Musicians’ Earnings Remain Stagnant Despite Higher Ticket Prices

A new survey reveals concerning stats about what is traditionally most musicians’ top income source: performing live. Despite higher ticket prices, most Musicians’ earnings remain stagnant.

by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0

Ticket and drink prices are higher than ever before, but musicians aren’t feeling the increase in their pockets, according to a survey by Pirate. It’s probably no surprise, but it’s never been more difficult to make money from gigging and it looks like that’s not going to get any better soon.

Musicians’ Earnings Remain Stagnant

Pirate surveyed 1,700 band members, solo artists, and DJs and found that 54% reported no change in gig fees over the past years, while 29% reported a decrease. What’s worse, it also found that 72% of these artists are not making any profit from their tours, as 48% break even and 24% operate at a loss. As you would expect, 81% reported a significant impact on their overall income.

Only 26% of artists actually profit from gigs, while 29% say they make money from touring. In terms of getting paid from a venue for a gig, only 17% of artists have seen an increase, while 54% report stagnant fees, and 29% have seen a decrease. Most report that after subtracting all the costs, there’s nothing left at the end, meaning that you’ve played the gig for nothing. Travel and accommodation were reported as the biggest touring costs, but other significant costs include venue fees, crew wages, food and drink, and promotion. 

Musicians Just Want A Gig

I don’t think anyone can be surprised by these figures. Venues are in a bind because of the rising cost of rent and insurance, not to mention staff payment and supples. Of course, they pass those costs onto the consumer. Musicians and bands never raise their fees because most are just too happy to be playing in front of people. For every band and solo act that demands more, there are 10 more who will play for less and even for free.

Then you have the fact that the current batch of prime club-goers aren’t drinking alcoholic drinks as much as their parents or even older brothers and sisters did. Clubs and venues everywhere make most of their profit off the bar, and if fewer are drinking, that means less revenue, which of course means less money to pay the musicians. 

As a result, the current state of affairs promises to get worse before it gets better. The Musician’s Union was thought to exist to be the equalizer when it came to gig prices, but they were rendered ineffective decades ago everywhere but in the largest cities. Considering that pay-to-play is so widespread these days, many musicians are all too happy to get paid at all, and that doesn’t bode well for the music industry of the future.[Photo: Rocco Caruso for Unsplash]

Bobby Owsinski is a producer/engineer, author, blogger, podcaster, and coach. He has authored 24 books on music production, music, the music business, music AI, and social media.