PledgeMusic

PledgeMusic

An example PledgeMusic campaign.
Slogan(s)	Music As It Happens
Website	http://www.pledgemusic.com/

PledgeMusic is an online direct-to-fan music platform, launched in August 2009, that facilitates musicians reaching out to their fanbase (termed Pledgers) to pre-sell, market, and distribute music projects including recordings, music videos, and concerts. Broadly speaking it bears some similarities to such platforms as ArtistShare, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Patreon, RocketHub and Sellaband.

PledgeMusic considers itself a direct-to-fan platform as opposed to a crowdfunding website. Features of PledgeMusic that distinguish it from other crowdfunding systems include that it:

PledgeMusic allows two distinct types of campaigns: direct-to-fan and preorder. In direct-to-fan campaigns, fans are not charged until the project target is reached, at which point money is collected in an "artist account" that holds the money for disbursement to the intended recipients. If a target is not reached, fans are not charged. In preorder campaigns, fans are charged immediately, and the artist is paid directly upon project completion, much like traditional online retail.

PledgeMusic is reported to have a 90% campaign success rate (higher than Kickstarter or Indiegogo), with most artists raising an average 140% of their goal.

Various PledgeMusic albums have achieved significant chart success, including:

More than 30 PledgeMusic artists have been subsequently signed to major or independent label recording contracts.

PledgeMusic artists have the option of donating a percentage of their total or post-goal revenue to a charity of their choice. Currently, 67% of projects are linked with a charity. Artists without a cause in mind are able to meet with the company's charity outreach specialist to pair them up with charities.

PledgeMusic Recordings and PledgeMusic Publishing are both affiliated companies providing the traditional services of a record label and a publishing company to select Artists.

PledgeMusic and the following companies have entered into commercial partnerships to provide more integrated services to Artists:

PledgeMusic has partnered with the Hotel Cafe for SXSW 2011 and 2012.

PledgeMusic has hosted showcases with CMJ.

PledgeMusic was nominated for the 2010 BT Digital Music Awards in the category "Best Innovation or Gadget".

While discussing the Digital Economy Bill Lord Errol, in the UK House of Lords, has described PledgeMusic as a "rather clever idea" in the context of new ways of releasing music.