In 1998 (a decade prior to Kickstarter) Momus and I conceived of "Stars Forever", in which 30 people commissioned song portraits for $1,000 each. This was the first crowdfunded album.
30 spots sold out in two weeks. This was prior to PayPal, so buyers had to send checks by mail. We called the concept 'Patronage Pop', and our patrons included individuals from the US, Europe, and Asia as well as record shops, Japanese pop star Cornelius, Rock Group the Minus 5, pop artist Jeff Koons, and an internet mailing list (whose 40 members chipped in $25 each).
You can hear the full album on Spotify or simply enjoy this audio overview:
"Stars Forever" garnered substantial press and hit the college radio Top 10. Furthering the concept on tour, audience members were invited to pay $10 for an "Instant Portrait."
Please enjoy this YouTube playlist of some of my favorites: