Crowdfunding and the DIY Artist: The Influence of Web 2.0 on DIY Music Communities

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to discover the motivations behind do-it-yourself (DIY) artists partaking in emerging DIY practices; explore how they utilise virtual communities and communities of practice regarding building a sustainable career in the music industries and attempt to shed some light on what the future holds for the DIY artist in the age of the internet and web 2.0. This paper is of a qualitative nature, adopting the interpretative research paradigm. Semi-structured interviews with three DIY artists were completed and the results were analysed using the thematic analysis method, with results being presented as individual vignettes. The research found that the motivations for partaking in DIY practices tend to be out of necessity, with the DIY artist wanting to retain control of their music, image, and path without being dictated to by a label. It was also discovered that communities provide both moral and financial support, usually in form of crowdfunding, for the DIY artist, something that is fundamental in building a sustainable career. Regarding the future of the DIY artist, it appears that crowdfunding is becoming commonplace and that new models are being developed to suit different artists and to help them sustain themselves. Subscription models, which link in well with co-creation and user-generated content, appear to be growing in popularity and could represent the future for DIY and this paper contributes to that expanding academic discourse as inter-disciplinary research.