Have you ever been to a gig at the Brighton Dome and bought some merchandise (a teeshirt, CD, or vinyl disc) from the artist in order to help them survive financially when it is almost impossible to do so from gigging and streaming revenue? If so, did you know that the venue takes at least 15% plus VAT of everything the artist sells?

There can be no justification for this outdated practice. The artist has not only created their own art, they have also paid for all the production costs and pressing of the CD or vinyl, including the package design and printing. They have done their own promotion and social networking and managed to achieve enough popularity to fill the Dome. Then they have packed their merchandise into a suitcase and travelled by train to the venue and with the help of a friend, set up the stall and sold their product, also paying the costs of whatever banking app they are using.

The venue has added nothing to this production line and has no justification or moral right to deprive the artist of their meagre income. Nearly all artists these days live a precarious existence and are self-funded. Given that the only reason that the Dome exists is because artists are popular and attract paying customers, it is not acceptable that it forces artists to pay a 'tax' like this. Often it is only the merchandise that produces a profit for the artist. Maybe the Dome could say in its defence, "Without our venue there would be no concert and nowhere for the artist to sell their merchandise" but I would say the inverse is true: "Without the artist the Dome would have no reason to exist and there would be no customers coming through its doors."

I actually think it would make more sense for the Dome to give the artist 15% of the bar sales and other concessions because the only reason that the venue is selling drinks, coffees, and ice-creams is because the artist has attracted those customers through the door: they don't visit that venue for any other reason than to see the artist.

There is an international campaign to stop venues taking a cut from the artists' earnings on merchandise. Most Brighton venues have already signed up to it. Brighton Dome is a charitable organisation and for that reason has a greater responsibility to behave ethically towards the artists who are its reason for existing. 

Please sign this petition if you believe in fair earnings for musicians and other entertainers performing at the Brighton Dome.