A group of UK-based music trade organizations and charities have launched a bid to support UK artists and businesses impacted by the collapse of D2C and e-commerce platform PledgeMusic.
The collective will use an ‘impact survey’ to better understand the scale of the fallout from the firm’s collapse and to help coordinate assistance to those facing difficulties.
The survey, hosted by the Musicians’ Union (MU), can be accessed here and closes at 12pm on Tuesday June 25.
As reported last month, PledgeMusic is headed into administration after it failed to find a buyer following a three month search, with estimates of what the company’s owes artists currently pinned at over $1 million.
Last month also saw music industry umbrella body UK Music’s CEO Michael Dugher call for a Government investigation into the failed business via a letter addressed to Small Business and Consumer Minister Kelly Tolhurst.
The latest action is being jointly promoted by UK Music, Music Managers Forum, Musicians’ Union, the Association of Independent Music, Help Musicians UK, PRS Foundation and International Showcase Fund partners, including British Underground, PRS Members’ Fund, the Music Producers Guild, The Ivor’s Academy, Featured Artists Coalition, Music Support, and the BPI.
The survey is also backed by UK band Jesus Jones, who used PledgeMusic to fund release of their album Voyages, and have subsequently helped spearhead the artist community’s reaction to the platform’s collapse.
“As a band who’ve been affected by the collapse of PledgeMusic, it’s really gratifying to see a strong industry-wide response taking place.”
Jesus Jones
Jesus Jones commented: “As a band who’ve been affected by the collapse of PledgeMusic, it’s really gratifying to see a strong industry-wide response taking place.
“As artists, as fans, as people who’ve come to realise the potential strength of crowdfunding, it’s vital that we all stand together, and rebuild confidence – and also seek to ensure that Pledge are held accountable for betraying such a vital bond of trust.”
“We urge all UK artists affected to fill out the survey, so the industry can work collectively to assess what next steps can be taken.”
Nicky Carder, Music Managers Forum
Nicky Carder from the Music Managers Forum said: “Since the announcement of the PledgeMusic bankruptcy, we have had numerous calls from members whose artists have been impacted.
“We urge all UK artists affected to fill out the survey, so the industry can work collectively to assess what next steps can be taken”
You can read the group of organizations’ joint statement below:
As organizations who want to see the music industry thrive, we are deeply disappointed that PledgeMusic has announced its bankruptcy leaving artists and fans out of pocket and with little communication or advice on how to deal with campaign disruption.
“The failure of PledgeMusic to appropriately ring-fence artist and fan money has the potential to damage artists’ careers and their relationships with fans and fellow creators if they can’t deliver on stalled campaigns.”
The failure of PledgeMusic to appropriately ring-fence artist and fan money has the potential to damage artists’ careers and their relationships with fans and fellow creators if they can’t deliver on stalled campaigns.
Individually, each of our organizations have been working hard to support our members during this difficult time.
However, in order to consider collective action we have launched an industry-wide survey to assess the impact of the PledgeMusic closure.Music Business Worldwide
