We Want The Funds: A Crowdfunding Update

Hello and welcome to our weekly crowd funding round up. Love it or hate it, it's the way so many bands, artists and business are getting new projects off the ground and, given it has been adopted so fervently by many in the music industry, we thought we'd bring you a little taste of who's doing what.

The successful, the not so successful, the weird, wonderful and worthy will all be examined as we try and cover the whole gamut of the brave new world of crowd funding.

Are you crowd funding? Give us a yell!

Jen Cloher - In Blood Memory. from Jen Cloher on Vimeo.

Name: Jen Cloher
Project: New album, In Blood Memory
Current Status: 203 pledges, 65% of goal achieved ($9866), 14 days remaining.

Melbourne's Jen Cloher has made a new LP called In Blood Memory, but now requires funds to mix and master it, press it, make another film clip (the first one was gorgeous) and launch it around the country.

If you come on board you can have a two hour songwriting session with her for $150, you can hire her to play a set at your house for $1000 (plus travel) or score a polaroid photo of Cloher and her band standing out in front of one of the country's “big” icons – think Big Pineapple, Big Prawn etcetera – for $65.

Pure Pop Tim Rogers from PurePop on Vimeo.

Name: Pure Pop Records
Project: Rebuilding the courtyard with soundproofing
Current Status: 229 pledges, 32% of goal achieved ($17,339), 72 days remaining.

The St Kilda record store has hosted hundreds of stunning performances over the years in its courtyard, but neighbours' noise complaints have meant that the intimate space is at risk of having to shut down for good. They can rebuild a new courtyard that is sufficiently soundproof, but they need some serious coin for that.

Using the same “buy a brick” style of campaign as Sydney's Annandale Hotel did, Pure Pop is looking to people to dig deep to ensure the venue can live on. Everyone gets a shirt and there are plenty of other packages available, including a guaranteed gig (and generous rider) at the new space for any band willing to pony up $300.

Name: Alien Ant Farm
Project: New album, Always and Forever
Current Status: 228 pledges, 17% of goal achieved, 53 days remaining

Yes, Alien Ant Farm. We can't believe they're still together either. The Los Angeles pop punk band who had a massive hit worldwide with their cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal are looking to fund their fifth studio album (and first since 2006) Always And Forever.

The lads have offered fans some pretty cool incentives; a Skype chat with a member of your choice for a cool $150, free entry to AAF shows anywhere in the world for life for $500 or hang out with the dudes in LA for $2000. It seems kinda unfathomable that there are people out there willing to actually pay money for these privileges, but that's their prerogative.

Name: SLAM
Project: Operational costs and future sustainability
Current Status: 146 pledges, 45% of goal achieved, 40 days remaining.

You've heard all about SLAM (Save Live Australia's Music) by now, the organisation that exists to nurture and protect our Australian music scene. Well they can't operate solely on goodwill, unfortunately, and require $10,000 per state to ensure the organisation to keep running.

Plenty of incredible Australian acts have agreed to donate their time and services and even though much of the best stuff has already been snapped up, there are plenty of gems still available.  Dinner with Marieke Hardy, Matt Preston, Andrew Denton and more special guests sounds like a decent way to drop $1000, an hour of guitar mentoring with Blackie of Hard-Ons is just $250, a beer with the members of Front End Loader will set you back $150 (that includes the beer) or for $30 you can score a very special 7” single with Lee Ranaldo covering Tim Rogers on the A-Side, and Tim Rogers returning the favour for Lee Ranaldo on the flipside.

Let us know if you're crowd funding and think you have something interesting to offer. We're all ears.