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US musicians join #MyMerch campaign to end venue fees on merch sales

The US-based Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) is joining the UK’s Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) in calling for an end to the mech fees charged artists to sell. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2022/11/us-musicians-join-mymerch-campaign-to-end-venue-fees-on-merch-sales

,   and  Bruce Houghton
Union of musicians and allied workers emblem featuring musical notes, hands, and laurel wreaths, symbolizing solidarity and s
A graphic logo representing the union of musicians and allied workers, highlighting music industry advocacy, solidarity, and collective action among music professionals.

The US-based Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) is joining the UK’s Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) in calling for an end to the mech fees charged artists to sell the merch at gigs.

"Black T-shirt with red '100' emoji and a no scissors icon, indicating no cutting or editing allowed".

Most venues, festivals, and promoters take a cut of merch sales at their shows that can range from 10% to 35%. While some provide sellers, most only offer an area to sell.

“This is an exploitative practice that interferes with one of the few ways fans can directly support artists in this challenging economic climate, and it must stop,” declared the UMAW.

The campaign calls on venues, festivals, and promoters to sign up as 100% Venues that take no cut of sales. They can register here.

So far, about 75 North American venues have taken the pledge. See the full list here.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.

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