Calabash Music has come up with a neat idea for funding struggling (some more than others) musicians. They leverage the power of social networking online by allowing you to listen to and purchase tunes from up and coming artists struggling to produce new projects and albums. Using the Tune Your World web site you can search for new artists around the globe and purchase their clips online. 
Your funds are sent directly to the artist to support the launch of new music projects.
Tune Your World operates on a people-to-people model: Musicians obtain funding for their recordings without giving up ownership or control and Fan / Sponsors are able to feel a personal connection with a music project and can get progress updates from musicians. Instead of buying music via a distribution network that prevents most of your money from getting to the artist, peer-to-peer microfunding lets you sponsor small amounts directly to a particular musician.
