Russian Circles Are Latest Band to Not Sell Merch at Show

The dialog across the share venues are taking from band’s merch gross sales continues to warmth up. Post-metal vets Russian Circles have change into the newest band to protest this difficulty by not promoting their merch at a present in Paris, France right this moment (March 22).

On Instagram, the band issued the next assertion, explaining that it was the venue’s resolution to contract somebody from a separate firm to promote the merch for the band that finally led to declining to promote something at the gig.

“As you are probably aware, merch sales are vital to keeping artists financially afloat while on tour. Venues often take a percentage of merch revenue from artists, and their rates have gotten higher in recent years. At tonight’s show in Paris, the venue has enlisted an outside company to sell artists’ merch,” the assertion begins.

Essentially, the venue is contracting out the function that’s usually occupied by a touring band’s personal designated merch individual. And with that, comes an additional share of the gross sales Russian Circles would have had to forsake.

“This company takes a 25 percent commission and withholds a 20 percent VAT tax,” the band, who final launched Gnosis in 2022, says of the monetary scenario, additional explaining, “Our options appear to be either raising our prices or losing money, so we’ve opted to not sell merch tonight. We apologize to our friends and fans in Paris who were hoping to grab a shirt or LP at the show, but we don’t want to partake in this arrangement with this company. If you want our merch, it is always available at Evil Greed. Thank you.”

READ MORE: New Trend? Another Metal Artist Refuses to Sell Merch at Show to Protest Venue Cuts

There’s a rising refrain of rock and metallic artists talking out concerning the rising share of merch income venues are swiping from bands. With inflation driving touring prices method up, it is elevated the danger issue for numerous bands, lots of whom already function on skinny margins. Even Anthrax had to cancel a whole European tour due to these surging prices, together with the value of tour buses doubling or tripling in some cases.

Earlier this month, Monuments protested the excessive share of merch cuts by refusing to promote something at their present in Athens, Greece. Shortly after, Igorrr made the identical resolution.

And earlier than all that, Architects illustrated simply how severe this difficulty is by suggesting bands go on strike over these “insane” merch cuts, probably the most excessive measure proposed so far.