What is a Hall Fee (Merch Split)?

A hall fee (also called a merch split or merch commission) is the percentage of an artist's merchandise sales that a venue takes as commission for letting the artist sell merch at a show. It is most common at larger venues and arenas, and is often higher for clothing than for music. Merch can be one of a touring artist's main sources of income, so hall fees are a closely watched part of the deal.

How a hall fee works

Hall fees are agreed and settled in five steps:

  1. Agree the rate: the venue's merch terms are agreed in the contract or during the advance.
  2. Count in: the artist's merch seller and the venue count stock before doors.
  3. Sell: merch is sold by the artist's team or by venue staff.
  4. Count out: stock is counted again after the show to work out sales.
  5. Settle: the venue's percentage is taken, usually at the settlement.

Merch terms are one of many venue details shared with visiting acts, which Crescat helps music venues keep consistent.

Hall fee vs pitch fee

A hall fee is a percentage of the artist's merch sales at the venue. A pitch fee is a fixed charge a trader pays for a space to sell, common at festivals and markets.

What hall fee terms cover

  • The percentage for clothing ("soft goods")
  • The percentage for music and other items
  • Whether VAT and card fees are deducted first
  • Who sells: the artist's team or venue staff
  • Count-in and count-out procedure
  • When and how payment is made

Frequently asked questions

How much is a typical hall fee?

Rates vary by venue and country. At larger venues, 20% to 25% of clothing sales is common, sometimes more. Many smaller venues take less or nothing.

Do all venues charge a hall fee?

No. In the UK, campaigns such as the Featured Artists Coalition's 100% Club list venues that take no commission on artists' merch.

Why do venues charge a hall fee?

Venues say it covers space, staffing and card payment costs. Artists argue it cuts into an important income stream, especially for smaller acts. The terms should always be clear before the artist arrives.

Related terms