Live Nation, the world’s largest live performance promoter, has introduced a brand new program to assist help touring musicians. The initiative known as On the Road Again, impressed by Willie Nelson’s basic 1980 single of the identical identify.
Beginning instantly, all artists enjoying at Live Nation-owned and -operated golf equipment – opening acts and headliners – will obtain a $1,500 fuel and journey money stipend per present, on prime of their already negotiated efficiency fee. Additionally, Live Nation’s venues will not cost artists charges for merchandise gross sales, a change which can probably put much more money into performers’ pockets.
“Touring is important to artists so whatever we can do to help other artists, I think we should do it,” Nelson famous (by way of Billboard). “This program will impact thousands of artists this year and help make touring a little bit easier.”
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Nelson additionally supplied “On the Road Again” because the official anthem for this system.
Who Benefits From the ‘On the Road Again’ Program?
Artists are essentially the most quick beneficiaries of the On the Road Again effort. While the $1,500 per present stipend will seize a variety of consideration, the elimination of merchandise gross sales charges might find yourself being the larger improve. Venues have routinely pocketed anyplace from 10% to 40% of an act’s merchandise gross sales income, crippling one of many few direct sources of revenue for artists.
In latest months, calls to get rid of merch charges have grown louder. In January, the Senate judiciary committee heard testimony concerning the apply and its detrimental results on artists’ livelihoods. Separately, the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers pushed the #MyMerch motion, calling the gross sales charges “an exploitative practice that interferes with one of the few ways fans can directly support artists in this challenging economic climate.”
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Live Nation’s On the Road Again program is an enormous win for touring acts, however the advantages stretch past the artists themselves.
According to Billboard, “On the Road Again includes financial bonuses to local promoters that help execute at shows as well as tour reps and venue crew members that have worked over 500 hours in 2023.”
“Touring is a crucial part of an artist’s livelihood, and we understand travel costs take one of the biggest bites out of artists’ nightly profits,” famous a press launch from Live Nation. “By helping with these core expenses, we aim to make it easier for artists on the road so they can keep performing to their fans in more cities across the country.”
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