The Finances of Album Making

We mentioned this a few posts ago.  A local artist Kelcy Mae is trying to get enough money raised to record her new album.  She isn't signed to a label, so she needs to fund the album itself.  In today's music world more and more artists are out there putting the money up to record their music.  But it can be expensive and most artists aren't making a fortune as it is.  We're going to continue to mention this and help get the word out and hopefully she'll get the money she needs and can make her new album.  We'll try to keep everyone updated on her progress.

This is Kelcy Mae, an artist recording in my home city of New Orleans.  Here is what she has to say:

Because I'm not signed to any record label and am an independent artist, I fund my own recordings. In 2007 on The Times Compiled, I was able to raise some money from fans like you, and I paid the rest of the cost of the recording out of my own pocket. Total, that album cost about $5,500. Now that it's 2010, I really need a recording that reflects my newer work, and I'm making plans to be in the studio by the end of summer and into the fall. I'm totally stoked about recording again, and really looking forward to making a fantastic follow-up to the last. This is where you come in.  I need you to "sign" me.

By pledging as little as $10 on my newly launched Kickstarter site, you can help me reach my funding goal within the next 44 days. Pledging does not mean you just give me money. It essentially means you pre-order the album for less money than it will cost when it's done. By pledging larger amounts, you can pre-order the album plus tons of other merch and goodies. By pre-ordering, you're making it possible for me to record the album at all. Please check out the site, my little video, and all the goodies you can receive for pledging. Kickstarter walks you through the process of pledging (which takes only 2 minutes if you have an Amazon account), and just so you know, there is no risk to you if I don't reach my goal. If I don't raise the $5,500 needed by the 44th day, your credit card never gets charged. It's all or nothing, and when it's all or nothing, I really need you! If we succeed together, we can all take some ownership of the quality of the album.

Please visit this link (http://kck.st/dbsMF0) as soon as you can, and please help by sharing it with all your friends via Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc. Please forward to your family as well. I really want to make a fine album this fall.