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Inside the Growing War Over Merch Fees at Venues: ‘Bands Are Getting Ripped Off’
Merch fees at venues: Artist reps claim bands are being ripped off, with some saying a 20% to 25% cut of sales is exorbitant, especially at clubs.
“Bands are getting ripped off,” says Barry Drinkwater, executive chairman of Global Merchandising Services, which handles merch for top metal acts such as Iron Maiden and Guns N’ Roses. Some small venues, still reeling from the pandemic, have expressed concern that Live Nation’s On the Road Again program might pressure them into following suit and giving up a crucial revenue source. In its 2023 financial report, Live Nation claimed “double-digit growth” in merch and concessions at the arenas it owns or operates, such as the Moody Center in Austin.
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