Jack Antonoff Talks “Merch Tax”

Posted by Jason TateNov 23, 2022

Jack Antonoff, in a series of tweets, talks about how venues “tax” artists on merch and how this practice makes it extremely hard for younger bands to make any money. The tweets are below.

touring is one of the most honest ways to make a living. some of the hardest and most heartfelt work you can do. so why must fuck artist so hard?
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) November 18, 2022

while we are having the discussion can venues simply stop taxing merch of artists? this is literally the only way you make money when you start out touring
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) November 18, 2022

the more we make it tenable for young and small artists to make a living on the road the more great music we will get
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) November 18, 2022

simpel solutions, stop taxing merch, stop lying to artists about costs of putting on shows, include artists in more areas of revenue. the stories i could tell from my years touring are bananas. young artists on tour are the last to see any money.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) November 18, 2022