The first and only studio powered by crowdfunding
Your path to a real studio record starts here.
$0 out of pocket. 100% ownership.
Fully funded on our platform.
Fully realized in our studio.
- 500+ albums funded
- $3M+ raised
Not local to the Boston area? Travel stipends and free lodging are available for out-of-town artists.
Funding your album, step by step.
10+ years of music crowdfunding experience takes you from demo to finished album in 6 months.
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Request an invite
- 01
Request an invite
Send us your music. Our team listens to every submission.
- 02
Intro call
We walk you through how it works and help you map out your project.
- 03
Build your budget
You don't need a big following to have success with our platform. Before any money changes hands, we help you line up support from your 10 closest contacts. That becomes the foundation of your campaign and tells your producer how much we can raise together.
- 04
Sign
We make it official and schedule your studio dates and campaign launch. You start on your promo single with your producer, and on your campaign with your dedicated project manager.
- 05
Prep your campaign
Come to our Boston studio to record your promo single and shoot your campaign video with your producer. A finished single gives your project credibility before launch, while your pledged supporters contribute first to build momentum.
- 06
Campaign launch
We launch your campaign together and guide you through a 40-day marketing calendar, so your campaign gets the eyes and ears it needs to reach the finish line.
- 07
Make your album
We make the rest of the record with you. The funds we raised cover every cost, from pre-production to mastering. You keep 100% of your masters.
Built by artists. For artists.
We know how the music industry works, and spent years building something different. Plaid Dog was founded on the belief that independent artists deserve a real path to a studio album. No label, no debt, and you keep 100% ownership.
Meet some of the artists who hit their goal.
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What happens after you request an invite
Frequently asked
Quick answers for common questions.
01Is this a contest?
Not in the winners-and-losers sense. We only take on a small number of artists at a time, so we listen to every request. It’s about talent and fit, not beating other artists.
02Why are you selective about who you work with?
Two things we won't compromise on: First, we both need to know this is worth your time. Preparing and running a campaign is hard work on both sides, so we want you confident it's going to work out before we start. Talent always comes first, and when it comes to predicting successful campaigns, the numbers matter, too. After 10+ years and hundreds of campaigns, we know how to get a clear picture of what we can raise together (i.e., nerdy stuff like spreadsheets and analytics).
Second, you're never on the hook for the balance. If we set a goal and raise less than planned, we adjust the scope of the project to match what we actually raised. That puts the financial risk on us, so it's on us to choose artists we believe are the right fit for our platform.
TLDR; if we offer you a campaign slot, it's because we believe you'll have success with our platform. We hold ourselves accountable to that because the success of our business depends on it.
03Do I retain ownership of my music?
Yes. We're not a record label; we're a recording studio with its own funding platform. Our producers are highly collaborative but we take no ownership stake in your music. You maintain 100% ownership and control over your creative work.
04Do I need to pay any fees to get started?
No, artists don’t pay any upfront fees. Plaid Dog covers any initial studio expenses as needed, and recoups those costs through the crowdfunding campaign. You won't need to front any money yourself.
05How many songs can I record?
Most of our projects land between 4 and 6 songs. We plan your song count together when we build your budget, but it stays flexible, because the final number depends on what your campaign raises. If we raise less than planned, we record fewer songs, so you're never on the hook for the balance. If we raise more than planned, we can always add to the project.
06Do you offer marketing and promotional support?
While we provide robust campaign-related marketing and promotional services, we do not provide general promo beyond the scope of a campaign.
07How do the travel stipend and free lodging work?
Both are available to artists who live outside our usual area (New England, New York and New Jersey).
The travel stipend is $400 per project. Use it to cover your transportation (plane or train tickets, gas, rental cars) and other travel expenses, and we reimburse you.
Free lodging is right at the studio, on its own floor above the workspace, so you have your privacy.
08Can we hire session musicians?
Yes. If you choose, you can hire from our network of session musicians. Their fees are covered by the funds raised through your campaign.
09What happens if I don’t reach my goal?
Our campaigns use flexible funding, so the money raised can still be used to record your project even if the goal isn’t fully reached. And you won’t be responsible for covering any shortfall.
10Do you charge platform fees?
No. We don’t charge platform fees. That 5% savings goes back into your project — more material recorded, a better final product.
Request your invite
We choose artists we believe in, and invest our full resources into every project. Our fees are covered entirely from campaign funds, so you're never out of pocket. If you're a dedicated, unsigned artist with songs ready to record, request your invite below.
Got it. Thanks, there.
Our team will listen to your music and get back to you within 2 business days. If it's a fit, we'll send a full application and then set up your intro call.
Pro tip: Complete your full application now to jump to the front of the queue. Artist spots are limited, and a submitted application puts you first.