Buju Banton Slams Music Industry Pay Structure: ‘They’re Taking Us For Idiots’

Reggae legend Buju Banton has spoken out about what he says are exploitative business practices in the music industry, revealing how large performance fees can shrink dramatically once artists cover the real costs of touring.

During a candid interview with Queenz Flip, the Grammy-winning Jamaican artist said many performers are misled by seemingly high-paying concert offers that fail to account for the expenses artists must cover themselves.

“Say, for instance, they say, ‘OK, we want you to come and play at this stadium which has a capacity of 30,000, but they’re paying you $100,000,’” Banton explained. “You think, ‘Oh my God, I’m getting $100,000 for this concert.’ But no — you have a band to pay, plane tickets to buy.”

By the time those costs are covered, he said, the artist’s actual earnings can be drastically reduced.

“By the time you do all that business transaction from this $100,000, you might end up with $5,000 if you’re lucky. That’s business? No, it’s not. They’re taking us for idiots.”

Banton said the realization came after years of experience on the road early in his career. He recalled performing exhausting tour schedules across Europe as a young artist.

“I can recall when I was like 19 or 20 years old in Europe, doing 17 or 18 shows consistently with no break in between,” he said. “Burning myself out for what? Only to go back to Jamaica and still have to settle debts.”

According to Banton, many artists accepted those conditions because they believed it was necessary to build their careers.

“You have to plant the seed — that’s the sacrifice it takes to get here,” he said.

However, he believes the industry is changing as artists increasingly recognize the value of their work. Banton pointed to fellow dancehall star Vybz Kartel, who has been known to demand high performance fees, as an example of artists asserting their worth.

“We have a commodity that has been exploited by various people,” Banton said. “We watch everyone go around us on their price point. That’s why we have to appreciate that view.”

The reggae icon also emphasized that part of his touring philosophy is presenting music at the highest level — which comes with significant costs.

“I travel with the band every time,” he said. “The music must be presented properly.”

While 11 musicians perform on stage, Banton said the full touring team is much larger.

“On stage it’s eleven of us, but the whole crew consists of 22 people we employ,” he added.