I very recently spoke with Jessica Linker, head of Pitch Perfect PR in Chicago, about the problems that artists are running into with regard to signing onto major labels and maintaining a level of financial sustainability. With regard to making music, the DIY ethos has long been admirable but not often fiscally doable. The alternative, signing a contract with a label, is also not always as sexy as we’re led to believe and can actually end up costing the artist.

Is there anyone out there who is successfully using Internet fund raising models to rally fans for money that could go toward the independent production of albums? Perhaps fans pledge 15 dollars to go towards the mixing and duplication and they could then get a free copy as a result? Thoughts? Ideas? This ultimately seems like a great idea for The Point — a re-visitation of the days when folks would front cash and writers and producers could put together a product and A&R guys didn’t exist.

-Filed in Ideas