Live Nation Clubs to Pay All Performing Acts Stipend for Travel

Live Nation Announces its “On the Road Again” program to help touring artists and their crews.

In the age of the struggling artist, Live Nation and its venues take a big step as they announce the “On the Road Again” program that aims to cut the travel costs of traveling artists.

Live Nation’s new On the Road Again program will only be in effect at Live Nation venues and clubs. All acts at these venues, from headliners to openers, will receive a $1,500 stipend per show for travel and gas on top of their performance compensation. Furthermore, Live Nation’s venues will no longer charge artists a merchandise-selling fee.

Not requiring a merchandise selling fee will put more of the fan’s dollar directly into the artist’s pocket. That means artists performing will keep 100% of merch profits. This decision comes in the wake of Ineffable Music Group announcing at the beginning of 2023 that they will waive merchandise fees as well. Since Live Nation’s announcement, other venues have begun taking action against merchandise fees.

One venue that joined this movement was Cervantes in Denver. Cervantes announced they will no longer take a percentage of artists’ merchandise profits. Cervantes promoters would make 20% off artist’s sales, but this has since ended. With venues like Cervantes joining this movement, it begs the question, what about other crew members?

The On the Road Again program will give a financial bonus to local promoters involved in the show, tour reps, and venue crew members who have worked over 500 hours in 2023. On the Road Again also helps live music crew members globally by including $5 million to Crew Nation, a fund created during the pandemic to help crew members during unforeseen hardships.

Inspired by Willie Nelson’s classic “On the Road Again,” Live Nation’s new On the Road Again program has taken a positive step in the movement of supporting artists. With no increase to us, the fans, On the Road Again will make it easier for artists to go out and play for their fans.