Campfire’s streaming model is built to put independent artists first. As a nonprofit platform, we channel subscription fees directly to artists based on each listener’s actual plays. Unlike traditional streaming services that pool revenue and favor top stars, we use a user-centric approach – if 45% of your listening is one artist, that artist gets 45% of your subscription (after operating costs of 10%). With no profit motive, money flows back to those who made the music in the first place.

Campfire began as an idea in 2020. By mid-2022, we incorporated as a 501c(3) nonprofit and set up our board and infrastructure. Since then we’ve been testing the idea with artists and users and have built a large community of musicians, music advocates, and independent stakeholders.  Right now, we’re focused on building the app and securing content from artists. In short, the groundwork is laid – and with your Indiegogo support, we’re moving from planning into the launch preparation phase.

Yes, we’ve built an early-stage front-end mockup to give a preview of what Campfire will look like. While there's a lot to expand on, it demonstrates the core design and experience we’re aiming for. See it here: https://campfirev1.vercel.app. Your support will directly help us build a fully functioning v2, complete with artist dashboards, user functionality, social features, and community tools. This is the foundation we’ll build on to deliver a working platform for artists and listeners.

Your contribution will go directly toward building and launching the next version of the Campfire platform. This includes developing the streaming app and website, securing music licensing for independent artists, and covering essential operational costs like servers, bandwidth, and administration. Additionally, your support will help compensate the team working on the project. Up to now, Campfire has been entirely volunteer-run, and your funding allows us to work full-time and move the project forward.

Our primary strategy focuses on direct licensing with independent artists and select independent labels. We’re actively inviting independent musicians and ethical labels to join Campfire and are building a simple submission portal where artists can easily upload music and create profiles. Because we offer better pay and direct access to your fanbase, we have been seeing strong interest on our artist beta signup. We’re also targeting key scenes to build catalog depth community by community.

We will grow our user base by working with independent artists who bring their audiences with them. We are also partnering with local venues, festivals, radio stations, and music publications to reach listeners, as well as select large artists who control their music rights. We will launch in specific communities where we already have relationships, then expand as word spreads. Our focus is on fans of independent music who are looking for better discovery tools and more direct access to artists.

Campfire is led by a core team with backgrounds in streaming technology, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, music, and public policy. The Board includes independent artists, music advocates, and professionals with industry experience. We also work with legal, strategic, and licensing advisors. The project began with college students and has since grown into a structured organization with national partners and mentors, including Music Policy Forum, KEXP, Internet Security Research Group, and others.

Yes. Campfire Music Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 88-3475249 and we are based out of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Our status is active and in good standing with state and federal agencies. The IRS-approved mission is to advance art, music, education, and the creative interests of musicians by lowering the technological, monetary, and educational barriers to success in the music industry through a nonprofit, public-benefit digital music streaming platform.

No. Campfire will not use advertising as part of its revenue model. We are funded by user subscriptions and donations. Users will not hear or see ads while using the platform. Users will get limited functionality and the ability to listen to a certain number of set songs before being required to sign up for a subscription.

No, putting your music on Campfire is not exclusive. Artists are free to distribute their music on any other platform. We are working with some artists to release original content that is only available on Campfire to help drive user interest, but participation in those releases is optional. There are no exclusivity requirements to upload music to Campfire.

Our financial model is built on a 50/50 revenue split. Half will come from user subscriptions, and the other half from philanthropic support including foundations, arts organizations, public grants, and individual donors. This approach provides stability and allows us to prioritize artist payouts and platform maintenance without relying on advertising or investor capital.

Artists will sign up through a submission portal on our website. They will create a profile, upload their music, and confirm they hold the rights to the content. There is no cost to join. Before launch, interested artists can join our waitlist or reach out directly to our team.

Campfire is a nonprofit platform that uses a user-centric payment model. Instead of pooling revenue across all streams, each user’s subscription is distributed proportionally to the artists they listen to. We focus on independent music and avoid algorithms that promote major label content. Campfire is designed to benefit artists and listeners, not shareholders.

Yes. Campfire will include features that let artists generate income beyond streaming. This includes offering exclusive access to early releases, selling merchandise, and sharing links to ticketed events or crowdfunding campaigns. Artists will be able to connect directly with fans and customize their profiles to promote additional revenue streams. Campfire will not take a cut from these direct support tools.

We will launch Campfire in phases, beginning with a closed beta in communities where we have existing artist relationships. Feedback from beta users will inform improvements before we open the platform to the public. Our focus is on high-retention rollouts within specific scenes to build stability and test functionality before scaling.

We use a user-centric model. Each user’s subscription is divided based on their listening habits. Artists are paid in proportion to how much each user listens to their music. We provide transparent reporting and do not take a profit margin. Our operating costs are capped at 7.5 to 10 percent.

We require all uploaded music to be submitted by rights holders. Artists must confirm they own or control the rights to their content. We will use content ID systems to flag unauthorized uploads and will remove infringing material promptly. We also maintain appropriate licenses to pay composers, songwriters, and publishers through mechanical and performance royalties.

Yes. Users will be able to follow artists, share playlists, and engage with posts. Artists can share updates, promote events, and post media. We are also developing features that support local show promotion and fan engagement. Community tools will be built to support artist visibility and listener interaction.

We will launch first in the United States, where our licensing is currently based. International expansion will follow as we secure rights and legal coverage in other territories. Artists from any country can join the platform at launch, but listener access may be limited by region during early stages.