Malcolm Dunbar signs new deal with PledgeMusic

30 November 2016 - Press release

Malcolm Dunbar, Co-Founder of PledgeMusic, has signed a new long-term deal with the company. Under the deal, Dunbar will continue as President UK & Europe and will expand his role to include additional international duties, with the planned opening of further PledgeMusic offices across Continental Europe.
“Malcolm Dunbar has done an outstanding job of building and growing the vision for PledgeMusic in the UK and beyond,” stated CEO Dominic Pandiscia. “The partnerships he has developed and results delivered this year are remarkable. It’s been a privilege working with Malcolm and his team as we forge an incredible future for PledgeMusic and I look forward to continued success.”

Dunbar’s stewardship has led PledgeMusic to its most successful year ever in the UK and Europe, with frontline revenue growth in excess of 75% up on 2015. In September alone, pre-order campaigns with artists including Passenger, The Divine Comedy, Pixies, Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall and Marillion all charted in the top ten, with Passenger hitting the #1 spot. PledgeMusic was also the exclusive D2C pre-order platform for the release of Robbie Williams’ Heavy Entertainment Show, which entered the UK album chart at #1 in early November.
Speaking on this, Dunbar says:
“The PledgeMusic direct-to-fan model allows us to energetically contribute to the pre-order set up and marketing of chart acts, as well as enabling crowdfunding and supporting the development of new and emerging talent. Our community totals 3 million users and continues to grow. PledgeMusic is truly flourishing in the UK and Europe, the last 12 month period has seen double-digit growth.”
Growth has also been delivered via a dramatic increase in catalogue and box set campaigns, as well as specific industry-based initiatives. The PRS For Music International Showcase Fund and The Emerging Artist Fund (in partnership with Help Musicians UK) contributed to The Lottery Winners signing to Sire Records and stoked media interest in grime artist Elf-Kid in 2016. An on-going partnership with concert recording specialists Live Here Now has resulted in live albums by Bring Me The Horizon, The Orb, OMD, Killing Joke and Lloyd Cole, with all sales and marketing being handled by PledgeMusic.
This success comes on the back of significant changes at the company. 2015 saw the departure of then CEO Dave Hackett and Chairman Angus Donaldson, more active involvement of board member Russell Rieger, head of the entertainment division of Magna, which leads the largest group of shareholders of PledgeMusic and the appointment of CEO Dominic Pandiscia. Dunbar reports that “Dominic, Russell and Magna have brought a new level ambition to PledgeMusic with their entrepreneurial approach and support, deep industry ties, experience and knowledge of the U.S. market. PledgeMusic moves onwards and upwards under their guidance.”
Dominic Pandiscia was President of Caroline, Capitol Music Group’s independent services division in the US market and has held a range of sales and marketing positions at EMI. Russell Rieger has held senior management positions at Madonna’s Maverick Records and London Records, and has been nominated for a Grammy.