Jordan Rudess celebrates ‘New Music Industry’

Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess has launched a PledgeMusic campaign to fund an ambitious project involving an orchestral album alongside a solo piano record.

He believes crowdfunding is the way ahead for the music industry and he’s delighted to embrace the business model. View his introductory video below, in which he explains more.

Rudess says on his PledgeMusic page: “It’s been a few years since I recorded my last solo album, Notes On a Dream. The inspiration has been flowing ever since, and I’m now ready to set forth in recording my orchestral piece, Explorations, as well as my solo piano album, Explores.”

He’s determined to harness developing technology options in the process, saying: “For Explorations we will be creating an entirely virtual orchestral experience. We will bring virtuoso instrumental players into the studio, and not only make an audio recording, but also capture them on film with the goal of creating a unique, visual experience.

“Explores will be created as a completely interactive iOS app experience, in addition to being made available in a CD and digital download format. You can sit back and enjoy, add your personal touch, or play a duet with me and share your version with your friends.”

Pledge options start at $10 for copies of the albums. Bonus packages include a phone call from Rudess ($100), signed CD and your name in the credits ($100), a song about you ($1500), Rudess playing on your album ($5000) and a house concert ($10,000).

The keyboardist feels new technology together with crowdfunding offers artists much more potential. “By enlisting you and working through PledgeMusic, the pipelines will be running with unfiltered creativity,” he says. “This is the new music industry – and I like it.”