DES MOINES, IOWA (August 26, 2020) — Tikly, a graduate of Des Moines’ StartUpCity initiative, is doubling down on its efforts to support musicians and organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic through a free tool called the “Virtual Tip Jar.”
The new feature allows musicians and creators to set up an account to accept funds from fans and supporters to provide a critical source of revenue while most in-person shows are paused due to the pandemic. The tool is completely free to use and Tikly does not receive any revenue from it.
Married to a musician herself, founder and CEO Emma Walsmith was compelled to support the music ecosystem as they navigate these tough times.
“Knowing firsthand how my husband Jason Walsmith and his band The Nadas have been impacted by the pandemic, I knew we had to do something to help the industry,” said Walsmith. “We created a tool that enables artists to continue to make music and still receive income for virtual shows. Our goal is to not only provide a way to receive funds, but also an opportunity for musicians to continue to connect with fans and build their brand.”
Musicians, venues, and community organizations are able to utilize the “Virtual Tip Jar” by simply setting up a free account on Tikly at go.tikly.co/register.
“I have literally been singing for my supper since the pandemic hit and shut down music venues,” said Jason Walsmith, co-founder of Iowa band The Nadas. “Tikly created a unique solution to help artists realize revenue from virtual shows. It has helped me and my band incredibly, and I hope other artists take advantage of this free online tool.”
Tikly, a woman-owned business, was founded in 2011 as a seller-focused, buyer-friendly online ticketing solution. Since then Tikly has sold tickets in all 50 states and five countries. Ranging from music shows to large-scale events like the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, Tikly specializes in general admission ticket sales, tiered ticketing, VIP experiences, direct to fan ticket sales, merchandise pre-sales and the acceptance of donations in advance of an event. For more information, visit tikly.co.
