You can connect with fans in numerous ways. I’ve seen games made, if you beat the game you get the link for the artists album. I also saw someone on youtube offering all of his unreleased music in exchange for any amount of money donated to his patreon. A lot of people are against this idea. Giving fans control of the amount. Even though this example was unreleased music, imagine if it was an amazing album that you put everything you had into and then someone gives you 1$. What a feeling that would be.
My Thoughts 