PONO'S POWER PLAY

As we noted earlier this week, PonoMusic's digital music player and platform were created by Neil Young and partners to deliver a higher quality listening experience for audiophiles and hardcore music fans. It turns out the fans are ready to peel for the experience.

The team launched a Kickstarter campaign this week to fund the project, and reached their goal of $800k (intended to be achieved within 35 days, in their first day). With 33 days left, they have already earned a whopping $2m with 6k backers (and rising). Per Kickstarter's rules, Young and company will keep all money generated after the goal is passed. With only required minimums for prizes and no maximums, who knows how many millions this could rake in?

The campaign offers fans limited edition Signature Series PonoPlayers from an array of artists including Young himself, Tom Petty, Pearl Jam, Beck and others. All of Pearl Jam, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Young’s signature players have sold-out with 500 backers each at $400 or more a pop.

Depending on the amount of money contributed, other rewards include t-shirts, stickers, “Founders Club” memberships, Neil Young signed posters, first edition players and more. Big spenders who drop 5k or more a VIP dinner and listening party hosted by Young, along with an overnight stay at the Ritz Carlton. This final prize has also sold-out with a total of 30 backers.

A video testimonial for the project is filled to the brim with some of the biggest names in the biz, all giddily gushing like the sound geeks that they are. David Crosby of CSNY says the triangular device has “the best sound I’ve ever heard in a car, ever in my life. As a matter of fact, it may be some of the best sound I’ve ever heard.”

"That blew me away," declared Sir Elton John. "It was like being in a recording studio. When we were listening to Bob Dylan, you could hear him playing harmonica right next to you. You could hear the drums and the backing vocals on ‘Respect’ by Aretha. I haven’t heard a sound like that since vinyl, and it’s so impressive and so brilliant to hear.”

Much more praise was eagerly emitted from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons, Petty, Jack White, Charlie Musselwhite, Patti Smith, Warner Bros’ Rob Cavallo, Warner/Chappell’s John Platt, producer/musicians T-Bone Burnett, Rick Rubin, Don Was, among countless other musical luminaries.