
Sellaband's Impact on the Music Industry was a significant one. The platform's ability to raise over $1 million in just a few months for the band, The Pigeon Detectives, was a major milestone.
In 2006, Sellaband gave fans the power to become record label owners by investing in their favorite artists. This innovative approach allowed fans to directly support and invest in the music they loved.
Sellaband's influence can be seen in the rise of crowdfunding platforms for music. Platforms like Kickstarter and PledgeMusic have since followed in Sellaband's footsteps, offering artists a new way to fund their projects.
The Pigeon Detectives' success on Sellaband paved the way for other bands to achieve similar results. This marked a shift in the way music was funded and promoted, giving artists more control over their careers.
Suggestion: University and College Crowdfunding Platforms
Sellaband's Success Stories
Nemesea was the first artist ever to complete a funding on SellaBand, achieving their goal of $50,000 in 2006.
Cubworld made history by being the first artist to complete two fundings on SellaBand, closing their second budget in December 2009.
Julia Marcell was the first eastern European artist to complete a funding on SellaBand, reaching their goal of $50,000 in 2007.
BulletProof Messenger had the most believers on SellaBand, and was one of the many artists who successfully reached their funding goal.
Electric Eel Shock became the first Japanese artist to reach a funding goal on SellaBand, achieving their goal of $50,000 in 2008.
Hind collected €40,000 within 11 days, charting on #8 in the Dutch charts, and was one of the many artists who successfully reached their funding goal.
Epyllion was the first artist to raise funds for promoting an already released record, closing their budget of €1,500 in 2010.
Public Enemy, a well-established artist, was the first to raise funds on SellaBand, achieving their goal of €59,100 in 2010.
Here are the top 11 artists who successfully reached their funding goal on SellaBand:
Sellaband's Ventures and Partnerships
Sellaband has partnered with ArenaFest, a US stadium management firm, to bring live music to major US stadiums next year. The tour will be a unique experience, combining gaming, dating, sports, modelling contests, and live music.
Ten unsigned bands will be chosen through a competition on the Sellaband site to tour the stadiums. The tour will feature 180 slots for Sellaband musicians, divided between the 10 chosen bands.
The Sellaband site invites fans to invest in new, unsigned bands, and when they reach $50,000 in funding, the bands can record an album with professional producers. This has already led to 29 bands and musicians recording albums through investment on the site since its launch in 2006.
Acts Tour US Stadiums in Website Venture
Ten unsigned bands will be given the opportunity to tour major US stadiums next year as part of Sellaband's "live social networking" venture.
This is a huge deal for these bands, as they'll be playing in front of thousands of people in some of the biggest venues in the country.

The tour will be funded by half a dozen sponsors, including the city council of Amsterdam, and will feature 180 slots for Sellaband musicians, divided between 10 bands chosen through a competition on the site.
Sellaband's CEO, Johan Vosmeijer, says the site will not be threatened by the economic downturn, as there will always be a demand for entertainment.
Bands can make their money via the Sellaband site when they raise enough to record an album and then begin to sell it, taking home around $2.50 per unit sold.
Sellaband also takes $2.50 from each sale of an album, which are sold through mainstream music download sites like Amazon in the UK.
The initiative is not about making money, but about giving unsigned bands a chance to get out there and tour their music.
The site has already had success with 29 bands and musicians recording albums through investment on the site since its launch in 2006.
These bands have worked with professional producers like Tony Platt, who produced AC/DC's Back in Black, and Haydn Bendall, who worked with Kate Bush.
Acquired by German Investors

Sellaband's Ventures and Partnerships wouldn't be the same without the acquisition by German investors.
In 2010, Sellaband was acquired by German investors, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.
This acquisition led to a major shift in Sellaband's business model, allowing the company to expand its services and reach a wider audience.
Sellaband's new investors brought in fresh capital and expertise, helping the company to grow and innovate.
The acquisition also enabled Sellaband to explore new opportunities and partnerships, further solidifying its position in the music industry.
Sellaband's commitment to empowering artists and fans alike remained unchanged, even with the change in ownership.
Sellaband's new investors were instrumental in helping the company navigate the ever-changing music landscape, ensuring its continued success.
Sellaband's Challenges and Controversies
Sellaband struggled to gain traction in the music industry, with only a handful of artists achieving success through the platform.
The company faced financial difficulties, with reports suggesting it was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2012.
Sellaband's business model was criticized for being unsustainable, with some arguing it was more of a marketing gimmick than a viable way for artists to gain exposure.
In 2012, Sellaband was forced to lay off a significant portion of its staff due to financial constraints.
The platform's emphasis on crowdfunding was seen as a novelty, but some argued it was not a reliable way for artists to secure funding.
Sellaband's relationship with its artists was also criticized, with some accusing the company of taking a significant cut of the profits.
Events
Sellaband has been hosting various events to bring their community together and showcase their talented artists. They've conducted three official concerts in Europe.
The first concert was the "New Years Party" in January 2007 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This event marked the beginning of Sellaband's live events.
The second concert was "London Calling" in June 2007 at Gibson Studios in London, UK. This event was a great opportunity for fans to see their favorite artists perform live.
Sellaband also hosts an annual "Sellabration - Birthday Party" at the Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which has been held on August 15th every year since 2007.
Sources
- https://www.wired.com/2010/02/bankrupt-crowd-funded-sellaband-acquired-by-german-investors/
- https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/dec/01/sellaband-us-tour
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellaband
- https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/updated-sellaband-files-for-bankruptcy-1210847/
- http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2010/02/23/23gigaom-crowdfunding-site-sellaband-is-bankrupt-74362.html
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