ArtistShare: Where Fan Participation Matters

February 17th, 2009 in News, by Head Honcho

The 1990s saw the audio CD in the peak of its popularity and success. Record labels made a killing, thanks to the said format. Artists back then could easily sell thousands, if not millions, of records.

But with the rise of high-speed Internet, the viability of the CD was undermined. It was (and still is) easy for anyone to share music online freely (albeit illegally) through various peer-to-peer sites such as Napster, LimeWire and Kazaa. This has left major record labels scrambling for ways to combat the scourge of the new digital era.

But for artists and people behind ArtistShare, the saying “if you can’t beat them, join them” is the answer to the issue. The Internet is not the enemy. In fact, it can be a major ally.

ArtistShare is an innovative business model that allows artists to fund projects directly through their fan base by using the site. In the same vein, the site gives opportunity for fans to show appreciation for their favorite artists by funding their recording projects in exchange for more access to the creative process. The end result is that by connecting directly with the community of fans, artists will easily afford to realize their artistic vision.

For interested artists, ArtistShare is a great portal to engage fans and to get funding at the same time. If you are an artist and you want to get started in ArtistShare, you can fill out a new artist submission form.  The application will be reviewed by the site’s consultants, who will help determine which package is right for you - whether it is Performer, Session Producer or Professional.

If you’re a fan, you can make known your appreciation for an artist in many ways. You may subscribe to the artist’s mailing list and get the latest news and press releases. You can buy a standard CD. If it’s available, you may also purchase a special edition CD, where you are given a behind-the-scenes look in the recording process. Interviews with the artists, rehearsals, written journals, streamed audio and video, and photo galleries may be included as bonuses for you.

You may also pay a significant amount to be a bronze, silver, gold or executive producer participant. If you purchase these, you can avail of the following perks:

• Be prominently credited in the artist’s CD.
• Receive a personalized message from the artist.
• Receive a regular progress report of the album
• View or hear early glimpses of the work.
• Attend concerts.
• Be invited to witness the artist’s rehearsals in the flesh.

For a true fan, these perks are certainly worth the price.

ArtistShare has certainly carved a niche in the Music Industry. In fact, its featured artists have received critical acclaim, the most prominent of which are a slew of Grammy Awards. That is certainly proof that ArtistShare’s crowdsourcing model has come to fruition.

Here is ArtistShare founder and CEO Brian Camelio, talking about the website.