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Over the last few years Kickstarter has become the focus for all sorts of opportunities, products, initiatives and dreams to be taken from the drawing board out into the wider world.

For many the problem of has always been finding suitable investment to move a project forward and increase the awareness of such developments. Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms has changed this allowing individuals to generate both financial backing and real consumer buy-in to products that might never have moved forward.

About Kickstarter
Kickstarter is full of projects, big and small, that are brought to life through the direct support of people like you. Since our launch in 2009, 5.3 million people have pledged $894 million, funding 52,000 creative projects. Thousands of creative projects are raising funds on Kickstarter right now.

The filmmakers, musicians, artists, and designers you see on Kickstarter have complete control over and responsibility for their projects. Kickstarter is a platform and a resource; we’re not involved in the development of the projects themselves. Anyone can launch a project on Kickstarter as long as it meets our guidelines.

Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing — projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money. All-or-nothing funding might seem scary, but it’s amazingly effective in creating momentum and rallying people around an idea. To date, an impressive 44% of projects have reached their funding goals.

Kickstarter in the Music Industry

Kickstarter Example 1
Current ACM student Hannah Dorman is using Kickstarter to part-fund the studio costs for her band to record with Matt O’Grady (You Me At Six, Deaf Havana) in mid December.

”It’s a great way of self funding for artists like myself who have a key fan base but small funds to pursue their career.”
Hannah Dorman ACM Student

Find out more about this Kickstarter.

Kickstarter Example 2 – Dorje
ACM Alumnus Rabea Massaad used the Kickstarter model for their band Dorje – a new media focused band, which includes internationally renowned and YouTube’s most viewed UK musician Rob Chappers. The band used crowdfunding to raise £20,000 through interesting fan packages to get them out on tour, which included:

  • A guest guitar solo on our debut album.
  • A tuition DVD from the tour experience.
  • Creative fan experiences on tour e.g. hanging with the band, playing through our gear and getting complimentary merchandise and photo taken professionally.

The Result: Dorje sold out O2 venues and creating a surge of interest in utilising new media platforms to promote and develop new music. The bands debut single ‘Aeromancy’ reached number 3 in the UK YouTube Music video charts beating a video release from One Direction

Find out more about this Kickstarter.

Kickstarter Example 3 – The Electric Loog
Initially launched on Kickstarter 2011, the Electric Loog is a three-string, self-assembly guitar with the strange shape and unique enough to catch the eye of young children, beginners and curious guitarists looking for a change.

Conceived by NYU alumnus Rafael Atijas as an inexpensive, easy to play guitar, the project raised clear of $65,000 – a full $50,000 beyond its target.With the success of the original project behind him, Atijas is back with the Electric Loog, a solid body evolution of the original design

Find out more about this Kickstarter.

ACM would like to wish all current students and alumni the very best of luck if they choose to embark on a Kickstarter project.

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