We are the music makers https://wearethemusicmakers.co/latest Music tech and AI in music: the news that matters, what we think about it, and a directory of the tools. en-us Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/merch-commission-explained-100-percent-venues Merch commission explained: who takes a cut, the 700-plus venues that take nothing, and how to negotiate https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/merch-commission-explained-100-percent-venues Some venues take 25% or more of an artist's gross merch sales, sometimes with VAT on top. The Featured Artists Coalition says more than 700 UK venues charging nothing have joined its 100% Venues directory. Most grassroots rooms never charged, though, so the real fight is at bigger and corporate venues, and the best tool an artist has there is a rate agreed in writing before the show. Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers workflowstouringmerchartist-rights https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/merch-for-independent-artists Merch for independent artists: print-on-demand vs bulk, and how to work out your margin https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/merch-for-independent-artists Print-on-demand means no stock and no upfront cost, but you pay more per item. Ordering in bulk is cheaper per item, but you pay first and carry the risk. This guide sets out how each model works, how to calculate the margin on one shirt, and when to switch. Fees are from Printful and Bandcamp, read on 24 Oct 2026. Sun, 25 Oct 2026 03:30:00 GMT We are the music makers merchindustrytouring https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/bandcamp-fridays-2026-plan-release-around-them Two Bandcamp Fridays left in 2026: how to plan a release around 6 November and 4 December https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/bandcamp-fridays-2026-plan-release-around-them Bandcamp waives its 10 to 15% revenue share on 6 November and 4 December, but payment processor fees still apply and the window runs on Pacific Time. A step-by-step plan for timing, merch and bundles, with the sums worked out and a note on where the Stripe payout switch stands. Sun, 18 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers workflowsbandcamprelease-planningmerchpayments https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/05/los-campesinos-tour-accounts-merch Los Campesinos! publish their tour accounts: an 11-date North American run lost money until the merch table https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/05/los-campesinos-tour-accounts-merch Los Campesinos! itemised every cost of their 2024 North American tour. On ticket income alone the 11 shows lost about £2,000; merch turned that into a profit of roughly £38,000, which pays for the band's next project, not wages. That is why venue merch cuts decide whether tours like this work. Tue, 05 May 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers industrytouringmerchlos-campesinos