"Why should it make a difference if that contribution is made before the CD is made, rather than afterwards?"

My earlier comments had to do simply with the question of the necessity of expensive vs. cheap recording, a bit of a side issue. I have no problem with crowdfunding a CD if someone wants to give it a try; I just don't think a person should feel that they can't record or publish until they've come up with ten thousand dollars one way or another.