Kickstarter fuels Pono

Kickstarter has helped many new and existing entrepreneurs get their career started through crowdfunding funding and other investments. Kickstarter is a global crowdfunding platform headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. Through this platform people provide funding through pledges, this generates the income that would initiate the pre-production phase and production phase of the selected project.

Kicksarter supports films, journalism, video games, comics, music, stage shows and food-related projects. The project creators select a deadline and a specific amount to fund the project. If the amount is not met by the deadline the money is not collected from the donors. Some of the most successful projects from Kickstarter include Pebble, Ouya and Pono. On recent news, Pono has been a successful campaign raising over $6 million dollars. Pono is a digital high-end music player designed by rock legend Neil Young. Over 18,000 people worldwide have backed Pono through Kickstarter campaign. Accredited investors can purchase shares from PonoMusic at $5,000 per share.

Social media has played a big role in the success of Kickstarter. Daily you can find a new project advertised via Instagram, Facebook and other social media sites. Social media has given Kickstarter the leverage to reach millions of people worldwide and start a project with the possibility of becoming a big success. The projects can be viewed via their website, although external websites are also created and used as advertisement for social websites. I believe Kickstarter has done a very good job in taking charge of providing a credible platform to promote crowdfunding. Kickstarter has been a very successful company providing the opportunity to promote the collaboration of new ideas.

Reference Links:

https://www.kickstarter.com

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/you-can-now-invest-in-neil-youngs-ponomusic-20140813

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa2rpJtUItE

It Is Time For A Music Revolution

With the introduction of iTunes back in 2001, music has taken a different route with how fans listen to their music.  Going back to the mid 90's, I remember going to my favorite music store "Sam Goody" and waiting in line to pick up a copy of the new release I was waiting for.  There was a special connection from going to the record store and losing myself for hours looking for that special album that would take me to music wonderland.  There was an appreciation that came from looking at the artwork and work put into making an album.  I could read the lyrics, know who wrote each song in the album, and who played what in each song.  You became an instant roadie for the band and there was a connection.  In todays digital world much of this bond and connection has been lost somewhat.  There is something from listening an album from beginning to end, some type of atmosphere that the artist has intentionally created for the fans to experience.

With todays iTunes and Amazon service you can preview a song and probably miss the biggest part of the song.  You can buy one song from the entire album and never know who wrote it or what the lyrics are saying.  You can browse the internet and sometimes you can even purchase the album artwork through iTunes or Amazon if you purchase the entire album, but that is not the point.  The point I am trying to make is that music has lost the connection, the bond, the experience it used to give to its listeners back in the pre-digital era.  Yes, music sounds amazing and it is so convenient to have it as you go.  You don't even have to carry couple of tapes and press forward to find your song or have your CD skip while you are on your car and hit that bump.  There has to be a new music revolution that can bring the music back to its customers and have the young generation experience the wait-in-line Tuesdays to get their new music album.  There has been lately an uprising in Vinyl albums as Nielsen Soundscan has monitored for the last couple of months.  The mid-year report has concluded that 16.6 million declined in CD album sales as the digital streaming keeps increases.  A 40% of Vinyl album sales has increased from last year sales, still not enough to offset the digital sales.  There is still an interest from music fans to get those timeless albums, some now considered classics and add them to their music collection.

There is a unique feeling from showing your friends your Vinyl music connection rather than browsing through your digital music library.  There has to be a better way to market and promote albums in todays digital world.  Independent musicians have experience good income selling their CD's and Vinyls through websites like Tunecore and CDbaby.  These independent websites help artist publish and sell their music without the need of a major record label.  This is just a way how new artists can offer their music to the fans and promote their music.  Independent record store may have to re-model the way music is sold and add some new technology to their business.  Record stores should give the customers the experience of having artist signing autographs for album release and bringing he excitement back.  Lets hope it is time for a music revolution!

Reference Links:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2014-03-27/music/the-vinyl-revival-is-real-and-it-s-here-to-stay/

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/6150181/soundscan-mid-year-albums-down-stream-equivalents-nearly

Image:

http://i2.wp.com/homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/files/2013/01/cd-clock.jpg?resize=430%2C321