archspire
19:00 Thursday, 29 May 2025
After 13 years, Archspire has split with Season Of Mist and is going completely independent! Which means Archspire needs some startup money to get their new album – and first with new drummer Spencer Moore – recorded and out to the masses. On why Archspire is going fully independent, the band stated it has everything to do with labels getting far more money than the artists making the art.
In part, Archspire said: "Did you know the industry standard royalty split is 80-85% in favour of the label? This means if an album sells for $29.99, after manufacturing costs and the label cut, the band might get as little as $3.00. Labels provide an advance on royalties, but it often takes years (or never) to recoup. Archspire wants to break free of that cycle. By going fully independent, we can take 100% control of our business, fund our own record, and never again rely on advances or unfair royalty splits."
Archspire is currently seeking $125,000 on Kickstarter (donate to that effort right here), which you can donate to right here. And if you're thinking that's a pretty big number, it's really not and Archspire has so kindly broken down exactly what math they did to get to that number.
Invested so far (all values in USD):
- Studio time with Dave Otero (first session): $14,350
- Studio accommodations (first session): $1,620
- Studio living expenses (first session): $5,929
- Flights: $5,520
- Album artwork (first payment): $1,166
- T-shirt designs: $2,000
- Studio musician fees: $5,100
- Behind the scenes documentary (first payment): $2,400
- Work visas for the band: $7,865
- Lyric book artwork: $2,250
- Exec. Coordinator while in studio (Brett): $1,400
- Amount already paid: $49,600 USD
Left to fundraise:
- Studio time with Dave Otero (second session): $14,350
- Studio accommodations (second session): $1,620
- Studio living expenses (second session): $3,000
- Flights: $1,400
- Album artwork (second payment): $1,166
- Album CD, vinyl and tape layout: $1,000
- Band photos (Alex Morgan incl. flights): $2,500
- PR, marketing, advertising: $15,000
- Music videos: $30,000
- Lyric video: $750
- Additional studio musician fees: $3,000
- Behind the scenes documentary (2nd payment): $3,600
- Vinyl production (1250 units): $24,450
- CD production (750 units): $3,810
- Archspire patches (500 units): $1,335
- Staytech pins (500 units): $1,000
- Posters incl. poster tubes (300 units): $873
- T-shirts (750 units): $7,500
- Wall flags (300 units): $2,223
- Lyric book (300 units): $2,400
