Change the way the world finances music:

Every artist has the same problem of obtaining capital for their next recording. Tune Your World provides the solution of applying the principles of micro-financing to the music industry. Our groundbreaking approach is the creation of peer-to-peer micro-financing of new music projects - enabling fans to deliver start-up capital to aspiring musicians from developing countries around the world. Tune Your World operates on a people-to-people model. Musicians obtain funding for new recordings directly from their fans without giving up ownership or control. Our mission is to revitalize the music industry in places where the music industry has never worked very well.

Our international music network already includes over 3,000 international musicians and more than 75,000 registered users. Early success will help spread the word about this radical new approach to music production-ultimately supporting all of the artists we work with around the world. Learn more

Featured Artist: Feliciano dos Santos & Massukos

Feliciano dos Santos, leader of the band Massukos, just won the Goldman Environmental Prize for using his music star status to raise awareness about health, water and HIV/Aids issues.

Using music to spread the message of ecological sanitation to the most remote corners of Mozambique, Feliciano dos Santos is empowering villagers to participate in sustainable development and rise up from poverty. In Niassa province, many villages lack even basic sanitation infrastructure. Without reliable access to clean water and waste management systems, the population is highly susceptible to disease. Santos, who grew up in the region, today heads an innovative program that is bringing new hope to Niassa. With his internationally-recognized band, Massukos, Santos uses music to promote the importance of water and sanitation in Mozambique.
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Change the Way the World Finances Music
Got $25 bucks? Microfinance a Working Musician and do a world of good.

Tune Your World is applying the principles of microfinancing to the music industry. Our groundbreaking approach is the creation of peer-to-peer microfinancing of new music projects. We're using the power of online social networking to deliver start-up capital to aspiring musicians from developing countries around the world.

Fan Funded Music
Tune Your World operates on a people-to-people model: Musicians obtain funding for their recordings from their fans -- without giving up ownership or control. Fans and Sponsors are able to feel a personal connection with a music project and get progress updates from Musicians. So, instead of buying music via a distribution network that prevents most of your money from getting to the artist, peer-to-peer microfinancing lets you sponsor small amounts directly to any musician that you choose. Learn more

Get Started - Microfinance a Working Musician!
1. Choose a Featured Artist and make a sponsorship via Paypal
2. Calabash transfers funds to musician when artist's goal is reached
3. Receive news and music downloads of artist's recording

Featured Artist:

Juan-Carlos Formell & Son Radical
Cuba/ New York
Activity: New Recording
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Featured Artist:

Estrela Brilhante
Recife, Brazil
Activity: New Instruments & Costumes
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Featured Artist:

Soulfege
Ghana/Boston
Activity: New Music Video
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Featured Artist:

Samba Tremeterra Dancers
Boston
Activity: New Costumes
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More Featured Artists

What's the solution for how to survive as a struggling musician?
Every artist has the same problem of obtaining capital for their next recording. The Tune Your World network provides fan-funded financing of artists' startup costs. For example, Canadian artist Jill Sobule set up a page on her web site to raise $75,000 from her fans by creating several categories of sponsorship. $10 got you a download copy of the album, while $10,000 let you sing along during the recording session. Jill raised over $80,000 exceeding her goal!

According to Wired Magazine editor Kevin Kelly, an artist only needs to find 1,000 core fans -- defined as those who will buy everything produced by the artist. If each 'True Fan' is willing to give up a day's wage ($100) each year to support the artist, then an artist can earn $100,000 / year.

Inspired by Jill Sobule's example, we're doing our own micro-funding campaign to find Calabash's 1,000 True Fans and raise $100,000 -- which will pay our development costs to launch our musician micro-funding platform -- ultimately supporting all of the artists we work with around the world.

We've created a variety of suggested funding levels -- each with its own reward:

$10 - Entry Level: 10-song download compilation

$25 - Bronze Level: USB Flash Drive loaded with 10-song compilation

$50 - Silver Level: USB Flash Drive loaded with 20-song compilation

$100 - Gold Level: USB Flash Drive loaded with 40-song compilation

Use Calabash's 1000 True Fans widget above to help us reach our goal!

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