From: Jill Sobule
Subject: Bob, I love you too. But a response to your last letter. Hey, wish you had your radio show

Bob, I love you too, but I am surprised you would have thought my fan-funded record was to "break through to the masses". I am quite aware that I am not, nor will ever be, a pop sensation. The idea of my fan-funded site came about three years ago. I had a bunch of new songs that I was proud of, however I didn’t have the personal funds to record and put them out. The idea of a label seemed pointless and… who was going to sign me anyway? I sent out a letter to my fans asking them if they were game to help me out. They were. As Marillion, this endeavor was foremost for them. A year later, I put up jillsnextrecord.com. Also, this was not just about this one record or… marketing. It was also an experiment on how I could survive in this murky but promising landscape as a musician. One of the prizes I offered was house concerts. Since then, they have been a regular part of my touring schedule. Don’t laugh, but the writing of personal theme songs was a semi-big hit.  

I will give to you that I probably spent a few dollars on old paradigm stuff, as well as new useless scams- $1,500 for a company that helps you with your social networking and your "brand". What a bunch of bullshit. By the way, as the news of my website made the press (and not by my doing), I was bombarded by emails from "new paradigm" companies. Now probably 3/4 of them don’t exist. This may very well be my last record-in the traditional long playing way. Who knows? But, in the meantime,I am having fun trying to learn and maneuver in this new world.

Oh, as I am touring a lot these days, I had this one idea: instead of money, asking my fans for… their extra unused airline miles or upgrades. Good or dumb idea?

Also, I will add, that the model has been repeated by other deserving artist -not just Josh Freeze. Linda Thompson Kenis and Amy Correia have been in contact with me and have raised money. And not everyone has to raise as much as I did, mind you. If someone gets donations, from their friends and 10 fans, enough to buy pro-tools or a guitar, well, what’s wrong with that? I think the model can work at all levels. Plus, it does keep you close to your base. However, like you said, to think you will be playing stadiums, is delusional.

Right now I am happy to please my fans, and if by chance I gain new ones -by either touring, public radio, or old timey word of mouth – that would be even more swell.

Bob, I had a revelation a couple of months ago. I’m a lifer. I hope that, like say Les Paul, my old guitar teacher, or even Kitty Carlisle – who still performed in her 90s – I am still going at it at a ripe old age. I also hope that columns like yours will help to show me the way to keep doing it.

cheers, jill