Musicians and artists have flocked to the crowdfunding phenomenon in their droves, using innovative online platforms to campaign for the creation of a range of musical-related endeavours, as highlighted in Tone Deaf’s regular Crowdfunding Forecast column.
Whether its Eskimo Joe smashing records to raise funds for their new studio album (only to be surpassed by Melbourne prog band 12 Foot Ninja for a new music video), Saskwatch getting a leg-up to travel to UK’s mammoth Glastonbury Festival, live music activists SLAM offering dinners and musical lessons with musos in exchange for support, or helping cast an honorary statue of AC/DC frontman Bon Scott, Crowdfunding seems limited only by the imagination of creative types and the passion of fans supporting their endeavours.
But a Canadian musician is using the crowdfunding tool for a particularly specific use, to help the female rocker buy back the rights to her music, as blogger Alan Cross points out.
Amanda Zelina is a self-described “Antique hunter/Artist/Writer/Avid vinyl collector” but she’s best known by musical alias, The Coppertone, and has launched a new campaign via crowdfunding platform Indiegogo to ‘Help Free The Coppertone’ from her current recording contract by raising the necessary funds to buy back her catalogue from her former record label so that she can forge ahead and release new music.
“I believe in living life with integrity, I believe in standing up for your rights and I believe in being yourself at all costs,” writes Zelina on her campaign page. “A few years back I signed a record contract that was unfair. At the time I signed the contract I had already spent 11 years working passionately on my craft. I sacrificed everything in order to pursue it.” “I signed a record contract that was unfair… admitting I had made a mistake – I decided I would rather move forward with integrity than stay put and be taken advantage of .” – Amanda Zelina, The Coppertone
Having already released at least three albums as The Coppertone – Hidden Dreams (2010), Hymns For The Hollow (2011), and Under The Dust (2012) – last year the 27-year old “decided enough was enough.”
“Admitting I had made a mistake, knowing full well there would be repercussions I decided I would rather move forward with integrity than stay put and be taken advantage of,” she says of upping and leaving her record label and binding contract – without naming the label in question (presumably for legal reasons).
“In doing so I owe them 20 thousand dollars for ownership of my songs and my freedom to get more music out into the world,” she adds. “I have started a campaign to help raise the funds to get out of the deal, and release the album I started over 2 years ago.”
To help spread the word of her Indiegogo campaign, Zelina has written and recorded a new song as The Coppertone called ‘Young Blood‘, where the flame-haired singer belts out an emotive chorus of “I’ve been used/I am a young blood and I’m finally done/with feeling life on the run” over a crunching rock backing.
A download of the passionate single is available for the cost of a US$ 10 pledge to the campaign, along with a host of exclusive giveaways and perks to those who support the cause; ranging from US$ 25 for a “custom mix CD” to US$ 5,000 for a one of a kind custom Airline electric guitar made by the artist herself.
Other pledge rewards include a mix of merchandise bundles, including music, t-shirts, and premium VIP passes to any and all future shows by The Coppertone and $70 gets ‘a day in the life’ package – a disposable camera filled with behind the scenes images of Zelina’s recording in the studio, as well as her day to day adventures (think of it as a hard copy Instagram account).
One fan has already claimed a set of handwritten lyrics for US$ 200, while another has ponied up $US 500 for a Skype-based music lesson and ‘hang’ with the Canadian musician.
Combined, The Coppertone’s ‘Claim Yourself’ campaign has already raised US$ 3,651 of its $20K goal with 27 days left (at the time of writing), you can view more info and details below.
“Don’t let peoples fear of greatness scare you into submission. They will try their hardest to fool you into believing that you will fail. Do not be afraid, everybody great that I know fails, a lot.”
