#MyMerch Update
Almost 80 venues have signed on after one week
The response to last week’s launch of the #MyMerch campaign with the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers and the Featured Artists Coalition has been staggering. #MyMerch was covered by Complex, Exclaim! and Le Devoir, Dublin-based blog Nialler9 had me on their podcast to talk about it and I was interviewed about the campaign on CBC Metro Morning in Toronto and several of the other CBC morning shows across Ontario.
#MyMerch was boosted and supported by artists such as Tegan and Sara, PUP, July Talk, The Weather Station, Austra, Dan Mangan and The OBGMs. Merch cuts are something that we’ve all experienced but it has often been an aspect of touring that was kept in the shadows and whispered about, the mysterious contract addition that you’d be afraid to push back on.
Now that we’ve brought it to the light, it feels like a different path forward is possible. We’ve had almost 80 North American venues and festivals sign on and say that they won’t take a merch cut from bands. Big thanks to Lee’s Palace, The Horseshoe Tavern, Tranzac, The Empty Bottle, Elsewhere, Baby’s All Right, Bottom of the Hill, NXNE and POP Montreal for leading the charge. You can see the whole list here:
How can you help? Tell your favourite local North American venue, festival or promoter about the #MyMerch campaign in person or online and let them know how much it would mean to you if they signed up. I was taken aback by the sheer number of fans who had no idea that the money they use to directly support touring musicians at the merch table is often being garnished by venues. Here’s the venue sign up link:
I’ll be writing more about merch cuts in the near future. Until then, you can read about the campaign below:
You can find me updating my playlist or hanging on TikTok, Twitter, Mastodon and Instagram. You can listen to my music on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp and you can get Cadence Weapon merchandise here. Pick up your copy of Bedroom Rapper here and please rate it on Goodreads