The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has published a new open letter and public petition in support of their 100 Percent Venues campaign, which is aiming to end the 'onerous and outdated' commission fees still being imposed by some live music venues on artists selling merchandise.
FAC, who represent the rights and interests of music artists, first launched the campaign back in January 2022 by opening a public database of venues that charge zero percent commission on merch sales. Hundreds of venues ranging from grassroots music spaces to 1,000+ capacity rooms - including KOKO, Troxy and the Barbican in London, SWX in Bristol and Liverpool’s Olympia - have since made the pledge.
Today (12 July), FAC has ramped up the pressure on those venues 'who persist in implementing punitive policies that take up to 25% of artists’ revenues (+ VAT)' when their merch is sold at live shows by publishing a new open letter and public petition.
FAC say that these 'onerous and outdated' commission rates are making live touring unsustainable - 'especially in the midst of the current cost of living crisis, which has significantly increased the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'.
Signed by more than 60 industry bodies and businesses, including the Musicians’ Union, Music Venues Trust and PRS for Music, as well as Kevin Brennan MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music, today’s open letter is urging those venues who 'persist on imposing unfair business practices' to start making changes.
FAC has proposed the wide-scale adoption of four principles: 'support acts must never be subject to commission charges on merchandise sales', 'artists should be offered the option to staff and operate merchandise operations at their own shows', 'there must be no surprises for artists regarding commission rates when they get to the venue - rates must be agreed up front' and that 'every show must be open to negotiation on merchandise commissions'.
Artists, fans and music industry professionals are also being encouraged to sign FAC's 'Let artists keep their merchandise money' petition.
'FAC’s 100% Venues campaign has already received huge support from many venues, artists and fans,' FAC CEO David Martin said in a statement. 'We are now calling on all music lovers to sign our new petition calling for further change. 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.
'Ironically, it is when artists step up to play bigger venues, and the moment their costs and opportunities increase, that the most crippling fees kick in. In many instances, venues have sold on or outsourced their merchandising rights to a third-party - meaning that fees appear “baked in” to hire costs, with little room for negotiation.
'It is these outdated contractual terms that we now intend to address, but, if every UK venue implemented the four pragmatic principles outlined in today’s open letter it would mark a significant step forward.'
