Pirate Studios survey highlights increasingly unsustainable cost of playing live

Ticket prices for gigs and festivals have reached record highs but, for the vast majority of grassroots artists, these hikes aren’t translating into increased fees or profits. 

Having recently spoken to 1700 band members, solo artists, and DJs, Pirate Studios have found that gig fees haven’t increased for over half of those surveyed (54%), while over a quarter of respondents (29%) reported that their fees have actually decreased. The research also points out that these gig fees are before any of the artists’ costs - such as travel and food - are deducted, meaning that their actual take-home pay is often even less. 

It’s an issue that’s been widely reported on of late, with a recent Guardian article asserting that we are in the midst of a “cost of touring crisis”. 

Pirate Studios’ research backs up these findings, with 88% of respondents confirming that they’ve experienced an increase in the cost of touring; notably, none reported a decrease. This is predominantly due to the surge in price of touring necessities like travel and accommodation, but also because of many other outgoings such as venue fees, crew wages, food and drink, and promotion. Consequently, 72% of artists surveyed make no profit at all from their tours; 48% recoup their costs and break even, and 24% make a loss.