Maybe I can't read but where did you see the percentage that goes to the artist?
theosgma
The following paragraph from the "rockandrollguru" article makes a general statement about it. I've been reading quite a few articles the past couple days though, and I know there was more specific info about percentages the artists receive in other articles. Something in the 75% and up neighborhood. I will see if I can find those other articles.
Below is a breakdown of who gets paid for putting on a concert. The band (or entertainer) takes a majority of the money, and rightfully so. They are the talent. They should be paid for entertaining us. However, there are many other people involved in producing a concert. They get paid as well. And that money all comes out of the sale of tickets. "It call comes out of the sales of tickets" applies to 99.9% of concerts but does not apply to the top level touring acts. And this is a top tour.
I know nothing about the deals for this tour but I do know a bit about how Queen and Adam have operated in the past. My GUESS is they have a guarantee per concert plus get additional money for sales over some percent maybe around 70%, and they get additional revenue for certain other things.
> Queen and Adam have both born some of the touring risk in the past enabling them to make more money on a successful tour. Usually artists maintain these kind of business practices over their careers unless they have a compelling reason to change. Example of a change is Madonna who went from owning her tour (she was the promoter) to signing a big deal with Live Nation.
The concert has at least 7 major artists revenue streams that I have identified so far and there are a few possible ones we can't see yet.
DMG and Queen's management are both expert at maximizing revenue opportunities. And ticket sales and the associated performer guarantees are just part of the picture for a tour like this. They probably earn money from:
1. Sizable guarantee per concert. The amount would make you go
!!
2. VIP package sales -- those t-shirts do not cost $211 - most of this goes to the artists.
3. Merchandise sales -- both at the concert and online.
4. Premium tickets sold by official ticket companies (Ticketmaster, Comcast, etc.) in most cases.
5. Concessions -- depends on the contract but usually the big performers get a piece of that $9 beer. With 20,000 people at a concert this adds up to be a nice number.
6. The promoter and tour partners usually put up the money for the set, transport, rehearsals, etc. [This should include a costume allowance for the artists.
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7. New memberships to the artists' fanclubs.
This kind of tour has nothing to do with a band playing an ampitheater or theater. Totally different thing.
I expect, but we have not seen yet are:
> More Sponsors. I bet there is something in the works but we have not seen it yet except for American Express. Katy Perry has multiple sponsors including Citi and Cover Girl.
> Recorded live music and DVD. The is very likely. UMG just signed a global long-term deal with Queen. Brian has had the concerts filmed since the early 70's and certainly won't stop now. Most of this revenue will go to Queen (songwriting royalties) but Adam people are sharp and surely covered his interests in this case. My guess is that he also has some level of creative control or input.
> Venue ads.
> UMG support for this tour. I think this is happening but I cannot find any breadcrumbs yet. UMG owns the Queen catalog and this tour will sell music from that catalog. UMG has the deal for future releases.
My guess is that Adam could make more on these 19 concert than he did on the whole GNT.
Of course the tour will also probably gross $30,000,000 from 19 dates. Not counting all the other stuff.
Finally, I expect that there is no way for anyone outside of the artists' accountants to know what they make on this tour.
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