Live Nation’s 2021 Plan Demands All Artists to Take 20 Percent Pay Cut
There's no question that the coronavirus has complete flipped the entertainment industry upside down this year. Between concert and festival cancelations, people have been laid off and furloughed from their jobs all throughout the business. Live Nation have come up with a new policy for concerts and festivals in 2021, which includes pay cuts for artists.
Rolling Stone shared the details outlined in a memo provided to talent agencies by Live Nation. The company plans to decrease the guarantee artists receive prior to a show by 20 percent. If concerts are canceled due to a lack of ticket sales, artists only receive 25 percent of the guarantee, instead of the 100 percent they typically get. Additionally, if an artist cancels a show for a reason that violates their agreement, they must pay the promoter two times their own fee.
Read the full memo below.
The global pandemic has changed the world in recent months and with it the dynamics of the music industry. We are in unprecedented times and must adequately account for the shift in market demand, the exponential rise of certain costs and the overall increase of uncertainty that materially affects our mission. In order for us to move forward, we must make certain changes to our agreements with the artists. The principle changes for 2021 are outlined below.
Artist Guarantees: Artist guarantees will be adjusted downward 20% from 2020 levels.
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices are set by the promoter, at the promoter’s sole discretion, and are subject to change.
Payment Terms: Artists will receive a deposit of 10% one month before the festival, contingent on an executed agreement and fulfillment of marketing responsibilities. The balance, minus standard deductions for taxes and production costs, will be paid after the performance.
Minimum Marketing Requirements: All artists will be required to assist in marketing of the festival through minimum social media posting requirements outlined in artist offer.
Streaming requirements: All artists will be required to allow their performance to be filmed by the festival for use in a live television broadcast, a live webcast, on-demand streaming, and/or live satellite radio broadcast.
Billing: All decisions regarding “festival billing” are at the sole discretion of the promoter.
Merchandise: Purchaser will retain 30 % of Artist merchandise sales and send 70% to the artist within two weeks following the Festival.
Airfare and Accommodations: These expenses will be the responsibility of the artist.
Sponsorship: The promoter controls all sponsorship at the festival without any restrictions, and artists may not promote brands onstage or in its productions.
Radius Clause. Violation of a radius clause without the festival’s prior authorization in writing will, at the festival’s sole discretion, result in either a reduction of the artist fee or the removal of the artist from the event, with any pre-event deposits returned to the festival immediately.
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