Summer Camp open up discussion about the expenses of touring and lack of payments to play festivals

Although Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis revealed in 2017 during an interview with BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt that they usually pay the big names on the line-up "less than 10%" of what they'd earn at other festivals, Summer Camp's Elizabeth Sankey has opened up a discussion on the costs of touring, and revealed that they got "£0" to play Glastonbury.

During that 2017 interview, Eavis did highlight that a lot of Glastonbury Festival's money goes to charities including Oxfam, WaterAid and Greenpeace. She said at the time, "Glastonbury relies completely on good will, we’re not in a situation where we’re able to just give people enormous amounts of money."

Sankey started the discussion after budgeting their upcoming gigs, and highlighted that they "lose money when we tour". She added that Summer Camp are in a "privileged position where we don't need to keep anyone sweet anymore so we are speaking out."

If you wanna know why bands don't talk about this it is because they're scared and also it is embarrassing and painful. @jwojwo and I are now in the privileged position where we don't need to keep anyone sweet anymore so we are speaking out. pic.twitter.com/60qE6vDpEv

— Elizabeth Sankey (@sankles) April 13, 2021

In another tweet, Sankey wrote, "How much did we get paid to play Glastonbury? £0 (and I am sorry because I know tweeting this will hurt people I love)." Summer Camp's Jeremy Warmsley also got involved with the discussion, responding to an article highlighting Eavis' interview about payments for artists for playing the festival and highlighting that Summer Camp didn't even get an allowance for expenses. He wrote, ""10% of their usual fee" is still a hefty sum. We would have been very happy to get, say, £500 to cover our petrol, van hire costs, session musician fees and a crew member to drive and do the sound. £1000 and we'd have made £250 each for an honest day's work."

"10% of their usual fee" is still a hefty sum. We would have been very happy to get, say, £500 to cover our petrol, van hire costs, session musician fees and a crew member to drive and do the sound. £1000 and we'd have made £250 each for an honest day's work

— Jeremy Warmsley (@jwojwo) April 13, 2021

While Sankey has mentioned multiple times that they still love to play the festival and that Glastonbury aren't the main issue, other artists including Bombay Bicycle Club's Jamie MacColl, Max Bloom and more have added their inputs, with MacColl stating: "There's sometimes a sense that they're doing you a favour by letting you play, which leaves a sour taste tbh. I still love it tho."

I mean, I really don't think Glastonbury are the main problem with the industry AT ALL. But I guess "we got paid nothing for playing Glasto" is a tasty soundbite.

— Elizabeth Sankey (@sankles) April 13, 2021

Max Bloom (formerly of Yuck) added, "I sort of think artists should feel ok about turning Glasto down if they're not getting paid properly. It's not a good standard to set, especially for a festival that is supposed to be cultivating new talent."

The discussion about the expenses of touring in general also gained responses from Field Music - who revealed they were once paid with a crate of Carling for playing "two shows for a very well-known festival", despite being promised "£125+vat for each show".

We were supposed to get £125+vat for each show. Our then-manager begged until they gave us a single cheque for £125 which, in sheer petulant rage, I refused to cash and probably still have somewhere.

— Field Music (@fieldmusicmusic) April 13, 2021

The Anchoress also responded to Sankey's tweet about budgeting gigs, writing, "I’m so glad you posted this because I’ve been looking at my tour budget this week and feeling like a failure again. The myth that’s bandied about that live is one of the areas you make money from. Certainly not true for any solo artist that needs to hire session players."

Sankey later added: "Just to say - Glastonbury shouldn't become a lightning rod for all the other myriad issues in the music industry. "Glasto don't pay artists" is a nice soundbite, but unlike other festivals they give millions to charity. However I still think they should pay all artists."

Just to say - Glastonbury shouldn't become a lightning rod for all the other myriad issues in the music industry. "Glasto don't pay artists" is a nice soundbite, but unlike other festivals they give millions to charity. However I still think they should pay all artists. https://t.co/XCbfbwbad8

— Elizabeth Sankey (@sankles) April 13, 2021