mxdwn.co.uk » Kevin brennan https://www.mxdwn.co.uk all that matters in music in the UK Thu, 14 May 2026 18:41:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 Tim Burgess Criticises Venues Taking Cuts From Sales of Band Merchandise https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/tim-burgess-criticises-venues-taking-cuts-from-sales-of-band-merchandise/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/tim-burgess-criticises-venues-taking-cuts-from-sales-of-band-merchandise/#comments Sun, 12 Dec 2021 19:43:10 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=50779 The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess has recently criticised venues taking substantial cuts from band merchandise sales. Taking to Twitter, he noted how there are certain bands that “need merch income to survive”, yet despite this, some places take as much as a 25% cut. In fairness to the venues, Burgess admitted that “often it’s a completely separate ‘concession’ company that the venue deals with as part of a contract“, but that didn’t stop him insisting that “the whole system needs addressing”, suggesting that “Maybe bands need to ask for a percentage of the bar take”. Burgess also asked the company O2 to comment on the matter, noting their involvement with many of the venues taking these cuts.

Since posting about it last Thursday, Burgess has received a variety of responses. For example, The Leadmill (a music venue in Sheffield) expressed the importance of not taking cuts on band merchandise. Also, artists like Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook supported the cause. Hook posted a lengthy Twitter post about how venue cuts have affected him and other bands, saying that some of the practices were even illegal, with venues often including VAT with the cut they get.


Despite much support, some venues have still defended their actions, with the Ulster Hall arguing that the rates are compatible “with industry standards”. Burgess again used Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with this response, arguing that “Musicians have an objection to the practice of venues taking 25% + VAT from gross sales of the band’s merch. To then defend this as ‘it’s in line with industry standards’ misses the point by at least a mile”.

Burgess’ concern for smaller artists has also crossed over into the world of streaming, with him supporting the work of Cardiff West Labour MP Kevin Brennan in trying to get the law changed, ensuring fairer cuts for artists and songwriters on streaming platforms. The musician said “Total love for the work that Kevin Brennan MP has been doing on behalf of musicians, bands and artists. It’s great to know there’s support in Parliament.”

Brennan is a musician in his own right, and Burgess invited him to be a guest in one of his notorious Twitter ‘Listening Parties’ (something started early in the pandemic last year, where Burgess and a guest(s) listen to an album made by the guest, who may give certain ‘behind-the-scenes’ insights along the way), playing Brennan’s album The Clown & The Cigarette Girl next Wednesday at 8 pm.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/tim-burgess-criticises-venues-taking-cuts-from-sales-of-band-merchandise/feed/ 0 Musicians Continue to Campaign For Streaming Rights In The Wake Of The Brennan Bill https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/musicians-continue-to-campaign-for-streaming-rights-in-the-wake-of-the-brennan-bill/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/musicians-continue-to-campaign-for-streaming-rights-in-the-wake-of-the-brennan-bill/#comments Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:43:50 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=50560 Artists all over the UK have been rallying to support Welsh Labour MP Kevin Brennan, who is responsible for the current parliamentary debate on the Rights and Remuneration of Musicians private bill. The bill aims to change the “Economics of music streaming” based on recommendations made by the cross-party group of MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. In essence, the core goal is to “ensure performers and composers are properly remunerated, by placing the treatment of revenue gained from music streaming services onto a common footing with the treatment of revenue gained from other sources.”.

Four Tet, featured, made headlines recently after his music was removed from streaming services over a royalty dispute, Brennan believes that Keiran Hebden (more popularly known by his stage name Four Tet) was very much in the right on his opposition to the lack of payment. In an article written for the times, Brennan states that record labels are “Relying on an ancient pre-streaming contract” and that it “doesn’t pay you what you should”.

Since Brennan’s bill had its second reading on 3rd December, nothing notable has come out of parliament. But the bill has rallied support from a significant portion of the industry. Horace Trubridge, General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union says, “We’re immensely grateful to Kevin Brennan and all the MPs, musicians, songwriters, composers, session players and featured artists who have supported the call to fix streaming” Adding, “It’s by no means the end of the Fix Streaming campaign… We will continue to put pressure on the Government and music industry to make the streaming system fairer and put the value of music back where it belongs – in our members’ hands.”.   Over 20,000 musicians have gotten involved with the #FixStreaming and #BrokenRecord campaigns, including Four Tet, Caribou, Adele, Rebecca Ferguson, and many others. While this, so far, doesn’t seem to have progressed; #BrokenRecord campaigner (who clearly knows his way around the parliamentary system) set the record -pardon the pun- straight by saying that “the vote goes to the back of the debating queue.” Meaning it might be a while until any major changes are made.

Graham Davies, CEO of The Ivors Academy (a professional association for music writers in Europe), adds “Today’s debate of the Brennan Bill is a landmark moment on the path to the inevitable modernisation of the music industry. The Government accepted that reform must take place to level-up payments for music makers. It is not a matter of if this reform happens but how.”

While progress is without a doubt being made, musicians should continue to campaign for the change in royalties from streaming services. See the full story, including explained segments of Brennan’s bill here.

 

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