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as record companies continue to crumble in the age of the internet, artists are having to seek out alternative business models to help fund their recordings. Record companies essentially exist only for the mass market hits. nowadays, major labels aren’t willing to invest the time and money on artists that sell below 500,000 copies. artists that have small but loyal followings are basically out of luck in terms of major label support. That’s where the patronage business model comes into play. the patronage model (sponsorship of artists) has indeed been around for ages, dating back to the Renaissance days, but it has come back into the public consciousness due to the reduced importance of record companies and the needs of today’s musicians and songwriters. Singer/songwriter Jill Sobule recently made some headlines surrounding the way she’s raising money for her next album. using the internet and her faithful fanbase, she plans to raise the $75,000 that she needs in order to release her next album. the money will be used to fund the recording of her new songs as well as pay for manufacturing, distributing and promoting her new CD. So far this method of raising funds has been pretty effective. as of 06Mar08, Sobule’s nearly at the $60,000 mark. Interestingly enough, the producer of her 1990 debut album Things Here Are Different, Todd Rundgren did something similar a number of years ago. Rundgren created patronet.com to help fund his album One Long Year that was released back in 2000. Also back in 1990, Rundgren recorded his album Second Wind in front of his fans who helped fund the project by paying to watch the recording sessions. For singer/songwriters that have strong fanbases but not large enough to interest major labels, the patronage model seems to be a viable option. Head on over to Jillsnextrecord.com to learn more about Sobule’s fundraising project.

Listen to Life Goes On Without You by Jill Sobule (from Things Here are Different)

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Listen to Too Cool to Fall in Love by Jill Sobule (from Things Here are Different)

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purchase Jill Sobule CDs at amazon:

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5. Brent Bourgeois

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