Pay to play? Local band ignites debate over festival compensation

Wednesday 06 September 2023

A band's decision to pull out of one of Jersey's biggest festivals has ignited debate as to whether local performers should be compensated for performances with more than beer, free tickets, or the promise of exposure.

Jersey band Perchard's Wall said that it had decided to pull out of the recent Weekender festival "for a number of reasons" in a social media post on Friday.

"Local bands should be compensated for their efforts with basic subsidies"

Writing on Facebook, the band explained that their decision to pull out of the festival was "fundamentally based on the fact that Weekender, 'Jersey’s biggest summer festival', do not support the Jersey music scene in a way we agree with enough to play for free".

They explained: "We play many charity gigs throughout the year as a band and also of course for locally-based festivals without payment when we know the support is either charitable or helps out the local music scene."

The post continued: "Weekender as we all know is a money making event and whilst we appreciate there is nothing wrong with that we do feel that local bands should be compensated for their efforts with basic subsidies.

"We as musicians have played for half our lives within the music community and I guess at this point just want to do right by our values and by the audience who support us.

"With all of that said, this is just our stance as a band and we know all the other artists will smash it. The Wall doesn’t just move, it can also remove."

Social media reaction

The post received hundreds of likes, shares and comments, which included other musicians sharing their opinions.

One islander commented: "Local bands should absolutely be compensated and respected for their contribution. Fair play Perchard’s Wall for making a stand."

Another wrote: "We need our local bands supported otherwise the small scene we have won't last."

Video: Perchard's Wall performing. (Melissa Rodrigues)

Some had a different opinion, however, with one commenter adding: "I don’t agree as the organisers put their families and houses on the line [and] if it fails they lose everything and we should support anyone that takes the effort to bring over live acts to the island's music lovers.

"The local bands aren’t the main draw even if they are world-class and professional which most are."

In a later Facebook post, the band thanked "everyone that supported our decision to pull out of a festival slot this weekend", adding that "our intention was never to cause such a ruckus but to merely get the conversation on the value of art started".

Express contacted Weekender organisers for comment but has not received a response.