DJ asked to pay €5000 to play at a festival in Ibiza

Price of Exposure: Ibiza Fest Shocks DJ with €5K “Opportunity” Cost

A DJ/producer from London recently shared a shocking experience on social media. Le Texier Arnaud posted a screenshot stating that one of his students applied to perform at a music festival in Ibiza. However, instead of being offered a slot, the festival organizers demanded the DJ pay them €5,000 (over $5,300 USD) just for the chance to play at the event.

Arnaud’s post quickly went viral as people expressed outrage over having to pay to perform rather than getting paid as an artist. Many others in the DJ/producer community began sharing their own stories of encountering these “pay-to-play” schemes from festivals and events. Also on the other hand, a recent report highlighted that 76% of artists believe that a career in music is not sustainable.

The incident shines a light on the darker side of the music industry which is often glamorized. While being a DJ seems exciting, the field has become massively oversaturated in recent years as more celebrities and influencers have jumped into it as a career. This has made it extremely difficult for up-and-coming DJs and producers to break through.

With so much competition, some unscrupulous festivals and promoters exploit aspiring artists by demanding large upfront fees just for a slot on the lineup. Instead of getting paid for their talents, the artists end up paying through the nose for exposure and the “opportunity.”

Check out the post by Le Texier Arnaud down below: