Verlust von Merchandising- und Nebenerlösen durch schlecht verhandelte Auftrittsverträge

Definition

Standard live performance contracts used in Australia explicitly grant artists the right to sell merchandise before, during and after the performance without paying a cut to the hirer, highlighting that this is a negotiable commercial term.[6] Industry guidelines for performance agreements recommend documenting cover charges, venue capacity and fee‑per‑paying‑customer arrangements, which directly affect door‑split income.[2][4] When such clauses are absent or poorly negotiated, venues may retain a larger portion of door revenue or charge merch commissions, and artists have little contractual basis to contest this. Logic: A typical independent artist might sell AUD 100–300 of merchandise at 20–30 shows per year, i.e., AUD 2,000–6,000 in gross merch revenue. If venues take 20–30% commission by default where contracts are silent, or artists simply do not bring merch because terms are unclear, musicians can lose ~AUD 400–1,800 per year. Combined with under‑optimised door splits at multi‑act shows (e.g., unclear fee‑per‑paying‑customer), this creates total leakage in the range of AUD 1,000–5,000 annually per working act.

Why This Matters

The Pitch: Live musicians in Australia 🇦🇺 forgo AUD 1,000–5,000 per year in merch and door‑split income because performance contracts fail to capture these revenue items. Automation of standard clauses for merch rights, door splits and add‑ons converts this leakage into profit.

Affected Stakeholders

Touring bands, Independent solo artists, Band managers, Booking agents, Venue bookers

Related Business Risks