Live Nation extends On the Road Again initiative
Live Nation’s On the Road Again initiative will continue throughout 2024, it has been confirmed.
Created with music legend Willie Nelson, the scheme was launched last year and has delivered tens of millions of dollars in extra earnings to club artists and crew in the US and Canada.
For every show played in an On The Road Again venue, each headliner and support act receives $1,500 in petrol and travel cash on top of nightly performance compensation. Additionally, artists keep 100% of merchandise profits as On the Road Again clubs do not charge merch selling fees.
“Our goal was to make touring a little easier and we’ve accomplished that night after night for over 4,000 artists, with more on the way,” says Willie Nelson.
“Supporting club artists strengthens the future of music”
On The Road Again has already assisted more than 4,000 artists, with the programme also having rolled out new minimum wages for club staff.
“We’re proud to keep On The Road Again rolling strong,” adds Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino. “Supporting club artists strengthens the future of music.”
All benefits from On the Road Again are being provided directly from the venue’s existing earnings, with no increases to customers.
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Live Nation increases minimum wage at club venues
Live Nation’s On the Road Again programme is rolling out new minimum wages for staff at clubs across the United States and Canada.
Moving forward, base pay for hourly club staff will start at $20/hour, while supervisor roles will start at $25/hour.
The new base wages are over 250% higher than the federal minimum wage, and also exceed the highest state minimum wages. The increases will impact more than 5,000 crew members, including box office attendants, production crew, artist hospitality, guest services, ushers, parking attendants, cleaning crews and sustainability coordinators.
“Shows wouldn’t happen without the unsung heroes who work in the background to help support artists and fans,” says Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino. “In addition to developing artists, clubs also help industry professionals learn the ropes, and many of our promoters and venue managers worked their way up from smaller venues.
“The live music industry is on track for years of growth and offers a great career path, and by increasing minimum wages we’re helping staff get an even stronger start as they begin their journey in live.”
All headline and support acts playing LN clubs will continue to receive $1,500 in travel bonuses on top of nightly compensation and 100% of merch profits
Created with music legend Willie Nelson, the On the Road Again initiative is projected to deliver tens of millions of dollars in extra earnings to club artists and crew.
All headline and support acts playing Live Nation clubs will continue to receive $1,500 in travel bonuses on top of nightly compensation and 100% of merch profits through the scheme, which launched earlier this year.
LN said that benefits from On the Road Again are being provided directly from the venues’ existing earnings, with no increases to consumers.
However, the initiative drew criticism from the US’ National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which argued that it appeared “to be a calculated attempt” by the promoter to steer business away from independent venues.
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Live Nation drops merch commission at club venues
Live Nation is dropping merchandise commission at its North American club venues as part of a new programme designed to make it easier for emerging artists to tour.
Created with music legend Willie Nelson, the On the Road Again initiative is projected to deliver tens of millions of dollars in extra earnings to club artists and crew.
As well as letting artists keep 100% of merch profits, all LN clubs will provide $1,500 (€1,425) in petrol and travel cash per show to all headliners and support acts – on top of nightly performance compensation – as part of the scheme, which is also donating $5 million (€4.75m) to global relief fund Crew Nation to support crew across the industry.
“Touring is important to artists so whatever we can do to help other artists, I think we should do it,” says Nelson. “This programme will impact thousands of artists this year and help make touring a little bit easier.”
The dozens of participating venues include The Wiltern in Los Angeles, New York’s Irving Plaza, Austin’s Scoot Inn, Shelter in Detroit and Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, Canada.
“We want to do everything we can to support artists at all levels on their touring journey, especially the developing artists in clubs”
LN says that benefits from On the Road Again are being provided directly from the venues’ existing earnings, with no increases to consumers.
“Delivering for live artists is always our core mission,” says Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino. “The live music industry is continuing to grow and as it does, we want to do everything we can to support artists at all levels on their touring journey, especially the developing artists in clubs. Like Willie says, this is all about making it a little easier for thousands of artists to continue doing what they love: going out and playing for their fans.”
Across the pond, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) recently ramped up the pressure on UK venues that charge commission on merchandise sales at gigs.
The FAC launched the 100% Venues scheme – a public directory of music venues that charge zero commission on the sale of merchandise – in 2022 in a bid to address the “outdated and unfair” practice at gigs, which it says is making live touring “unsustainable”, especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis.
In an open letter signed by more than 60 industry bodies and businesses, the FAC urged venues not currently participating to start making change
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