SA ‘Stars’ Performance Rates Are Ridiculous!

11:33 am 17 Comments

So I stumbled across this article on channel24′s music page about South African performance fee’s and have been in two minds ever since.

parlotones like clockwork copy 1024x512 SA Stars Performance Rates Are Ridiculous!

Apparently a 30 minute session with the racist Steve Hofmeyer who claimed on facebook that black people were responsible for the murder of a Free State family (“I don’t know how the world thinks we should transform, integrate and let go of our prejudices and stay nice, tolerant Christians when blacks can shoot a three-year-old child in the head,” rants Hofmeyer) will cost R44 000.

Then moving forward to Jack Parow or Kurt Darren will set you back a staggering 50 000 big ones! Also expect to dish out 50K for the poor-but-super-rich Die Antwoord if the gig is in short notice.

But the most mind-blowing for me is the The Parlotones… what would you expect to pay for a band that sang that Germany should bring home the world cup football trophy during SA’s first time hosting of the event and whose new tracks sound like re-hash of the previous whine? … try R300, 000 for 30 minutes!

Now this is where I am not sure what to think about this… Artists in this country are underpaid, there is no doubt about that. Being an artist requires a full 24/7 commitment without the peace of mind knowing that one day you will make it. This is why full-on, complete South African artists are few and far between! You have to dedicate your life to the arts, and if you don’t make it then your life will be pretty crappy.

I do think that artists in this country should be paid astronomically more than they are! But where is the line drawn? And does an artist only qualify for decent, living standards after they are picked up by major brands or strewn across ‘in-tune and in-touch’ radio stations like 5FM?

You have to also remember that gigs dont come every day, or even every week. So what quantifies a decent payment for non-commercial acts? I suppose the question is does the South African public want quality artists or just the dreary, slap-dash pop that we are so attuned to in this country?

Prime example: “For two years Jack Parow struggled to make a living. But thanks to all the attention the media gave him, he can now charge R50 000 a show,” - Channel24

My vote goes to the underground. I just wish the ‘higher powers’ would pick up on this so that our music industry would be as incredible as that of Europe and the States where even if you are an underground or non-mainstream artist you still have an incredible potential to make a decent living

… and also so that we would stop chasing our amazing artists overseas!

What do you think?

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  • http://www.zulabar.co.za Rowan

    Couldn’t agree more! Commercial or widely publicized arists will always make more, but the gap in this country is laughable, as is the gap in talent between most of these so called ‘superstars’ and the ‘underground’ artists who work their asses of everyday for small change.

  • http://www.newcreationcollective.com Richard

    Even though I’d rather vomit continually for several hours than watch the Parlotones, I think that if South African bands can charge that much and still play shows then there is indeed a market for them and therefore let them do it.
    With the increased piracy in music it’s no doubt that music artists are resorting to touring and gigs to make their money.
    Can we really blame them for charging so much?

  • jb

    all good and proper, but then you see what happens at rock festivals in this country, and the world over. you pay thru your arsehole to get in. and then the band is f*cked on stage.

    so where do you draw the line?

  • Paul

    Oh please. Do you know how much international acts cost? It’s triple what the Parlotones charge.

    These guys need to make a living. If you don’t want to pay for them, then don’t. Why do we feel that SA artists should only charge a minimum amount of money for a performance? It’s crazy. They have families, expenses and savings to worry about. Playing for free or next to nothing isn’t going to solve anything. Plus, musical careers are much shorter than what they used to be.

    I pose this question to you, if I come to you with R50K for advertising, will you turn me down?

    Please think before you post articles such as these, you just embarass your site.

  • The Dooder

    It a simple case of South Africans do not support South African bands at gigs. I agree with Richard that I would rather vomit for 30 minutes than watch the Parlotones. All bands the world over make 95% of their money doing live shows, and MUSO’s, stop blaming pirating of music for your woes. It has been happening since the inception of music. The entire USA music industry looses $200K a year to piracy. ONLY $200K when the Rolling Stones alone make $200 Million a year. It’s miniscule.

    South African bands also need to up their game. The standard is extremely high overseas. Artists going to art school since they were 5 years old. The standard here, may I say boldly, stinks. Just listen to the Parlotones, I rest my case……Jangjanalang jangalang. Is this the best South Africa has to offer? SAD.

    • duh

      usa industry loses 200k to piracy?? – no way – more like $200 million p.a.

  • Mika

    @ Paul….. I think this is a fair article…. And I personally dont think the gap between some (big commercial and small) artists is a good one in terms of how much they earn at shows…
    On another note take some of your bigger acts in the country who charge so much, its based on a very proffesional attitude (something that kind of spoils a musician, especially a creative one)
    I dont think any of the artists mentioned in this article can claim to be that original or creativly productive they are more just a band playing to the people…. thus earning them more money…..like a company that earns…
    the real art of the country either earns next to nothing playing what they really believe in… or leaves the country to play where their art is recognised and accepted.
    Bands in the USA, and Europe, do not earn these huge amounts, they earn consoderably less than Parlatones based on these stats….(obvously there are big earners as well but your average touring band doesn ot get that much) I often get the impression that bands here take themselves far to seriously as to what they are worth…

  • Grant

    That’s like saying Ferrari is overcharging for their cars. If people are dumb enough to pay R300k for a show (a figure I seriously doubt they get every show)then let them pay that.

    It’s the same old story, all the money goes to the top 1% of the industry and the rest suffer. If you are not lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time and “make it big” then you are doomed to obscurity.

    SA only has place for 1 (rock?) band at a time anyhow. I remember when Just Jinger were the “it” band…they made more money then than anyone. Then the audience moved on like sheep and supported what the media claimed to be the next big thing.If I were in the Parlotones I’d be cashing in while I can…

    In defense of the ‘Tones I must say they do put the work in. I’ve shared the stage with them here in SA and in Europe and they have a great work ethic. Right down to 12 hour trips in the back of a windowless Combi across Europe. So good for them.

  • Jett G5

    @ Mika

    “I dont think any of the artists mentioned in this article can claim to be that original or creativly productive they are more just a band playing to the people…. thus earning them more money…..”

    Spot on. This article is about the commercial music BUSINESS, which has nothing to do with quality of music and everything to do with popularity and marketability.

    “The people don’t come because you grandiose m*therf#ckers don’t play sh*t that they like. If you played the sh*t that they like, then people would come, simple as that.” – Shadow Henderson, Mo’ Better Blues.

  • A different Paul

    Hey, whether or not you like the Parlotones (I don’t), they have a pretty massive following locally. It’s simple market economics. They can charge that because they will draw a crowd of douche-bags & douche-baguettes large enough for the event to clear a decent profit.

    Die Antwoord, on the other hand, has a similar sized audience but they are spread out across the globe. Hence, in SA they can’t charge as much as the Parlotones.

    You don’t have to like the system (I don’t). That’s just the way it works.

    & as for piracy pushing up the rate which artists demand per performance – well I don’t know how true that is but think about how many so called “underground” acts have made a name for themselves by people sharing their music – with or without their consent.

  • The Rice Cake Killer

    In that case why don’t we all sell our creative souls to Satan ;-)

  • ?

    Paul, You’re mistaken. We bring over international artists all the time and I can assure you that the majority of them do not cost near to R300 000 per show, let alone R900 000 as you mentioned.

    You’re obviously a Parletones fan, which is cool… But you really have no idea what you’re talking about. Do a bit of research, go watch a couple of real shows, stop buying those kfc parletones meals, and wake the fuck up!

  • Art

    Parlotones are a bunch of losers.

    Look at the retarded green campaign they’re on – never mind the fact that a) 10 000 would have to drive to the concert, burning up fossil fuels and b) the ten kazillion megawatts of electricity they’d use to power their lights and amplifiers etc.

    A Parlotones KFC take away? Pfffft. Yeah, hardcore rockers indeed.

    I wouldn’t pay R300k let alone buy their crappy, wishy-washy, yadda-blah CD, let alone torment myself at a live gig (Ye Gods *shudder*).

    Fuck the Parlotones!!!

  • http://www.sovereignexpress.com Tracey

    There are few facts that all of you are unaware of. I will fill you in as it is important to know all sides before voicing an objective opinions…

    The Parlotones base their fees on the attendance expected at the various shows they quote. So if they expect 4000 people and the promoters charge R200 per person (and the Parlotones guarantee this attendance) they total income R800 000,00. So the band will charge R300 00,00 and the promoter takes the rest for sound, security, marketing etc…which can be around R100 000,00 that leaves the promoters with a profit of R400 000,00

    The bands fee is not always R300 000,00 . It depends on the size of the show. Smaller shows are quoted less.

    The Parlotones guarantee attendance for the promoter which is rare in the SA music industry as most promoters make a loss.

    I don’t know where the 30 min comes from (another problem with SA journos – lack of fact checking) but the band actually play for 90 min.

    One point totally over looked is that if the band went on their own tour they would take the entire amount made which is much more than R300 00.00. Why would they perform for an outside company for less than what they would make if they toured on their own.

    Lastly only underground bands charge less than a million Rand, most huge international bands at the same level as The Parlotones (meaning they can fill arenas and have gone platinum in SA) will charge upwards of 2 million rand and that doesn’t include flights, entourage, accommodation. The Parlotones are a bargain if you look at it this way. They sold out Emperors three nights in a row (including a Monday), The Dome, Grandest Arena and recently sold 4000 tickets to the Wavehouse. International bands who attracts these numbers will charge millions.

    You claim lack of patriotism from The Parlotones, then how can you agree that international bands are allowed to earn money and The Parlotones can’t? Who is not patriotic in this situation?

  • Author Hvh

    We recently had a Festival and the artist priced from R111.11 up to R888.89 per minute [excluding flight, travelling, accommodation and meals provided by organisers]. Artists could cost you easily R500 000 plus for a 3 day Festival and without bars and other income it is impossible to make a profit at all.

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