Singer drums up money for album with Web site

Sign with a record label. Or take out a loan. Or save up some cash. Or max out your credit cards.

All are tried-and-true ways to pay for recording an album.

But Tim Wildsmith is taking a completely different approach.

The Omaha singer-songwriter launched FinanceMyAlbum.com in an effort to, well, finance his album.

“You have to pay to get it mixed and mastered, to get CDs printed. Then there’s publicity, marketing and ... getting on the road to represent yourself with these songs,” he said.

No wonder artists are looking for innovative ways to give their music to the world.

Producing an album can be expensive. Recording studios charge by the hour — in excess of $100 at some local studios.

Curtis Grubb runs Grubb Inc. Recording & Production, where his rate is fluid depending on what a client needs. He charges local groups $35 an hour.

Many bands come in with a budget, and Grubb, also a member of Omaha band Grasshopper Takeover, helps them decide the best way to maximize their resources.

“It’s important for me to understand their goals (and) how to manage time for them and the studio,” he said. “I keep (rates) low because I’m an artist as well as an engineer/producer. I know what it’s like to want the greatest project you can do, but have a limited budget hold you back from achieving a fantastic goal.”

Depending on the band, creating and distributing an album can cost a group anywhere from hundreds to several thousands of dollars.

Grubb estimated that Grasshopper Takeover’s last album, “Elephant Dreams,” cost nearly $10,000. Much of the album was recorded in the band’s basement and was mixed at a studio, but that studio time ran $110 per hour.

“It gets pricey,” Grubb said.

Wildsmith spent almost $15,000 on his last album. He sees his site as a way to both raise cash and to get fans interested. He said he hopes those donating will feel personally involved in the album process.

“I’ve been posting videos on YouTube and e-mailing people that have donated to keep them in the loop and make them feel like they’re a part of something,” he said.

It’s a clever idea and one that should work well with Wildsmith’s existing fans, said Matthew Seevers, professor of marketing at Creighton University.

“The risk is that the site will not receive adequate exposure, leading to limited financial support,” Seevers said. “On the other hand, Tim’s supporters are likely to be more committed to his success and more likely to recruit new fans. The other ‘reward’ is that Tim is able to retain his independence, including creative and financial control.”

Multipronged approaches using new media — such as the site, videos and e-mail — are popular because online media target specific audiences and can be cost-effective, Seevers said. Everything from artists to Fortune 500 companies use similar approaches.

“But this seems to work particularly well with musicians since the music can be easily promoted, distributed and shared using new media,” he said.

At FinanceMyAlbum.com., a $1 donor gets his or her name in liner notes; a $50 donor gets a signed copy of the new CD and a $150 donor gets an exclusive T-shirt and digital download.

With higher donations, the rewards get loftier, including a dinner and a movie with Wildsmith and the band, a chance to sing background vocals on the album and — for $5,000 — a private concert in the donor’s home.

So far, the site has generated more than $1,000. Donations have come from all over the country, but most are small gifts, including several $150 donations.

“It’s not paying for the whole thing yet, but every little bit helps,” Wildsmith said.

Wildsmith and his band, the Lost Cause, will finish recording in November and hope to have the album released by mid-February.

After the release, he plans to turn FinanceMyAlbum.com into a service for other artists, starting with one or two local bands.

“It’s not about trying to make a ton of money off of it, but to help another artist get off the ground,” Wildsmith said. “I think it could be a lot of fun.”

Wildsmith knows his way around the music business. Aside from being a musician, he went to college for a degree focused on music business and marketing.

“I didn’t go to ‘how to be a rock star’ school, I went to figure out how to create a successful career,” he said. “At the end of the day, I want to make great music and I want people to love it. But I also want music to pay my bills.”

Contact the writer:

444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com

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