I think Allen Lowe could best address this, but unless you have a label sign you and advance the costs of making the recording, they either have to raise the money themselves or use apps like GoFundMe. The one time I made a gift to support a musician who was planning a recording resulted in a CD that was never made. I wasn't mad, because he threw a liner note assignment my way and interviewed the artist for me, making my work rather easy.
I have been told more than once that "nobody's buying CDs" by artists, although I spend a few thousand dollars each year for ones that I don't get as promos.