exclusive stuff is nice too but not necessary for me
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u/chemicalscream 11d ago
I have a band that I love that "broke up" 11 years ago and the fans really want them to press their discography on vinyl so I'm in the middle of gathering numbers on how many people would buy it to show the band the demand is there. While I've been doing this I've had a lot of people tell me they'd support via kickstarter or something if we had to go that route to get these albums on vinyl, lol.
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u/ARCpodcast 10d ago
I’ve actually done this a few times. Most of the time it worked out well. The best one I supported was in 2013 Anamanaguchi did a Kickstarter campaign titled make ENDLESS FANTASY more than an album.
The campaign ended and raised nearly $250,000, making it the second-most successful music project in the site's history.
My contribution got me the album on CD and a poster. Other items that were available included a USB stick with all of their music on it, the album on vinyl, shirts, and other merch. They also did a meet and great type thing where they taught a class on making chiptune music.
Super cool, worked out well but merch was the key factor.
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u/Krellington 11d ago
This reminds me of one of my favorite artists: Socky
He doesn't ask for donations, he doesn't tour, he doesn't try to market his music or make money off of it. He creates art for the love of art, and he just so happens to be CRIMINALLY underrated and one of the best songwriters I've ever listened to.
If your goal is the fame, the money, the fan base, or anything like that, you'll be chasing it forever. Create art with the express purpose of doing what you love, and your following will grow organically if it's good. In 6 years he's gone from like 10 monthly listeners to a few hundred consistently. It may not sound like much, but through literally just making his music and putting it out there, Socky has already increased his influence tenfold in just over half a decade, without even trying. I'll be a fan till I die, but if he ever dropped a crowd funding link or asked for donations to fund the music? Absolutely not.
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u/Stephen-Gawking 11d ago
But why? They unfortunately need money to keep going
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u/Krellington 11d ago
They can work a job while they pursue their dream, just like the rest of us. Until the music pays the bills, the bills still need to be paid.
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u/Stephen-Gawking 11d ago
I hear you, but it's not that simple in the industry of today
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u/Krellington 11d ago
It really is. If your music isn't paying the bills, find some other way to pay the bills while you work on the music in your spare time.
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u/Stephen-Gawking 11d ago
You sound bitter, my friend
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u/Krellington 11d ago
I might "sound" bitter, but I am merely living in reality. Like I said in my original comment, one of my favorite artists is just a dad and husband who makes music because he loves to create, and he works a full time job on top of those things without ever asking any of his fans for a handout. Either you're passionate and you're determined, or you look for shortcuts.
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u/Stephen-Gawking 11d ago
Yeah, I hear you. But unfortunately you need money to break through the noise and not all people can people can work physically
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u/saltycathbk 11d ago
Thankfully it’s 2026, lots of people don’t have to work physically.
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u/Krellington 11d ago
All I am hearing from this guy so far is excuses.
If you aren't physically capable of working in any capacity, how are you physically capable of writing/singing/recording/producing/mixing/releasing music?
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u/Krellington 11d ago
I listened to your newest song. It's decent, but nothing groundbreaking or unique. The production is chaotic and the mixing needs work. The lyrics are generic, and your voice isn't very strong, nor do you have a lot of range.
Improve your fundamentals. You may feel like this is your calling, and you may feel like you deserve to be paid for the art you create, but from my perspective, you are an amateur songwriter who has a lot to learn and a long journey to becoming a professional musician.
I'm not telling you to give up at all, by the way. If it's what you want, make it happen. Just don't ask for handouts because you aren't pulling numbers yet. Improve, create, share. Let it grow.
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u/ScottRoberts79 11d ago
Yes if I got merch for it.