Live Nation Extends ‘On The Road Again’ Program Through 2024

Live Nation’s “On The Road Again” program — which provides stipends to club-level artists, eliminates merch cuts at LN venues and raised minimum wage for club staff — will continue through at least the end of 2024, the company announced Tuesday.

The program launched in September as artists began to raise public awareness about the broader merch cut system and the cost of touring. Under the plan, headliners and support acts playing LN-owned clubs receive $1,500 for gas and travel on top of performance compensation and keep 100 percent of their merch revenue. Under another prong of the program, LN raised the minimum wage for its club staff to $20 per hour.

The company partnered with Willie Nelson to develop the program, as the name may make apparent.

“Our goal was to make touring a little easier and we’ve accomplished that night after night for over 4,000 artists, with more on the way,” Nelson said in a statment.

LN says it has distributed “tens of millions” as part of the program.

“We’re proud to keep On The Road Again rolling strong. Supporting club artists strengthens the future of music,” Michael Rapino, President and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment, said in a statement.

The costs of the program were paid through existing revenue, according to LN, without passing the expense to the showgoer.