Featured Artists Coalition launch petition to end merchandise fees at gig venues

The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) – the UK body representing the rights and interests of music artists – has ramped up the pressure on venues who persist in implementing policies that take up to 25% of artists’ revenues when their physical merchandise is sold at live shows.

As outlined in a new open letter published today by the FAC, such commission rates are making live touring unsustainable - especially in the midst of the current cost of living crisis which has significantly increased the burden of costs faced by artists when performing at gigs and shows.

Following outcry from artists including Tim Burgess, Peter Hook, The Big Moon, Yard Act, New Pagans and Easy Life, the FAC launched the 100% Venues campaign in January 2022 - initially collating a public database of venues that take 0% of merchandise sales.

To date, hundreds have added their details to the database, ranging from grassroots venues through to 1,000+ capacity rooms - including KOKO, EARTH, Village Underground, the Electric Ballroom, Troxy and the Barbican in London, The Sage in Gateshead, Cardiff’s Tramshed, SWX in Bristol and Liverpool’s Olympia.

More than 60 industry bodies and businesses have signed the letter, including the Musicians’ Union, Music Venues Trust, Independent Venue Week, PRS for Music, the Ivors Academy, the Music Managers Forum, the Music Publishers Association, Hipgnosis Song Management, Help Musicians, Black Lives In Music, Red Light Management, the Association of Independent Promoters, the Association of Independent Festivals and ATC Live.

Jack Savoretti backs FAC's 100% Venues campaign as petition launches on artists' merch income https://t.co/PcdgH2UORC pic.twitter.com/eyDqtlXaWT

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Joining the long list of artists who have already spoken publicly about this issue, Steve Mason and Jack Savoretti have given their backing to the petition and the 100% Venues campaign.

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition, said: Since launching our campaign, awareness amongst fans and across the wider industry has increased about the devastating impact that onerous commission fees can have on the livelihoods of artists. Fans in particular have become aware that money they thought was being used to support their favourite artist is in some cases spent on punitive commission fees. In many cases, the money made from merchandise sales is crucial to keeping shows on the road.

“The current cost of touring is higher than ever before. Everyone is struggling with rising costs, and especially solo musicians who must pay a band," says Steve Mason. The one income that all artists rely on to make a worthwhile profit is the sale of merchandise in the venue before and after a show. Certain venues appear to now be refusing to allow us to sell merchandise without handing over up to 50% of the profit. This is completely unworkable and will cause the majority of artists to think long and hard about the costs of touring."