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Oct 20 2015 - 12 Years in Fan-Funding: An Interview with Brian Camelio
It’s been twelve years since ArtistShare launched its first "fan funded" project, Maria Schneider’s Concert in Garden. In those twelve years, ArtistShare projects have received nine Grammys, been nominated for eighteen, and fans have funded over 60 critically acclaimed recordings. Concert in the Garden was the also first recording in history to win a Grammy without being available in retail stores and amazingly was completely funded by fans.
We recently sat down with ArtistShare founder and CEO, Brian Camelio, to discuss what he’s learned in the past twelve years of fan funding.
What was the inspiration for creating ArtistShare?
Many of my friends at the time (2000) were really feeling the pressure of being controlled by their record labels. I'm not saying that labels were necessarily evil, but it was just the way the business was run at the time.
At the same time the world was realizing that technology was making it easier to share recordings. I viewed this not as a problem but more as a solution for artists to regain power. Since recorded music was in danger of being seriously devalued, I knew we were going to have to completely reevaluate the "value" of music. ArtistShare was the result of my re-evaluation process.
I decided to turn the "product" into the creative process, the artist themselves, their ability to adapt and create under any circumstance. And that is something you can not copy, trade or take away from any artist.
I thought about how much I love to watch the creative process unfold. I love those moments of brilliance and magic that no one can really explain where it comes from, especially in music. So I utilized every bit of all the technology I could at the time and created the software, databases and business model from scratch. There were no pre-configured solutions for this problem. I knew it needed to be Internet based in order to reach the maximum number of people.
Do you think the ArtistShare solution is as important now as it was back then?
I think the solution is even more important now than it was back then. How do we allow people to show appreciation for the value that they see in music? The idea that the fan and the artist are of equal importance is a cornerstone of ArtistShare.
With streaming companies becoming more popular the average artist is paid little to nothing for their work. I am seeing the control being slowly taken away from the artist again. It is crucial for artists today to take control of their careers and create their own community. Artists and fans should determine compensation rates for an artist's work, not streaming companies. Most importantly artists should have the ability to change course at any time. I believe that is the right of every artist.
Why is ArtistShare important to the creation and documentation of new music today?
Many fans and artists have told me that they enjoy being able to go back and re-live the experience of the creative process. In today’s culture it’s important to have that kind of documentation. In 2008 we launched the ArtistShare Legacy foundation. It is a fiscally sponsored not-for-profit initiative to document the creative process of today's masters and provide the materials to underserved music departments in schools. Kind of a modern day "digital" apprenticeship program. Music in schools was so incredibly important to me growing up and with all of the technology today it can be so much better.
When you were growing up who you have wanted to see on ArtistShare?
Yeah, I would have loved to have seen Led Zeppelin or the Beatles or Stevie Wonder creating music. Back then, I was really into things like bootleg recordings, I still am. I was always fascinated with those kinds of things.
As I got older, I became fascinated with classical composers. One time I went to Library of Congress with Jim [Hall] for an interview, and the interviewer asked us, “Who are your favorite composers? What do you want to see?” Jim said, “Maybe Bartok,” and I immediately chimed in, “Brahms.” He proceeded to bring out original scores of both Brahms and Bartok. It was amazing. I remember the first time I saw Beethoven’s original handwriting on score paper. It was incredible! For a Beethoven fanatic the feeling of connection by just viewing those scores was sublime.
With current efforts in legislation to pay artists more freely, what can ArtistShare offer as a solution?
ArtistShare can serve as an example of how a mutually beneficial business model is the real long term solution. The relationship we have between the artist, ArtistShare, and the fan is of the "win-win-win" variety. It’s a very beautiful and trusting relationship and it works well for everyone involved.
Why is the creation of new music important to society today?
Music is important to society period. It is as necessary as food or water. If you go to any place in the world, they have their own brand of music. I think its an equalizer. I think its a peace maker. It is difficult fight and dance at the same time. Music and humor could bring world peace. Jim [Hall] used to say that if you could get all of the world's leaders into a room and tell a good joke, the world would be at peace. At least for that moment. I feel it is the same with a good piece of music.
What’s next for ArtistShare?
We’re creating a new platform called, FanFunded. We’re going to continue on our mission. It's a labor of love.
This year ArtistShare submitted nine new fan-funded recordings for consideration in the 58th Grammy Awards. ArtistShare is continuously moving forward to support artists and connect them with their fans.
We recently sat down with ArtistShare founder and CEO, Brian Camelio, to discuss what he’s learned in the past twelve years of fan funding.
What was the inspiration for creating ArtistShare?
Many of my friends at the time (2000) were really feeling the pressure of being controlled by their record labels. I'm not saying that labels were necessarily evil, but it was just the way the business was run at the time.
At the same time the world was realizing that technology was making it easier to share recordings. I viewed this not as a problem but more as a solution for artists to regain power. Since recorded music was in danger of being seriously devalued, I knew we were going to have to completely reevaluate the "value" of music. ArtistShare was the result of my re-evaluation process.
I decided to turn the "product" into the creative process, the artist themselves, their ability to adapt and create under any circumstance. And that is something you can not copy, trade or take away from any artist.
I thought about how much I love to watch the creative process unfold. I love those moments of brilliance and magic that no one can really explain where it comes from, especially in music. So I utilized every bit of all the technology I could at the time and created the software, databases and business model from scratch. There were no pre-configured solutions for this problem. I knew it needed to be Internet based in order to reach the maximum number of people.
Do you think the ArtistShare solution is as important now as it was back then?
I think the solution is even more important now than it was back then. How do we allow people to show appreciation for the value that they see in music? The idea that the fan and the artist are of equal importance is a cornerstone of ArtistShare.
With streaming companies becoming more popular the average artist is paid little to nothing for their work. I am seeing the control being slowly taken away from the artist again. It is crucial for artists today to take control of their careers and create their own community. Artists and fans should determine compensation rates for an artist's work, not streaming companies. Most importantly artists should have the ability to change course at any time. I believe that is the right of every artist.
Why is ArtistShare important to the creation and documentation of new music today?
Many fans and artists have told me that they enjoy being able to go back and re-live the experience of the creative process. In today’s culture it’s important to have that kind of documentation. In 2008 we launched the ArtistShare Legacy foundation. It is a fiscally sponsored not-for-profit initiative to document the creative process of today's masters and provide the materials to underserved music departments in schools. Kind of a modern day "digital" apprenticeship program. Music in schools was so incredibly important to me growing up and with all of the technology today it can be so much better.
When you were growing up who you have wanted to see on ArtistShare?
Yeah, I would have loved to have seen Led Zeppelin or the Beatles or Stevie Wonder creating music. Back then, I was really into things like bootleg recordings, I still am. I was always fascinated with those kinds of things.
As I got older, I became fascinated with classical composers. One time I went to Library of Congress with Jim [Hall] for an interview, and the interviewer asked us, “Who are your favorite composers? What do you want to see?” Jim said, “Maybe Bartok,” and I immediately chimed in, “Brahms.” He proceeded to bring out original scores of both Brahms and Bartok. It was amazing. I remember the first time I saw Beethoven’s original handwriting on score paper. It was incredible! For a Beethoven fanatic the feeling of connection by just viewing those scores was sublime.
With current efforts in legislation to pay artists more freely, what can ArtistShare offer as a solution?
ArtistShare can serve as an example of how a mutually beneficial business model is the real long term solution. The relationship we have between the artist, ArtistShare, and the fan is of the "win-win-win" variety. It’s a very beautiful and trusting relationship and it works well for everyone involved.
Why is the creation of new music important to society today?
Music is important to society period. It is as necessary as food or water. If you go to any place in the world, they have their own brand of music. I think its an equalizer. I think its a peace maker. It is difficult fight and dance at the same time. Music and humor could bring world peace. Jim [Hall] used to say that if you could get all of the world's leaders into a room and tell a good joke, the world would be at peace. At least for that moment. I feel it is the same with a good piece of music.
What’s next for ArtistShare?
We’re creating a new platform called, FanFunded. We’re going to continue on our mission. It's a labor of love.
This year ArtistShare submitted nine new fan-funded recordings for consideration in the 58th Grammy Awards. ArtistShare is continuously moving forward to support artists and connect them with their fans.
