Leah Marlene's post-American Idol plan: Patreon

Leah Marlene

Leah Marlene, who came in second place on American Idol, seemed upset when 19Recordings/BMG signed several of her fellow finalists to record deals but not her. But by starting a Patreon Page, the singer-songwriter is now fully embracing her status as a completely independent artist.

The Normal, Illinois-born singer wrote to her fans on her Instagram page, "HELLO FRIENDS!!! I have been completely blown away by how much our community has grown in the last year. This Patreon page is just an extension of the beautiful relationship we already have.

Patreon lets artists charge monthly subscription fees in exchange for new music, exclusives, pre-sales on concert tickets, access to the artist, and MORE. Leah says that the page is a way for her to share new music, raise money for her career, and bring people together.

"My Patron will be the place where I share all of my exclusive music with my fans. It's a chance for us to get to know each other better, but it's also a chance for you to meet other people and make friends."

"I'm a completely independent artist, which means I pay for my musical career out of my own money. I have big plans and dreams for the next steps in my career, but to do them right, I will have to spend a lot of money from my own bank account.

Leah says, "Your monthly donation, no matter how big or small, is very important to me as I move forward in my career." From the top, bottom, and all sides of my heart, thank you for thinking about giving me money to help me with my music.

Add Block

Leah is still working on her new Patreon page. "...its packages will always change based on what you tell me about how I can best meet your needs. I hope that you find that the community connection and exclusives you get as a patron are worth the money you spend.

I can't wait to connect with you all on this platform in a deeper, more meaningful way. Woohoo!!” She looks VERY IMPRESSED! Leah writes in a comment next to the post, "MY PATREON IS NOW UP AND RUNNING! Join by August 31 and I'll send you a fun little gift in the mail."

Leah wrote a heartfelt Instagram post last month about how she felt about being let go after American Idol. She said, "I feel very misunderstood by the industry, and it has made me question everything about who I am and what I want.

I love my friends so much and am so happy and proud to see them doing well after the show, but in my own selfish little world, the comparison game has made these few months even harder.