The Krafty Artist income maximization release strategy

$20 - A digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group (or Discord if you feel most of your audience doesn't use FB) to discuss it with like-minded people (who also become a great audience for additional offers in the future).

$40 - An autographed, personalized, limited-edition CD of the project (that includes both vocal versions and instrumentals for all tracks), a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$60 - An autographed, personalized, limited-edition CD of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$80 - A video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, an autographed, personalized, limited-edition CD of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$100 - A shirt, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, an autographed, personalized, limited-edition CD of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$150 - Inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will include at the end of the project, a shirt, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, an autographed, personalized, limited-edition CD of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$200 - A short phone call with them, inclusion of their name on a shout out  track that you will include at the end of the project, a shirt, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, an autographed, personalized, limited-edition CD of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$250 - 2 VIP guest list spots for any headlining show, a short phone call  with them, inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will  include at the end of the project, 2 shirts, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, 2 autographed, personalized, limited-edition CDs of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$500 - A meal with you, 2 VIP guest list spots for any headlining show, a short phone call with them, inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will include at the end of the project, 2 shirts, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, 2 autographed, personalized, limited-edition CDs of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via  the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$1,000 - An in-studio experience in which them and a guest get to come spend half a day in the studio watching you work, have meal with you, 2 VIP guest list spots for any headlining show, inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will include at the end of the project, 2 shirts, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, 2 autographed, personalized, limited-edition CDs of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$2,500 - A performance at a private unticketed event like a house party or a BBQ with less than 100 attendees (any travel or accommodations necessary would be extra), an in-studio experience in which them and a guest get to come spend half a day in the studio watching you work, have meal with you, 2 VIP guest list spots for any headlining show, inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will include at the end of the project, 2 shirts, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, 20 autographed, personalized, limited-edition CDs of the  project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$5,000 - You write and record a song about the topic of their choice (subject to your agreement), a performance at a private unticketed event like a house party or a BBQ with less than 100 attendees (any travel or accommodations necessary would be extra), an in-studio experience in which them and a guest get to come spend half a day in the studio watching you work, have meal with you, 5 VIP guest list spots for any headlining show, inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will include at the end of the project, 2 shirts, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, 20 autographed, personalized, limited-edition CDs of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

$10,000 - You give them an executive producer credit on the project, shoot a music video for the song you write and record about the topic of their choice which they get to appear in, a performance at a private unticketed event like a house party or a BBQ with less than 100 attendees (any travel or accommodations necessary would be extra) an in-studio experience in which them and a guest get to come spend half a day in the studio watching you work, have meal with you, 10 VIP guest list spots for any headlining show, inclusion of their name on a shout out track that you will include at the end of the project, 2 shirts, a video shout out to use on the supporter's socials, 50 autographed, personalized, limited-edition CDs of the project with the supporter's name on the physical and digital artwork, which will also be shared via the artist's socials and website, a digital download of the release 2 weeks before its available anywhere else, and access to a members-only supporter Facebook group to discuss it with like-minded people.

These are recommended prices for artists with developing fan bases to charge specifically during the pre-order of your project, when your biggest supporters will be most likely to buy. You can always makes sales offer in the future at lower prices if you feel the need to, but you would be wise to maximize the income you can generate from your biggest supporters.

All of this can easily be offered via an online store that is set up on Shopify (or one of its competitors that charge a small flat fee per month), via Bandcamp (which isn't recommended as they take a double digit percentage of income, don't allow for up-sales, down-sales, or cross-sales offers, and don't allow ad tracking capabilities which are something you should want to take advantage of to maximize sales as well), or via a crowdfunding platform (which offers some psychological advantages to maximizing income though usually charge a percentage of income raised).

This income generation strategy can work in conjunction with regularly releasing singles on streaming platforms and promotional video content to help create awareness, so shouldn't be looked at as an alternative to that but rather as a supplement to doing so to help maximize income. Your biggest supporters are happy to pay you for physical version of projects even if most or even all of the songs are already released on streaming platforms, and if your plan is to release most of your singles before the physical version you can always send digital versions of songs when they're ready to your supporters before you make them available on streaming platforms. 

Hopefully all of this gives you some ideas on ways you can generate more income to coincide with the release of a project, or even to help generate funds to record and market your project properly. Ideally you release at least a couple songs and a bunch of short-form promo video content shortly before you start a presale campaign like this, as that will provide proof of concept and maximize attention and interest from your supporters that will allow you to capitalize as much as is possible.  Good luck, and let me know if you would like more input on how to make this happen!

This information was compiled by Kyle Kraft of Krafty Entertainment. Whether you are an artist who is in the early stages of building your career and have next to no money to invest into it looking for the best paths to generating income, are an artist that has established a following and are interested in getting assistance with securing funding to further your career, or are an artist or collective with an extensive fan base that would like assistance with increasing the efficiency of your business development, we can help you.

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