TLC‘s Kickstarter ended Thursday, raising more than $430,000 for the group’s fifth and final album.
That total is nearly three times their goal of $150,000 — a point they passed in just three days — thanks to the help of Katy Perry, New Kids on the Block and other excited fans. In all, 4,201 funders helped support this project.
TLC’s Chilli Talks Their Kickstarter-Funded Final Album: ‘We Have to Involve the Fans’
The group’s T-Boz and Chilli thanked its fans on Kickstarter in the campaigns final hours Wednesday night, saying, “Thank you to everyone who has donated to our final album!! The amount doesn’t matter but the fact that you donated means the world to us.”
The duo told fans last month after passing their fundraising goal that every dollar raised will go into the album. They wrote on Kickstarter, “The more funds that we raise means more access to the best producers, writers and talent in the business!!!”
Later, it was announced veteran producer/label executive Ron Fair — most recently Virgin’s chief creative officer — had signed on as executive producer for the project, suggesting some high-profile collaborations may be in the cards.
Veteran Producer Ron Fair to Exec-Produce TLC’s New Album
“The return of TLC is surrounded by incredible positivity,” Fair told Billboard. “The entire creative community of artists, producers and songwriters is invited to the celebration.”
Chilli also told Billboard that longtime collaborator Dallas Austin (who co-wrote the act’s breakthrough “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” as well as later hits “Creep” and “Unpretty”) will be involved. She said Ne-Yo — who penned its 2013 reunion track “Meant to Be” — will work with them if his schedule permits.
TLC will join New Kids on the Block and Nelly on the two month long “The Main Event” tour this spring, kicking it off at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.