Live Nation has announced that its US clubs will no longer take a percentage of artists’ merch stand sales, allowing artists to keep 100% of the profits. This move is part of Live Nation’s “On the Road Again” program, which aims to support developing artists and crew at the club level. The program will also provide an extra $1,500 per show to cover fuel and travel expenses for acts playing at participating clubs. Live Nation’s decision comes as touring takes a significant toll on artists’ profits, and the company believes that by helping with these core expenses, they can support artists in performing for their fans in more cities across the country.
In addition to benefiting artists, Live Nation’s program extends to providing financial bonuses to local promoters, tour reps, and venue crew members. Furthermore, the program will donate $5 million to Live Nation’s Crew Nation relief fund, which supports crew members facing unforeseen hardship. Through these initiatives, Live Nation expects to deliver tens of millions of dollars in extra earnings to club artists and crew by the end of the year. This announcement comes after Live Nation’s impressive revenue growth, with its Q2 earnings report revealing a 27% year-on-year increase, totaling $5.6 billion. The company’s revenue from concerts alone reached $4.63 billion, ticketing brought in $709.3 million, and sponsorships and advertising generated $302.9 million.
Michael Rapino, President and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment, expressed that delivering for live artists is their core mission and that they want to do everything they can to support artists at all levels on their touring journey. By eliminating the percentage of merch profits taken by venues, Live Nation aims to make it a little easier for thousands of artists, especially developing artists in clubs, to continue doing what they love: performing for their fans. As Live Nation continues to grow along with the live music industry, their focus remains on supporting artists and ensuring that they can thrive in their careers.
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