When a fan buys a ticket to see their favorite musician, comedian, or other performer live on stage, the money from that ticket goes to many different parties involved in staging the show. The performer is one of these parties, but they are not the only one – venues, promoters, ticketing companies, and others also take a cut of the ticket revenue. So what percentage of the ticket price actually makes it into the performer’s pocket? The answer is complicated and depends on many factors.
The Basics of a Ticket Sale
Let’s start with the basics. Say a ticket to see a performer live costs $100. This $100 will be divided up in some manner between:
- The performer themselves
- The venue hosting the event
- The event promoter who organized the show
- The ticketing company that sold the ticket
Additionally, a portion of the ticket revenue may go towards costs like:
- Production expenses (lighting, sound, stagehands, etc.)
- Security and staffing
- Insurance
- Taxes
The percentage that each party receives varies greatly, based on the size and popularity of the performer, the size and overhead costs of the venue, the region, and other factors. A massive rock band playing a huge stadium show will have a very different breakdown than a local indie band playing a small club.
The Performer’s Cut
For major touring performers at the top level of fame in the music industry, their percentage of the ticket revenue may be in the range of 85-90%. This means if a ticket is $100, they get $85-$90. Big name comedians and other performers likely get similar or close to these percentages.
Here’s a breakdown of where that $100 ticket money may go for a major music act:
- Performer: $85-$90
- Venue: $5-$10
- Promoter: $0-$2
- Ticketing: $2-$5
- Production/overhead: $3-$8
The reason the performer gets such a high percentage is their fans are the reason people are buying tickets in the first place. Promoters know they have to pay the performer well in order to get them to agree to do the show. The venues take a small cut just for hosting.
Mid-Level and Smaller Performers
For mid-level performers who are steadily touring clubs and small theaters, their percentage may be more in the range of 50-85% of the ticket cost. The venue and promoter take a bigger share at this level.
For even smaller independent acts just getting started, playing small clubs, their percentage could be as low as 0-45%. The venue may take 50% or more of the ticket revenue to cover their costs. The performer is less established so they have less leverage to demand a bigger percentage.
Here’s a breakdown of a $50 ticket for a mid-level performer:
- Performer: $20-$30 (40-60%)
- Venue: $10-$15 (20-30%)
- Promoter: $5-$10 (10-20%)
- Ticketing: $5-$10 (10-20%)
- Production/overhead: $0-$5 (0-10%)
As you can see, the performer takes a smaller cut, while the venue and promoter take a bigger percentage compared to a major act.
Factors That Determine the Percentage
There are a few key factors that determine what percentage of the ticket sales the performer gets to keep:
Popularity and Draw
The main factor is the performer’s popularity and ability to draw a paying audience. For proven major acts with devoted fan bases, they can demand 85% or more. For smaller indie acts, they don’t have as much bargaining power.
Venue Size and Type
Large venues like stadiums that can host thousands have huge overhead costs. Small clubs with a few hundred capacity have lower expenses. The venue size affects their cut.
Geographic Region
Some cities and regions have higher costs to stage shows, affecting what the venue needs to operate. New York City venues take a bigger percentage compared to a Midwestern town.
Whether the Show Sells Out
If a performer sells out the venue, they have maximum leverage in negotiations. A partially filled venue means less demand, so the performer’s cut may decrease.
Experience Level of the Performer
A performer just starting out won’t have the leverage and proven track record to demand a high percentage. Seasoned performers have more power to negotiate.
Competition From Other Venues
If many venues want to host the performer, the performer can shop their services around and venues will compete to offer a better deal.
Costs of Production
The more elaborate the lighting, pyrotechnics, video screens and other production, the more it may eat into the performer’s cut to pay for it.
Do Support Acts Get a Percentage?
When a big performer has opening support acts, those acts rarely get a direct percentage of ticket sales. Instead they are paid a fixed fee by the main performer to perform as their opener. This fee can vary greatly based on the fame level of the support act, from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars.
Album Sales and Merchandise – Other Revenue Streams
While ticket sales are a major revenue stream, performers also make money from sources like:
- Album/music sales – performers may get 10-20% of album sales.
- Tour merchandise – performers get a cut of all tour merch sold at shows.
- Commercial endorsements and sponsorships
These other revenue streams are in addition to the money made from ticket sales. Merchandise in particular can be lucrative, with performers getting 50% or more of sales. Popular touring acts make millions annually on merchandise at their shows.
Negotiating Leverage Matters
A final factor in the percentage a performer gets is their (and their team’s) negotiating leverage and skills. Top artists with great management negotiate incredible deals that maximize their percentage. Unknown indie acts may blindly take any deal offered. Smart negotiating makes a difference.
The Bottom Line – It Varies Widely
In summary, there is no simple answer to how much of the ticket sale goes to the performer. It can range from 0% to 90%+, depending on many factors like popularity, venue, production costs, region, experience level, demand, and negotiating leverage. On average, rising performers may get 40-60% of the ticket cost, while top level headliners can command 85% or more.