Kickstarter

Definition

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform that allows creators to raise funds for their projects by appealing directly to the public. By setting funding goals and offering rewards for backers, it has transformed how creative ventures are financed, impacting the landscape of audio narratives and other artistic expressions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Kickstarter was launched in 2009 and has since helped fund thousands of creative projects across various fields, including film, music, art, and technology.
2. A unique aspect of Kickstarter is the all-or-nothing funding model, meaning projects only receive funds if they meet or exceed their stated goal within a set time frame.
3. Many successful audio narrative projects have emerged from Kickstarter campaigns, allowing creators to bypass traditional funding methods and directly engage with their audience.
4. Kickstarter allows creators to provide different reward tiers for backers, which can include everything from digital downloads to exclusive merchandise or experiences.
5. The platform emphasizes community and engagement, encouraging creators to maintain communication with backers throughout the project development process.

Review Questions

• How does Kickstarter facilitate the funding of audio narratives compared to traditional financing methods?
  • Kickstarter enables creators of audio narratives to secure funding directly from their audience rather than relying on traditional sources like studios or publishers. This democratizes the funding process, allowing diverse voices and innovative ideas that might not attract conventional investors to find support. By engaging backers through compelling campaign pitches and offering rewards, creators can cultivate a community around their project, which can also enhance promotion and audience investment.
• Discuss the impact of Kickstarter's all-or-nothing funding model on project creators and backers in the audio narrative space.
  • Kickstarter's all-or-nothing funding model encourages creators to set realistic funding goals that they believe they can achieve. For backers, this model reduces risk as they only support projects that successfully meet their goal. It also fosters a sense of urgency and collective action among backers who may feel motivated to help reach the goal within the deadline. This dynamic can lead to a stronger community around audio narratives as supporters rally together to bring a project to life.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of successful Kickstarter campaigns on the evolution of audio narratives and storytelling in modern media.
  • Successful Kickstarter campaigns can significantly influence the evolution of audio narratives by validating niche genres and unconventional storytelling approaches that might be overlooked by mainstream media. They create opportunities for diverse voices and innovative formats, shaping audience expectations and preferences. Moreover, as more creators use crowdfunding to launch their projects, it fosters an ecosystem where storytelling becomes increasingly collaborative and interactive, transforming how narratives are developed and consumed in modern media.

Related terms

Crowdfunding: A method of raising capital through the collective effort of friends, family, customers, and individual investors, typically via online platforms.

Backer: An individual who supports a project on Kickstarter by pledging money in exchange for rewards or incentives offered by the creator.

Project Goal: The total amount of money a creator needs to raise to successfully fund their project on Kickstarter; if the goal is not met, funds are not collected.