Touring musician Jeff Rosenstock has recently shed light on the excessive cuts taken by venues on his upcoming North American tour. Rosenstock highlighted the impact of these cuts on merch prices and criticized the corporations that control the touring industry.
In an Instagram post, Rosenstock shared a breakdown of the merch cuts being taken by the venues on his tour. He expressed his frustration at having to sell merchandise at higher prices due to these cuts, stating that he finds it unfair. He then turned his attention to major corporations like AEG and Live Nation, who he believes exploit artists by giving them a small share of the profits.
Rosenstock acknowledged the difficulty of avoiding these high cuts, especially since AEG and Live Nation have acquired many of the venues he performs at. However, he pledged to continuously strive to keep prices low for his fans. The artist called attention to some notable offenders, including Terminal 5 in New York City, 9:30 Club in DC, Roadrunner in Boston, The Masquerade in Atlanta, and Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, all of which take at least a 20% cut on merchandise sales.
In response to Rosenstock’s revelations, renowned musician Steve Albini stated that merch cuts are negotiable, drawing from his experience of never having paid them in his 40+ years in the industry. Albini urged artists to push back against their agents. Other musicians such as Car Seat Headrest, Helado Negro, Caracara, Sweet Pill, and equipment also shared their own experiences dealing with merch cuts.
Rosenstock’s tour is in support of his latest album, HELLMODE, and is scheduled to begin on September 6th in DC, running until December. Fans can purchase tickets for the tour.
This issue sheds light on the challenges faced by touring musicians and the influence exerted by major corporations in the industry. Artists are increasingly grappling with the need to charge higher merch prices due to venue cuts, potentially impacting their relationship with fans. The conversation sparked by Rosenstock’s Instagram post serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for fair compensation within the music industry.
