With a Little Help from my Friends, Family, and Fans: DIY, Participatory Culture, and Social Capital in Music Crowdfunding

Almost all DIY practices imply some form of collaboration, based on social networks and social capital. The web offers new tools and opportunities to articulate both social networking and the search for and mobilization of resources to develop specific projects. Crowdfunding represents one such practice, encouraged by comments celebrating the advantages for musicians in connecting directly with their public, without having to rely on the traditional music industry to finance projects. Nevertheless, this requires considerable skills and resources, not equally distributed among musicians. The chapter examines the management of social networks and social capital by young musicians who have autonomously planned, designed, and managed crowdfunding campaigns. It focuses on the relationship between types of social relations and potential benefits, on the work and resources required to build and mobilize social capital, and on the advantages and drawbacks experienced by musicians.