The Roaring Crowdfund features Jacksonville's Stono Echo

What does it take to run a successful Kickstarter, PledgeMusic, or Indiegogo campaign? The Roaring Crowdfund, a five-episode podcast from Berklee Online, takes a look by following the campaigns of artists including Jacksonville, FL, hip-hop duo Stono Echo, who use vintage soul beats and gospel melodies to make something brand new.

Stono Echo takes their name from the 1739 Stono Rebellion. Paten Locke (also known for his work under the Dillon & Paten Locke moniker) produces and DJs, and Jay Myztroh sings, raps, and plays multiple instruments. Stono Echo’s recent Indiegogo campaign raised money for their debut album.

In examining the issues these musicians face, host and creator Pat Healy, senior writer/editor at Berklee Online, gains insight from top brass at these major platforms, as well as other popular musicians who have had crowdfunding experiences, both negative and positive. Lending expert commentary are artists like Ted Leo, Gift of Gab of Blackalicious, Meredith Graves, Brian Rosenworcel of Guster, Mark Kelly of Marillion, and Mike Doughty of Soul Coughing. Berklee Online instructors like John Kellogg, entertainment attorney and director for Berklee Online’s Music Business master’s degree program, also weigh in.

Each of the featured acts struggle in their own ways to meet their goals, and what The Roaring Crowdfund does most successfully is champion independent musicians and their difficult plight in the current landscape of the music industry. The first episode introduces the four artists and many of the experts, and gives an overview of crowdfunding and its history. Subsequent episodes delve into the artist’s campaign videos, perks and rewards, marketing efforts, campaign results, and the future of crowdfunding.

Catch up on episodes at TheRoaringCrowdfund.com.