I personally believe that if an artist is truly turning over a new leaf, that the new actions they're taking will speak for themselves. Showing that they're currently doing well will do all the work necessary to wipe the slate clean, as it were.

IMO, artists should be able to own up to past mistakes, not hide them. That immediately sets off alarm for me, since this is MUCH too often used as a way to avoid previous owed commissions and poor reputations, etc etc.