Dick Clark once said that music is the soundtrack of our lives. This couldn’t be more true. Music binds us to everything we do.

Unfortunately, this once-thriving industry is experiencing all kinds of headaches due to advancing technology and a plummeting economy. Recording artists are forced to rely upon sites like MySpace and iTunes to get the word out about their music.

But what if they didn’t have to? CASH Music is working hard to give autonomy back to bands, singer-songwriters and rappers with its groundbreaking new software. With a downloadable code, an artist will have the tools to promote new releases, notify the public about their music and interact with listeners while making and monitoring sales without having to go through third parties. This is the future of music.

CASH Music partner Jesse von Doom and the organization’s board have partnered with top names in independent music to bring an unforgettable fundraiser to the public. For a small donation, fans of bands such as Deerhoof, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Dandy Warhols can bid on donated prizes by these acts. All proceeds go toward CASH’s many initiatives.

Von Doom was adamant on a raffle instead of an auction so that everyone would be able to participate.

“Anything cool that we could raise would sort of go to the people who wanted them,” he says. “Each artist [contributing to the raffle] was spoken with directly.”

Lucky winners can walk away with beautifully handwritten sheet music from Deerhoof's Offend Maggie or a vinyl bundle from MGMT, among other prizes. To enter, most of the prizes warrant a donation under $20.

Von Doom and company felt this was “sort of egalitarian.”

An added bonus to bidding? Well, aside from deducting your generosity from your taxes, each person who bids gets free music downloads from the associated artists. But act fast because prizes are awarded Nov. 1. Good luck!