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Amanda Palmer Goal :$100,000 Pledged :$1,192,793 Singer/songwriter Amanda Palmer spent four years writing a record and putting her band together. Formerly part of the Dresden Dolls duo, Palmer broke away from a major record label to do her own thing. The album, supported by Kickstarter , was the first million-dollar music project on the platform. It debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Charts a few months later. Image courtesy of Shervin Lainez

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Crowdfunding has become a popular way to introduce products to people directly and raise awareness on important issues. Consumers no longer have to wait for a brand to innovate a product. Instead, they're finding simple solutions themselves and bringing it straight to consumers.

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Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter have revived artists, democratized space exploration and helped make the world a better, greener place. These 10 Kickstarter projects may not all have been huge monetary successes, but each made a distinct impact.

What Kickstarter project was your favorite from 2012? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shervin Lainez

This story originally published on Mashable here .