The Merch Market is a purpose-built event where bands, solo artists and labels can set up stalls and sell their merchandise commission‑free, meaning 100% of sales go to the artists. It’s a direct response to longstanding complaints about venues taking cuts of merch sales, a practice Burgess has long called unfair and exploitative.

The Merch Market
London
January 11th

Artwork by @BenIllustrator pic.twitter.com/V5itqsQwFr

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) May 28, 2025

The 2026 edition in London is expected to be the largest yet. While official details are still under wraps, the event is likely to feature artist-run stalls, exclusive merch drops, live music, and panel discussions. Previous editions have included pop-up print shops, real-time custom merch production, and talks about everything from sustainability in merch design to the challenges of touring as an independent act.

Burgess has been clear about his motivation. In interviews, he’s expressed frustration with the current system, where artists often receive less than their fair share. In response, he’s turned to practical solutions rather than just raising awareness. The Merch Market is built on collaboration, community, fairness and its success so far shows that there’s demand for this kind of event.

Still, the London edition won’t be without challenges. Coordinating multiple venues, managing foot traffic, and handling production costs in a city as expensive as London will be no small task. Ensuring that the event remains financially sustainable while keeping it free from commissions will require careful planning.

However, the payoff could be significant. A successful London Merch Market could become a blueprint for fairer merch practices industry-wide. It offers a chance to flip the narrative and to show that artists can take control of their sales, connect directly with fans, and build stronger, more equitable communities.

For fans, it’s an opportunity to support their favourite acts in a more meaningful way. For artists, it’s a chance to retain ownership of their work and earnings. And for the industry, it’s a wake-up call and perhaps the beginning of a long-overdue shift.

Taking place on May 25 from 11am, artists from all backgrounds will be able to sell their merchandise whilst keeping 100 per cent of the income for themselves.

Entry to the market will be free and bands will run their own stalls, as well as live performances and on-stage interviews for fans to dig their teeth into.

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The event was first announced last month by Tim Burgess. The Charlatans frontman aims to tackle the growing problem of venues taking a hefty cut of merch sales, previously stating how “the whole system needs addressing”.

Multiple sites in Manchester will host the market, although they are all within a couple minutes walk of each other. Participating venues include 02 Ritz Manchester, Dog Bowl, Gorilla and more.

Burgess, the organiser of the event, has been speaking out for years about the problems with venues taking an unfair cut of merch sales. In a 2021 tweet he said: “This isn’t about The Charlatans, it’s about those bands who need merch income to survive.”

Big respect to those venues that don’t take a percentage of a band’s merch sales. This isn’t about The Charlatans, it’s about those bands who need merch income to survive. Some places take 25% A quarter of the full selling price. Vinyl doesn’t even have that mark up to begin with — Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) December 9, 2021

The ‘One To Another’ singer has now put actions to his words by announcing this Merch Market. Every artist ranging from north-east legends such as New Order all the way to new, up-and-coming musicians such as Ruby J will have the opportunity to sell their merch and meet fans.

Ruby J took to Instagram to share her excitement and announce that she will performing at the event in May.

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A post shared by Ruby J (@rubyjofficial)

Discussing the event with NME, Burgess said: “No fees, everything kept by the artists for whatever they want to spend it on – more to announce soon but I’ve texted lots of friends in bands and it’s going to be a brilliant day.

“I can’t quite believe what’s happened with The Merch Market – a New Order stall with Stephen and Gillian doing an on-stage interview would be enough for me but so many amazing artists got in touch, from bona fide legends to younger bands taking their first steps.”

It’s not the first time Burgess has openly tackled this problem, as he has been a vocal supporter of the ‘100% Venues’ campaign run by the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC). This initiative gives venues the opportunity to sign up to give artists 100% of the merch sales. 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Featured Artists Coalition (@featuredartistscoalition)

Over 400 venues have signed up to the FAC 100% Venues directory, and late last year a Government committee backed the campaign, giving hope that true change will eventually happen.

But until legislation is bought in to tackle the problem, Burgess will carry on to lead the charge for a fairer ecosystem for up-and-coming artists.

With the market being free to attend, be sure to get down to Central Manchester on May 25 to check out this exciting event. Artists and businesses looking to get involved can still sign up to request a stall. This can be done via the Help Us Help Bands website.

From Some Friendly to Wham! The Singles.
1,366 albums that we heard together, over 1,213 days from March 23rd 2020. The Twitter @LlSTENlNG_PARTY was a beautiful thing. Thanks to everyone who joined us x x pic.twitter.com/RrZpClawf5

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) August 31, 2023

Tim Burgess, a member of The Charlatans, created this unique listening experience when the UK was plunged into lockdown in March 2020. Realising the loss of live music, he wanted to recreate this experience.

Tim used his Twitter platform to create the incredible show at the end of March 2020. Tim’s Listening Party saw huge success and in March 2023 he took the show to Absolute Radio.

Content Director for Absolute Radio, Paul Sylvester, said “Tim’s Listening Party has become a phenomenon. Giving audiences the chance to listen to the music and conversation while engaging with other fans on social media ties everything together.”

After 3 years of amazing success, at a time when the UK was down on its luck, Tim brought new meaning to live music. Inviting listeners to stream the album and follow along with him, joining other like-minded souls to converse about the songs and albums in real time.

Following on from his recent tweet, Tim reminded fans that there are over 1000 listening parties available to replay on their website.

He also added a further tweet, confirming there would not be a show on Absolute Radio this coming Sunday the 3rd September; however, the former Charlatan member told his listeners that next Sunday the 9th September at 10pm, there would be a special episode and he would be filling that guest spot and the show would be hosted by Danielle Perry.

It is still uncertain, if this will be the final Tim’s Listening Party show or not.

There’s no @LlSTENlNG_PARTY on @absoluteradio tomorrow but back next Sunday at 10pm with a special episode. @danielleperry will be the host, I’m the guest and Tellin’ Stories is the featured album. Join us… pic.twitter.com/q0OV2nRT9U

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) September 2, 2023

Fans and listeners took to Twitter in reply to Tim’s recent news, that it would be the end of Tim’s Listening Party.

One listener tweeted “A sad day if this is how it ends. You made a beautiful thing, Tim. I don’t think any of us who ever took part will ever forget it. A true beacon in dark days. Thanks so much and all at @LlSTENlNG_PARTY.”

A sad day if this is how it ends. You made a beautiful thing, Tim. I don’t think any of us who ever took part will ever forget it. A true beacon in dark days. Thanks so much and all at @LlSTENlNG_PARTY HQ ♥️

— Graham (@GrahamCD272) August 31, 2023

Another fan added to say, “Aye, a wonderful experience! The very best thing to rise from 2020 without a doubt.

Aye, a wonderful experience! The very best thing to rise from 2020 without a doubt.

Congratulations , you should all be very proud

— Alan C (@Konn63) August 31, 2023

No further details have been release by Tim Burgess. at to what those new endeavour’s may be. Only to tune into Absolute Radio next Sunday for that special episode.

We are pleased to announce a new UK tour! Tickets on sale Friday 10am, pre-sale tickets Wednesday 10amhttps://t.co/ibZg4VlbGX pic.twitter.com/sVsgowZDHb

— The Charlatans (@thecharlatans) June 6, 2023

Beginning in Newcastle on the 24^th November, the group will then play in Glasgow, Sheffield, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, London, and Wolverhampton. The tour will close in Nottingham on 10^th December. Tickets will go on general sale on Friday 9^th June at 10 am BST. Click here for tickets and more information. Blonde frontman Tim Burgess joked on Twitter “Now to get us a setlist together”. He continued, “All requests considered* What’re we saying? *They stand more chance of making it if they are actually by @thecharlatans”.

Now to get us a setlist together All requests considered* What’re we saying? *They stand more chance of making it if they are actually by @thecharlatans pic.twitter.com/ZuX6FzxPXk — Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) June 6, 2023

Burgess ran a giveaway for a pair of guest list places and a signed setlist up for each date of the tour on Twitter. The randomly picked winners were announced at 9:30 AM BST on Twitter. The giveaway proved extremely popular with #TimsTicketGiveaway trending the previous evening.

Looks like #TimsTicketGiveaway is proving popular pic.twitter.com/K1i0CjP7dh

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) June 6, 2023

Fans can also catch the band at several festivals this summer including Y Not and Victorious Festivals. The Charlatans will also be performing a one-off co-headline show at Halifax Piece Hall with fellow indie legend Johnny Marr at the end of August. For tickets see here.

With all thirteen of their studio albums charting in the top 40 in the UK, the band from the West Midlands are decade-spanning indie darlings of the UK. Their 1990 debut album, Some Friendly, reached number one in the UK upon its release and has been certified Gold by the BPI.

The current formation of The Charlatans sees Tim Burgess as lead vocalist, Mark Collins on guitar, Martin Blunt on bass, and Tony Rogers on keys. Sadly, the band’s former drummer Jon Brookes passed away back in 2014.

Different Days, the band’s last studio record, was released six years ago on BMG. The neo-psychedelia record in Chester and produced by the band and Jim Spencer (Johnny Marr, The Cribs, New Order, The Vaccines, Echo and the Bunnymen). Paul Weller, New Order’s Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris, Johnny Marr, The Verve’s Peter Salisbury, novelist Ian Rankin, and actress Sharon Horgan are just some of the creatives featured on the record.

Watch the video for the lead single from the album “Plastic Machinery” below:

Back in 2021, The Charlatans released a vinyl compilation entitled A Head Full of Ideas including back catalogue fan favourites such as “The Only One I Know”, “Weirdo”, “One to Another”, “How High”, and “North Country Boy”.

See below for all The Charlatans UK tour dates:

30/07/23 – Y Not Festival – Derbyshire
25/08 – Victorious Festival – Portsmouth
26/08 –The Piece Hall – Halifax
24/11/23 – O2 City Hall – Newcastle
25/11 – Barrowland – Glasgow
28/11 – O2 Academy – Sheffield
29/11 – O2 Academy – Bristol
01/12 – University Great Hall – Cardiff
02/12 – O2 Victoria Warehouse – Manchester
03/12 – O2 Academy – Leeds
05/12 – The Mountford Hall – Liverpool
07/12 – Troxy – London
08/12 – The Civic at The Halls – Wolverhampton
10/12 – Rock City – Nottingham

Located in Derbyshire’s Crich Tramway Village, the event promises ticketholders a day full of music, culture and the arts. The one-day festival offers a wide variety of activities for everyone ranging from a woodland diner to a film marquee and bars located within the surrounding forest. Signals Festival is advertised as a family-friendly event which offers a range of activities for kids including an adventure play area with a specialist programme organised.

Also included with a festival ticket is the unique opportunity to stroll the historical village and enjoy a retro pub, old fashioned style sweet shop, Victorian Tramway Museum plus entry to the three acres of picturesque woods which surround the village and festival site. Ticketholders will also have the chance to hop on an original tram which will transport guests to the main festival site after an adventure into the quaint village.

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Speaking on the upcoming event, the festival’s directors Gareth Murfin and Anthony Clements have provided further details, “We’ve been planning this for three years now and the result is something really unique that we’re proud of. Where else can you get a vintage tram ride across the Festival site?! Now we just can’t wait for everyone to come and enjoy what we’ve been planning. We fell in love with this charming venue as soon as we saw it, so to be able to programme some of our favourite established artists, alongside some incredible emerging talent that we’ve unearthed locally in the regions, is something very special for us. Expect a beautiful and relaxed setting, where you can take time to explore the Victorian village, before hopping on a tram up to the music stages.”

Along with a traditional stage appearance, Tim Burgess’ brainchild Tim Peaks will perform an in-person version of his Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties. The Charlatans frontman launched the show in lockdown to entertain the public during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the initial Livestream was held in 2020 and featured the group’s 1990 album Some Friendly. The veteran rockers’ performance will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of their fifth studio album Tellin’ Stories and Burgess will perform as a solo artist.

The recently announced acts will join the already confirmed line-up including The Cribs, This Is the Kit, Liz Lawrence, Peaness, Fiona Bevan, Cucamaras, Deja Vega, Rising The Low, Claire Welles, Dirty Laces, The Red Stains, Dean McMullen, Young Decades, The Rosadocs, CatMilk, Shadows Of A Silhouette, King Blonde, Ami Sharpe, Melonade, Alt Blk Era, Estella, Isaac Neilson, Crich Brass, Fellow Braves and a Q and A with filmmaker Mat Whitecross.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Click here to listen to Tim’s Twitter Listening Parties.

Big respect to those venues that don’t take a percentage of a band’s merch sales. This isn’t about The Charlatans, it’s about those bands who need merch income to survive. Some places take 25%
A quarter of the full selling price. Vinyl doesn’t even have that mark up to begin with

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) December 9, 2021

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.

Some thoughts about venues charging a commission on sales of band merchandise… sometimes up to 25%. Well done @Tim_Burgess for starting this conversation. I have been battling this for many years now and fully support a change to this practise. pic.twitter.com/rMYZiPpjDW — Peter Hook (@peterhook) December 10, 2021

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”.

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 https://t.co/iSEZ96yhAx

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) December 11, 2021

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.

I will soon be hosting a #timstwitterlisteningparty for my solo album ‘The Clown & The Cigarette Girl’ which was recently released on Revolver Records. Please feel free to join me on Wednesday, December 15th at 8pm. #TimsListeningParty pic.twitter.com/dPdzKoCfTc — Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) December 11, 2021

In fact, the idea came from the creative way he connected people during the endless lockdowns: through the hashtag #TimsTwitterListeningParty, he invited fans to listen to a specific album or track. Then, anyone could tweet about their personal and cultural significance of the song or album in question. After noticing its success, he teamed up with the tech firm Flare Audio to build his very own ‘Listening Party’ branded earphone set, and they are selling at £39.99 each, with £5 going to the Music Venue Trust.

It all took shape when the performer was asked to be one of the patrons of the organisation, born to support music venues in a period where live music has paused globally. Music Venue Trust’s strategic patron Beverley Whitrick said ‘Formalising his status as a patron of MVT is a way for us to thank him for his considerable efforts and talk publicly about the projects Tim is working on to support venues’.

‘It’s an honour to be asked to work with the good people at The Music Venue Trust, it’s going to be a hugely important year for live music and the future of independent venues,’ Burgess told NME. ‘The listening parties have been quite a phenomenon and we had already been talking to Flare Audio about making some special edition earphones. It would be brilliant that we can put all the things together and help with raising some much-needed funds. I’ve been road-testing the first set of earphones for a while – they’re amazing.’

Earphones are available here from Thursday 26^th of March, with shipping starting on the 5^th of April. Fifty random orders will come with a signed card from the artist himself, whereas another hundred will include little extras such as ‘Listening Party’ badges or Flare Audio accessories.

First up is a collab with @flareaudio – these ace @LlSTENlNG_PARTY earphones will be available to pre-order on Friday March 26th. Raising funds for the @musicvenuetrust.
More info here in @whathifi https://t.co/L6wavoVbcp

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) March 15, 2021

“The basic point is that the UK music industry contributed an estimated £5.8billion to the economy in 2019, but artists are maybe not seeing as much of that as they should. Almost 5m vinyl albums were sold in 2020, the most since way back when we released our debut LP in the early 90s. There’s hope and excitement in the gloom, but there’s also an elephant in the gloom. That elephant’s name is streaming.

I wrote a thing for The @guardian https://t.co/ntI5eBrfDD

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) February 1, 2021

“There is much made of the sums paid to artists as a result of all this – yes, they get a cut, and millions of people stream every day, right? – right, but these sums usually go to 26 decimal places, and the first four digits are often 0.000.”

“The thing is, streaming has taught us that people are willing to pay for music. Spotify had total revenues of $7.4bn in 2019. A lot of that money goes to major labels rather than directly to artists, so they’re part of the equation too,” Burgess added.

Last October, MPs of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee launched the inquiry, with Julian Knight MP chairing the investigation; the growth of the streaming market “cannot come at the expense of talented and lesser-known artists”, Knight said. Since the inquiry opened, numerous high-profile musicians and industry professionals have provided evidence before the committee, including Nile Rodgers and Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien – the latter warning MPs that streaming payments are “threatening the future of music” at the first hearing in November. Fiona Bevan, who has written songs for One Direction, Steps and Lewis Capaldi, corroborated accusations of injustice by streaming services.

Burgess announced Ascent Of The Ascended yesterday (September 23), with the premiere of new song, and second track on the EP, ‘Yours. To Be’ on Lauren Laverne’s Radio 6 show. Ascent Of The Ascended will be out via Bella Union (Burgess’ label since I Love The New Sky) on November 27. You can listen to ‘Yours. To Be’ below.

When asked to describe his newest song, Burgess explained, “It’s all about making the most of moments as they are happening. At the tail end of the glory of the night before – with all the hope and beauty that the following morning brings. Away from the glare of the party – like the calm after the storm has left town.” 

In addition to the new single, we can expect one other new offering from Burgess, title track ‘The Ascent Of The Ascended’. In addition, there are four tracks recorded live in New York for a session with Paste Magazine, back in March. Three of these are from I Love The New Sky, including the album’s second single ‘Laurie’ which – in my view – is a great example of a perfectly formed song. Burgess has also rerecorded the Charlatans classic ‘The Only One I Know’, the baggy single which changed everything for a young Madchester band.

In a press release, Burgess spoke the electricity of his time in the studio, and how I Love The New Sky spilled over into an additional EP – even though the album released earlier this year sounds like Burgess threw everything he had at one, idiosyncratic, multifaceted full length LP. “There was an energy that came from recording the album with such a brilliant band – I didn’t want it to end, I wanted to record a bit of a magnum opus, which is where Ascent of the Ascended came in.

“I’d always wanted to work with Charles Hayward from This Heat, so we have him a ring and he said yeah. With “Yours. To Be” being almost like an instant feeling you get in a moment, very rarely in your life – the two songs are so different but they somehow complement each other. So an EP was the perfect idea.”

pic.twitter.com/rdVDmsIZPH

— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) September 23, 2020

Listing all of the projects that Burgess has hinted at recently would take longer than we’ve got. He is at the very core of a number of initiatives that have worked to keep people united through music during a period of self-isolation. A little later, Burgess lent his energy to a number of projects to save the music industry itself from the effects of lockdown; notably, he was behind the campaign to save Manchester’s venues, Gorilla and Deaf Institute.

There are still Listening Parties every night of the week – the number recently surpassed 450. Burgess has been hinting at “Gorilla TV“, but for now, the particular details are a tantalising secret. He is involved in the Soho Radio Raffle; he performed a straight-to-vinyl session there recently, and its up for grabs as a raffle prize. Eventually, you’ll be able to catch him live – see here for more details. Ultimately, Burgess is living and breathing music every day – and his commitment is infectious.

Ascent Of The Ascended tracklist:

1. ‘The Ascent Of The Ascended’
2. ‘Yours. To Be’
3. ‘Laurie’ (Paste Session)
4. ‘The Mall’ (Paste Session)
5. ‘The Only One I Know’ (Paste Session)
6. ‘Undertow’ (Paste Session)

#TimsTwitterListeningParty pic.twitter.com/8O0GkRf0Se

— Tim’s Listening Party (@LlSTENlNG_PARTY) August 28, 2020

#TimsTwitterListeningParties have only gained in popularity throughout the duration of lockdown. Tim Burgess initially brought them back at the height of isolation, and they proved to be one of the best ways that social media could be used as a force for good. There have been at least 400 Listening Parties – at least one almost every night since March 23 2020, when they kicked off with the Charlatans’ Some Friendly. 

The premise is that everyone puts an album on at the same time and then a commentary is produced by a number of people who were responsible for putting the album together. These range from the informative to the hilarious, and Bonehead always cries when he comes to the end of hosting a Listening Party. At the same time, you can ask questions or share opinions in real time.

It’s also worth noting that there is a degree of excitement that you get when you know that all over the world people are listening to the same album at the same time. In the absence of live music, knowing that everyone is going to put on a great song at the same time feels like a unifying event. Each Listening Party is then available forever at https://timstwitterlisteningparty.com/, where the tweets are archived in the order that they were sent out.

Digging even deeper into archive for this one — original demos, all sorts https://t.co/u9AJYCAbgz

— Sports Team (@SportsTeam_) August 28, 2020

The 2020 Mercury Prize nominees were announced earlier this month. Other than the ones listed above, they are Charli XCX, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka, Dua Lipa and Stormzy. This year, for the first time ever, there are more female solo artist nominees than male.

This is Laura Marling’s fourth Mercury Prize nomination, so she comes in at joint second for the most nominations ever, alongside PJ Harvey and Arctic Monkeys. The group who have been nominated most in the Prize’s 29-year history are Radiohead, who have had five albums up for the Prize. Stormzy’s Heavy Is the Head, on the other hand, is the grime star’s first ever nomination. Everything you need to know about the 2020 Prize is here.

Like everything, the Mercury Prize has had to do a little adapting this year. What you can expect on the day of the awards is a whole lot of great TV and radio coverage from the Mercury Prize partner BBC Music, in place of a live event. This isn’t completely confirmed yet, but in the meantime, you can get involved in the Listening Parties to get excited! Times and dates are below.

Wednesday 2 September 2020
8pm – Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter
9pm – Moses Boyd – Dark Matter

Thursday 3 September
7pm – Georgia – Seeking Thrills
8pm – Anna Meredith – Fibs
9pm – Porridge Radio – Every Bad

Wednesday 9 September
8pm – Lanterns on the Lake – Spook the Herd

Thursday 10 September
9pm – Sports Team – Deep Down Happy