Despite Record Ticket Prices, Only 17% of Artists Report Increased Gig Fees

12 July 2024

According to a survey of 1,700 artists, 54% have reported no change in gig fees, while 29% reported a decrease.

PIRATE.COM recently surveyed 1,700 UK artists from their community about the cost of playing live. Respondents included band members, solo artists, and DJs.
While 86% of artists noted an increase in ticket prices when gigging, only 17% have seen an increase in gig fees.
Additionally, 72% of artists made no profit on their most recent tour, with travel expenses and accommodation putting the most pressure on their finances.
Despite these challenges, only 20% of artists believe gigging and touring are less significant for promoting their music.
Those who view live performances as less important are focusing on enhancing their social media presence and strategic marketing on streaming platforms.

A new report from PIRATE.COM, surveying over 1,700 band members, solo artists, and DJs, reveals that despite record-high ticket prices for gigs and festivals in the UK, the majority of artists are not seeing a corresponding increase in gig fees or touring profits.

David Martin, CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), recently coined the term “cost-of-touring crisis”. PIRATE.COM’s research underscores this crisis, revealing that 88% of touring musicians reported rising costs, with none reporting a decrease. Consequently, 72% of these artists are not making any profit from their tours—48% break even, and 24% operate at a loss. Among those incurring losses, 81% reported a significant impact on their overall income.

Presented with this new research from PIRATE.COM, David Martin highlighted the responsibility of the new government in tackling this crisis:

“This research reconfirms what the Featured Artists Coalition has been saying for some time; artists are facing a cost-of-touring crisis. In May, Parliament’s Culture Select Committee agreed with us, demanding action from the industry to ensure that artists are directly funded, enabling them to develop and grow our sector. Ultimately, if artists can’t afford to play live, there is no live industry. The new government must take steps to action the Committee’s recommendations.”

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition

Rising touring expenses, including travel, accommodation, venue fees, crew wages, food, drink, and promotion, are well-known. PIRATE.COM's survey shows that gigging is equally financially draining. Only 26% of artists profit from gigs, compared to 29% from touring. Just 17% have seen an increase in gig fees, while 54% report stagnant fees and 29% have seen a decrease. For most artists, gig fees barely cover travel costs, indicating a broader cost-of-performing crisis.

Papaya Noon, a duo from Cardiff, have been performing their funky, soulful music in venues across the UK since 2021. Though they can report critical success, even counting Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliot among their fans, they mostly play for a financial loss:

“Gig fees have varied so much for us, but the cost of rehearsing, paying musicians, and travelling has increased, so we're mostly at a loss when we play. Musicians are being taken advantage of because we do it for the love of it, which is a shame.”

Papaya Noon, Band

Urma, also from Wales, is only eighteen months into her DJing career. She thinks a big part of the problem is artists’ inability to negotiate fees:

“One of the biggest obstacles to a decent fee is that no one speaks about what they're paid and people don't know how to negotiate.”

Urma, DJ

Moreover, 86% of surveyed artists noted an increase in gig ticket prices - over which they have no control - with 54% reporting a 10-25% rise and 32% observing a 25-50% hike. Yet, 71% of artists felt that these higher prices did not translate into a better show experience for fans.

While ticket price inflation isn’t translating into better pay for artists, their costs are rising, creating an almost impossible situation for musicians. Even those doing well enough to book a headline tour aren’t making money. The harsh reality is that fewer artists can afford to play live at all, with 54% stating they were less likely to tour again after making a loss. PIRATE.COM’s founder warns that this could have a detrimental impact on the UK’s vibrant music scene:

“If the cost-of-touring crisis isn’t addressed, we can expect to see a real impact on the industry at large, where the most exciting new acts are forced to stay at home.”

David Borrie, CEO and co-founder, PIRATE.COM

Artists taking a pragmatic approach to the cost of touring said they’d be looking at playing smaller venues with lower overhead costs, co-headlining tours to split costs with other acts, shortening tours, as well as looking for additional revenue streams from sponsorships and merchandise sales. However, 36% of artists said they were likely to focus on local gigs instead of extended tours.

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Survey: Only 17% of artists report higher gig fees despite record ticket prices | PIRATE.COM

New data shows a troubling trend in the UK music industry: despite record-high ticket prices, most artists aren't seeing increased gig fees or touring profits.