Photo: Flickr / Published: 2026-04-01
In recent years, the Jazz, World, and Contemporary Chain Table within fairPACCT has mapped out career stages and corresponding fair pay rates for musicians, among other things.
Based on this, tables and a calculation tool have been developed to help determine a transparent and well-founded fee per performance.
Perspective of presenting organizations
However, it is essential to align the perspective of presenting organizations with that of the creators to form a complete picture of supply and demand. Therefore, a study is currently underway involving a survey of jazz and world music venues and festivals, with or without their own hall or grounds. This includes the approximately 45 members of the Association of Dutch Jazz Venues and Jazz Festivals (VNJJ). For comparison: theaters and concert halls report data annually in a Theater Analysis System (TAS). Pop venues and festivals present a Pop Venue Analysis System (PAS) every year. Now, a Jazz Analysis System (JAS) is being added to this.
Finding answers to relevant questions
The research focuses on finding answers to several relevant questions. What is the financial and organizational practice? What types of activities are presented for which genres and audience groups, and with what capacity and occupancy? What does the cost structure look like and where does the revenue come from?
And above all: to what extent is it possible to pay musicians fair pay, and which factors make this feasible or difficult?
With the results of the research, fairPACCT and the Chain Table can segment and benchmark. The fair pay gap can be better quantified, and the tables and calculation tool can be refined where necessary. Furthermore, the process leads to a better-substantiated policy advice for governments, funds, and chain partners regarding which interventions are required. For example, additional resources, different subsidy schemes, or agreements on fair pay supplements.
If you have not yet been approached and would still like to participate in the research or share other relevant information, please send an email to the lead researcher at Bureau Knyfe, Pieter Hunfeld: pieter@knyfe.org.
