Igorrr Refuse To Sell Merch At London Show In Protest Of Venue’s Merch Cut (Updated)

Update: March 12th, 2023 10:40 PM:

Converge, etc. drummer Ben Koller has voiced his support for Igorrr and their stance against oppressive merch cuts:

Original Story:

Count French experimental metal artist Igorrr among those to take a stand against merch cuts. The band announced earlier today (March 11th) that they wouldn’t be selling merch at their show tonight at the O2 Kentish Town Forum in London, UK. Their decision is due to the venue allegedly requiring a 25% merch cut.

The practice of merch cuts has always been a thorny issue for touring artists. While long prevalent in North America, the practice has spread to other territories as well. In most cases, it is stipulated that a venue will be entitled to a certain % of all profits on merch sold by an artist within the venue during the artist’s concert. Generally these rates are contractually agreed upon prior to the show.

While a 20% merch cut has often come to be seen as the standard these days, that rate has fluctuated more amid the pandemic era. With many artists budgeting for their tours months, if not a year in advance, the rising costs of inflation and transportation have made certain merch cut percentages particularly crippling.

Speaking via Instagram earlier today, Igorrr stated:

“We’d like to inform you that we won’t be selling merch at our London show tonight:
The venue @o2forumktown is asking for a 25% cut on our merch sales.

We could have raise-up the prices of our t-shirts and hoodies, but it doesn’t seem fair to us to have our UK fans paying more than they should, especially because the venue is asking for a spectacular percentage for no particular reason. We tried to negotiate with them, but they are not interested in helping us at all. For those of you who would like to purchase some merchandise online, our webshop will be updated with new designs after the tour.

You can check our website www.igorrr.com for more infos. Thanks for your support
IGORRR“

Cult Of Luna themselves voiced their support for Igorrr, offering:

“THIS MUST STOP

Touring post covid in a complete different world is a struggle and for some bands an economic nightmare. Merch sales are a huge part of our touring budgets and the reason some bands (including us) are able to continue to provide the show we want, to invest in good production, pay our team etc.

We refuse to raise Merch prices because some venues are asking for Merch cuts, and this is becoming a norm.

We stand with @igorrr_music”

Both artists join a growing chorus of bands who have recently taken a public stance against merch cuts. While some groups have refused to sell merch at venues, others are calling for a cut of the bar sales. There’s also a seemingly growing faction suggesting artists organize and conduct a strike in protest of merch cuts. You can dig into that here.

Igorrr‘s European/UK headlining run with Amenra, Der Weg einer Freiheit & Hangman’s Chair will continue on as follows:

03/12 Cologne, GER – Live Music Hall
03/14 Berlin, GER – Huxleys
03/15 Wiesbaden, GER – Schlachthof
03/16 Bescanon, FRA – La Rodia
03/17 Lyon, FRA – Le Transbordeur
03/18 Barcelona, SPA – Apolo I
03/19 Madrid, SPA – But
03/21 Toulouse, FRA – Le Bikini
03/22 Bordeaux, FRA – Le Rocher de Palmer
03/23 Paris, FRA – Salle Pleyel
03/24 Zurich, SWI – Volkshaus
03/25 Bologna, ITA – Link
03/26 Munich, GER – Backstage Werk
03/28 Vienna, AUT – Ottakringer Brewery
03/29 Budapest, HUN – Barba Negra
03/30 Wroclaw, POL – A2
03/31 Gdansk, POL – B90
04/01 Vilnius, ITA – Loftas
04/03 Tampere, FIN – Pakkahuone
04/05 Oslo, NOR – Vulkan Arena
04/07 Stockholm, SWE – Fryshuset Arena
04/09 Copenhagen, DEN – Vega
04/10 Hamburg, GER – Markthalle
04/11 Villerupt, FRA – L’Arche
04/12 Amsterdam, NET – Melkweg
04/13 Groningen, NET – Oosterpoort