PledgeMusic Co-Founder Benji Rogers is returning to the struggling crowdfunder as a volunteer strategic advisor and observer to the board. PledgeMusic has come under fire over the last six months for widespread late payments and non-payments to artists.
“I have seen first hand how tirelessly the team, management and board have been working to right the ship,” Rogers wrote in a new open letter to the industry, “and that is why I have agreed to help where I can. “
With the announcement that Rogers was returning to Pledge came early plans to correct the problems.
“all funds coming in from now on
will be managed by an independent third party”
A specific plan to pay artist currently owed funds appears to be in the offing. “The first priority for the company is to sort the back payments issue as every penny that is owed to artists needs to get to them in the fastest possible time,: said Rogers. “A more detailed plan will be shared with the community shortly.”
In an attempt to calm fears of current and future crowdfunders, PledgeMusic is promising that all funds coming in from now on will be managed by an independent third party, to be named soon. “The specifics of this will be detailed in the aforementioned forthcoming announcement.”
“The PledgeMusic community of fans and artists have always been its lifeblood and are also therefore its future,” wrote Rogers. “I will do all in my power to help the team bring this to a successful conclusion for the artists and fans as quickly as is possible. I am deeply sorry to those of you who have been affected by this.”