It's Time to Stand Up for Artists Against Unfair 10-25% Merchandise Sales Commission

Ever been to a concert and picked up a band tee or a cool piece of merch? Yeah, me too. But here's the kicker: many live venues are taking a slice of the performers' merch sales. And it's not just a small slice, it's a big chunk that's leaving artists struggling to break even.

The Real Deal

So, here's the lowdown. Bands are stating to speak out, like Wednesday who supported Beach Bunny at the Fox Theater in Oakland. The staff at the Oakland venue were unyielding, insisting on taking a cut from the band's merchandise sales that night. Karly Hartzman, Wednesday's lead singer, expressed her frustration, stating;

"Their merch cut was really inflexible. It's pretty disheartening to see someone so eager to take $300 from an opening act. The main act was already bringing in substantial revenue, so taking more from a band that was barely covering their costs seemed excessive."

Artists Speaking Up

Artists aren't staying silent. Jeff Rosenstock, Tomberlin, and others have hit up Twitter previously and shared their experiences and calling out venues.

Time To Stop Charging Artists Commission On Merch At Venues

Can we do this for music artists selling merch at venues? Can we change the game and stop charging artists? They make enough from bar takings which only happen because there's a band playing in the first place. Do artists get a cut of that? No, of course not. All the more reason to stop being cutthroat with 10-25% on merch sales.

Let's Fix This

This is a serious matter. Artists deserve better. Venues need to rethink how they handle merch and make sure artists get a fair deal.

So, what's the solution? Simple. Let's establish fair policies, let's support our artists, and let's make the industry a better place.

Wrapping Up

I've been working on FanCircles, helping artists connect directly with their fans and generate income. And this whole merch cut situation? It doesn't sit right with me. I'm all about empowering artists and making sure they get what they deserve. If this makes sense to you, let's change the tune and give artists the support they need.