MusicBee (crowdfunding)
MusicBeeis acrowdfundingplatform focused onindependent musicbased in Hong Kong. The company stated its mission as to gather resources and help bring independent music projects into life, providing musicians with dreams and opportunities.[1]MusicBee has reportedly received $2 million funding over 15 music projects within one year.[2]
People who back MusicBee projects would be offered different tangible or intangible rewards designed by theproject owner,such as mp3 links, tangible CDs, souvenirs, and private concerts.[3]
History[edit]
MusicBee was launched in February 2015, by artistsChet Lam Yat Fung,Fung Wing Ki Vicky,Tse Kwok Wai Victor.[3]Musicbee reportedly raised $2 million since its launch from supporters, including the general public as well as commercial brandsLevi's,Sony,Doughnut,Dr Martens,EipiphoneandMOOV.[2]
FounderChet Lamserved as the editor of the site; accordingly, the hardworking musicians are like bees, such that the platform was named MusicBee in order to help the musician to gain honey.[4]
Model[edit]
MusicBee gathers money from public donors to virtually sponsor local independent artists via its crowdfunding space. Donors can support artists or musical categories, and popularize music they appreciate, which may not appeal to mainstream commercial industries.[5]MusicBee operates similar to the American-based crowdfunding platform Kickstarter,[6]which currently does not offer its services to Hong Kong artists, MusicBee aims to be an alternative outlet for local artists.
To launch a fundraising campaign, artists submit a creative proposal along with a deadline for the funding goal to MusicBee. There is no limit to the funding goal, but if the goal is not met by the set deadline, the project will not be funded. The "all or nothing" policy acts to balance the interest of artists and risks of donors, by encouraging donors to familiarize with the project before donating. Donors could do so through the Chat Bubble function on the site.[7]
The process throughout the project’s publication is free of charge. A 15% administration fee, that is subject to change, will only be charged on successful fundraising campaigns; applicants who failed to reach the set funding goal will not be charged of said fee. MusicBee supports payment bycredit card,AlipayorPayPal.[8]Success is not guaranteed, but successful artists could provide donors with their products or discounts as equities for their donation.[9]
MusicBee does not partake in the project itself, nor does it have creative control over artists.[10]It reserves right to examine all proposals before accepting the application, some criteria being the project’s feasibility and legality of the music products.[11]
In an interview, lead singer of the 2009 local bandSupper MomentSunny Chan Chi-Sun said "It’s like you can just buy a belt from a shop, or some shops will host workshops where you can learn how to make a belt. I think that’s the difference. If you can take part in the project, then you’ll get more satisfaction out of it than just buying something. If you apply this to music, the buyers will be really invested in your work."[5]
Notable projects and creators[edit]
According to the official statistics of MusicBee, starting from 2015, there have been 63 launched projects, 2 of which are still in progress. Among the 63 projects, 42 of them have been successfully launched. The success rate of launching a music project is around 66% and the total amount pledged is HKD$5,372,668.[12]
A Hong Kong singer-songwriterChet Lam Yat Fung,who has released more than 10 albums, considered to have acrowdfundedmusic project. In February 2015,Chetput up his new album "Crossroads" on Musicbee as a platform for funding. Just over two weeks, he received more than HK$265,000 in backing, obviously exceeded his initial HK$200,000 goal. With that project he successfully launched the site.[5]
Supported by thecrowdfundingon Musicbee, a concert named "Music Festival on the Rooftop" was held on 23 May 2015 and 27 June 2015 in Kwun Tong.[13]Musicians including Jabin Law, Teriver Cheung, Mara Measor, Another Kitchen, Jing Wong, In One Stroke and WATERFUNK put their idea of "It is time to keep Hong Kong Music alive!" on MusicBee, which attracted 97 sponsors to donate funds totalling in $28,660.[14]
One of the most discussed projects of MusicBee is the album of Michael Lai Hiu Yeung. Michael was originally a part-time performer who was still in school, armed with anacoustic guitar.Gaining increasing popularity, he realized his dream in music and decided to make his first album throughcrowdfundingon MusicBee. In June 2015, he received $201,090 of funds from 320 sponsors within 2 months.[15]
On 2016 February, the project "MusicBee 1st Anniversary Concert" was launched, with the total funding time of 24days, it has gathered 618 funders and funded HK$714,000, became the project that has the most funders and most fundings till now.[16]
However, the chance of success to launch a music project is based on several factors, for instance, media exposure, personal fame and the type of music. Nobody can guarantee a musician can get the amount of money that he expects.
Controversies[edit]
- In July 2015, an independent political singer, Banana Milk ( hương tiêu nãi )’scrowdfundingproject was forced to be shut down, due to the unidentified sponsors. These sponsors provided fake contact or fake address. The crowdfunding project was criticized for its unclear source of fundings, and lack of full disclosure.[17]
- In March 2016, MusicBee as one of the crowdfunding platforms in Hong Kong, was criticized as an organization not supervised by the legislations nor regulated according to the local newspaper and the report by the Hong Kong Government. The sponsors may also be taking a relatively high risk, since they might not get back their funding or the music products.[18]
References[edit]
- ^"Âm nhạc phong MusicBee | âm nhạc phong truyện âm nhạc hoa khai".musicbee.cc.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-01-21.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^ab"Âm nhạc phong nhân viên".Pixelbread tượng tố diện bao.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^ab"“Âm nhạc phong” đầu pháo lâm nhất phong chúng trù xuất xướng phiến | lập tràng báo đạo | lập tràng tân văn ".Lập tràng tân văn Stand News.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Lục thị thải sắc: Tập tư âm nhạc phong".Apple Daily bình quả nhật báo.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^abcYu, Alan (28 March 2015)."Hong Kong crowdfunding site Music Bee hopes to generate buzz about indie artists".South China Morning Post.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Kickstarter".www.kickstarter.com.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Ngã tưởng ô tán trợ tiền, liên lạc cai âm nhạc đan vị yếu chẩm ma tố?".Âm nhạc phong cầu trợ trung tâm.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Âm nhạc phong đích thu phí như hà?".Âm nhạc phong cầu trợ trung tâm.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Ngã hạch chẩm dạng cấu tư ngã đích hồi lễ thanh đan ni?".Âm nhạc phong cầu trợ trung tâm.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Âm nhạc phong hội càn dự ngã đích sang tác tự do mạ?".Âm nhạc phong cầu trợ trung tâm.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Kí nhiên bất càn dự sang tác, vi thậm ma nhu yếu thẩm phê kế hoa ni?".Âm nhạc phong cầu trợ trung tâm.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Sở hữu âm nhạc kế hoa nhất lãm | âm nhạc phong MusicBee".musicbee.cc.Retrieved2017-09-17.
- ^"Thiên đài độc lập âm nhạc tế trình hiện chân âm nhạc".on.cc đông võng.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"Thiên đài âm nhạc tế - Timable".Timable(in Chinese (Hong Kong)).Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^Yu, Alan (7 April 2015)."Five Hong Kong indie acts on the verge of breaking through".South China Morning Post.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"MusicBeeProject: Anniversary".MusicBee.Retrieved2017-09-17.
- ^"Hương tiêu nãi tán trợ nhân thân phân thành nghi âm nhạc phong tương thủ tiêu hạng mục cập thối khoản | nhiệt huyết biên tập bộ | nhiệt huyết tân văn | nhiệt huyết thời báo".www.passiontimes.hk.Retrieved2016-03-24.
- ^"“Chúng trù” lý niệm đại ô hồi báo pháp lệ vị hữu hạn chế ".Đầu điều nhật báo Headline Daily(in Chinese (Hong Kong)).Retrieved2016-03-24.
