Ep 3 | What's Wrong with the Live Music Industry (Jon Bellion & False Alarms - Lawrence Docuseries)

Come see us on tour: lawrencetheban...
Go behind-the-scenes with Lawrence as they navigate the challenges of building a sustainable career in the notoriously convoluted & unforgiving music industry.
Watch Episode 1 of the Hotel TV Show here: • Ep 1 | Meet Lawrence, ...
Directed by Vagabonding Media
Produced by Gracie Lawrence & Clyde Lawrence
Additional Photography by Leo Gallagher
Performance Sound Mixing by Clyde Lawrence, Jonny Koh, & Jordan Cohen
Sound Mixing/Mastering by ‪@heykeeg‬ & Cody Fitzgerald
Thumbnail Photo by Deanie Chen
Live Sound Engineering by Leo Pisaq
Stage Lighting by Emily Miller

[@ancientfifer]

Thank you for putting it all on the line in front of the U.S. Congress and with this documentary series and advocating for all musicians in the industry! 🙏 This is why we love you! Warmest Regards, Russ🧡

[@JonnyCastle]

How can you not be a fan of this band, when they fight the good fight for literally everyone that loves music? I’m a fan. Thank you guys. ❤

[@lawrencetheband]

Thank YOU so much!

[@CorbCorbin]

@@lawrencetheband Great videos, and this one really gives a glimpse into a reality that people who aren’t musicians, aren’t in a band or have never gigged or toured, never see. If you address the venue’s management or owners, do they just threaten, or not book you again, without a threat, if you tell them you aren’t paying for those things that weren’t actually provided? I’ve had this happen on a much smaller level, the biggest being sound guys(yes, it’s almost always a guy), at small venues, who just barely help with setup, and then leave the place they’re using to control the house sound. When a venue has a good sound person, I ask around to find if they’re getting paid at all, before the show. That way, I’ll offer to buy them a beer, then give my “free” ones to them. Or, I’ll just give them $5-$20, depending on what we’re getting paid. When we play that bar/club again, the sound person remembers, and often the differences in these shows is audible onstage, and on recordings, as well as the crowd reaction. I got to play The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC, while I was living there, which is their most known venue of it’s size. It’s so frustrating, how much the people who book the bands control who comes to town or not. Who gets better gigs, and what venues, matched with a good opener, etc. They control the fate of how easy or difficult, it is for up and coming bands from the area. Bands of a certain size, just can’t afford a road manager, promoters, agents, lawyers and a stage crew. It’s just not possible, if the band doesn’t do it themselves. I mean, just the size of a band can make or break whether a tour is financially successful or viable.

[@stacygregory8698]

Fans, in general, don’t realize how little the band actually gets from tickets. And merch. And venues. Etc. Fans will support musicians and not big industry. Let us know how we can help! Keep up the fight for fair pay and keep making amazing music! ❤

[@lawrencetheband]

Thank you for listening and supporting us!! That's such a big reason of why we keep going!!

[@decastring]

WOW! With all this F'd up stuff, I don't know why anyone goes into pro music. Lawrence, thank you for fighting the battle and providing your fans an incredible show!

[@elbobcat]

Why this band is not all over the Grammys is beyond me. You guys should be no. 1 in every market in every city.

[@jcreature11]

Grammys are trash no one wants that except the one who sold themselves to the industry.

[@jeffreyascull]

Because they’re telling the truth and exposing the disgusting greed that permeates the entire industry.

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

DJs did one thing right, getting everyone else to pay for and set all that shxt up so they can drop a 1 hr set and bounce 😂

[@dmfToonsTunes]

So I'm a bit late to the Lawrence party, but better late than never. And I'm a fan. Your work is incredible, can't wait to see you in London. Got my tickets. False Alarms resonates in my side of the biz as well. We celebrate Little Victories, and it all adds up to awesome. I cried first time I heard False Alarms. Keep on keeping on. Stay strong! And hope to work with you one fine day. It shall be so.

[@emmagibson9056]

I've listened to False Alarms hundreds of times and man watching this and then seeing the live performance gave me GOOSEBUMPS. Pretty sure it did when I saw them live too in Nashville in 2022. Keep fighting the good fight, thank you for being a voice for musicians in this f'd up industry!

[@RasmusSchultz]

gave me goosbumps as well! amazing energy! I might have to travel to the US just to see them. 😄

[@sidewalkstudios8847]

** Tour Manager here** I truly love what you guys do. I am a huge fan. I agree with you guys completely about the music industry. but even if the artists share increased.. you are going to have to cut it 8 ways.. Its going to be really hard for it to be sustainable if there are THAT many hands in the pot AFTER everyone else not in the band gets their piece (artist manager, agent, etc.). Now I don't know what you guys agreed on in terms of percentages of how much each band member makes.. but the harsh reality is that it is WAY much more expensive to travel with such a large band (think hotel rooms, food, transportation for each member, luggage weight) than it is to travel with a smaller group.Which sucks because it seems like the big band is a huge part of Lawrence. All this to say.. its going to be an uphill battle to make a sustainable living in the music industry ESPECIALLY if you have such a large touring party. But I seriously am on your side and am rooting for you guys!

[@garrettm1813]

Every song. Every piece of content. Every podcast. Every bit of information I learn about this band just makes me a bigger fan of this band and makes me love music just a little more. Thank you!

[@pavelmedbery3055]

Lawrence, thank you so so so much for your music, your message, and the fact that you are shining light on all these issues within the music industry. I never even knew about half of the things I've learned from these videos. Can't wait for the next episode!

[@kjononsense]

Between this and the senate hearing, it's been so wild to learn more about what's happening behind the curtain. I mean what can you even do in a situation like they had here, when the venue is literally just not holding up their end of a contract?? Venues hold all the cards and they know it. Messed up.

[@dZaq]

The CEO of Live Nation received $139 million in compensation last year. Meanwhile, the median Live Nation employee was paid $25,673. That’s a CEO-to-worker pay ratio of 5,414-to-1.

[@An_Arbitrary_Miscellany]

This band. This freaking band. You guys are the best. So accomplished, so talented, so sincere and so damn funky.

[@nigelheartless]

The run at 6:35 just made me a fan. I’m finna go get caught up on this soul.

[@apollopc7]

WOW this is an eye opener to someone not in the industry. As a fan I want to do anything I can to make sure Lawrence go from strength to strength! looking for Merch now to get you guys even more $ support and to keep it out of those greedy sole less bloodsucking vampires pockets!!

[@kenroubik3221]

Interestingly he said during his testimony that if you buy mech at the show the promoter is taking a cut of that too

[@guitartroy67]

I’ve been a musician for 30 years. One of the reasons we as musicians get screwed is because we do what we love. We are artists. We would be playing music regardless of what may come into our lives. Business people prey on that. It used to be that record companies would screw the artists and the artist would make their money touring. Now that the record business is in the shitter the promoters and outfits selling tickets have found the way to screw artists. From the local “booking agent” to regional and national “promoters”, they rely on the artists to do the heavy lifting concerning promotion and ticket sales. The artist does all the work- literally! It’s a shame and a sham. I feel for Lawrence, they are great and should have more, but they are one of a thousand artists getting screwed over for doing what they love.

[@jas_bataille]

This is why you should either toughen up to their level or get a manager. I am NOT victim-blaming here, just being realist : most artists are people pleasers. We are outcasts and we learned to "get in" with our talent. And the business people on THEIR side knows. Now... what are they gonna do when you say, "That was not our deal. If I lose X percentage of my money tonight on this, you lose X percentage of my show. It's that simple, take it or leave it." And when they protest.... walk out the door. I've seen managers asking 100K while the band is taking 10 with 70 000 people waiting... just because the municipality would charge for noise complaints. 100 000. Think it's extortion? What about the fee AND the band image? Why isn't the festival paying for it? It's not like any artist scheduled from 8-11 is ever going to NOT go past 11 even a little bit. So might as well give them a 10 to relax while the manager is handling the business. "But they are one in a thousand artists" - and? Stand up. I don't care about the 999 who don't. I've worked both sides and I am appalled to see that some of our artists can't believe we, the venue, aren't asking for a cut of the profits. I'm sorry??? You are the people we *hire* to stay *open*. You are the reason why we *exist*!!! I'm not gonna ask my employees to give me money back on what is their salary. Because this is what that is!!! Artists should be paid a full guaranteed salary by the productions plus "per diems" which include food, hotel, and all of those costs, which are to be negotiated by a ***manager***. Do not get a label. Get a manager. Out of all the talents the one we remember as the greatest often got there simply because they had equal talents to other top rising stars, AND the business cojones to say, "No. That wasn't our deal. I'm walking out of here, right now. Deal with it."

[@FoolishFrankie]

Jordan doing overtone matching @6:20 🔥 what a great behind the scenes video. Thank you for making this

[@AndrewWilde]

False Alarms was the theme song of my dream job being a nightmare in disguise in 2021. The catharsis of screaming the lyrics on repeat in the car is unmatched. Thank you for your Vancouver shows (even through the BS) and I'll be on the fence singing along the next time you're in town.

[@JMErlendson]

I love watching these! They are so so so good.

[@gshak33]

Large corporations are sucking the profits out of every artistic industry

[@andybrice2711]

What are the potential solutions to this? I have a couple of ideas: A service whereby artists can review venues. So that when you're planning a tour, you can check which ones are reliable. (Though I can't imagine venues are raking in the cash either.) Better systems for selling tickets direct to fans without middlemen. I'm fairly sure a lot of ticket authentication could be done cryptographically, rather than relying on monolithic services like Live Nation.

[@Jas7567]

I discovered you guys literally an hour ago and I already love you. You guys are awesome!

[@kellimorton9079]

Loving these!!! I agree with what everyone said-- please let us know anything we can do to support! You guys are too good to not be able to share what you have and benefit from it!

[@alexgourdikian1741]

You guys need to find a better promoter or try to get a different promotion agency. Playing venue’s where the local crew is nowhere to be found is really a serious problem.

[@CalebSmedra]

I found you guys and your music my first year of music school, and I cannot tell you how much joy and excitement it has brought to the way I listen to and feel about music... Keep fighting the good fight. You are making an impact. You are being heard!

[@XHailfyreX]

“Nobody is commenting on the KZbin video whether Clyde is pretty or not” Folks it’s time to change that

[@RichAdase]

I mean, to be fair, Clyde is pretty. For what it's worth.

[@matthewpendlebury4428]

Pretty fucking dope on the keys thats for sure. (And obviously vox)

[@Redvinetv]

Just saw you in Fayetteville, AR last night and then was so graciously blessed to be invited to hang out and not only meet you but play Pickleball with the bandmates. The BEST experience and live show I've ever been to. As a fellow musician, I not only enjoyed the show but I feel inspired as a musician to do be better, give better, play better and do better by man fellow man. Hope to see you at a headlining show soon! ❤

[@lawrencetheband]

Thank you so much for jamming with us yesterday!!!

[@RippedPigeon]

How did we miss this opportunity when we live NWA! Arghhh!!!

[@jeffreyascull]

Anyone who makes their living playing music lives with the paradoxical reality that 1) people love us and are fascinated by us and 2) people think we’re a joke, our job isn’t “real”, and we don’t deserve to be paid. I don’t understand it. It’s a shame it’s like this, because for so many human beings music is essential for their well-being and happiness.

[@far3i]

Some bands have a cause , this band's cause is bands

[@getheidea]

ugh as a freelancer in an artsy career, it really does suck how fucking unsustainable it can be to make art unless you're one of the people lucky enough to get REALLY big (a lot of people really don't realize just how much health insurance costs out of pocket, it's a total scam). what's the best way to support you guys more directly so you can keep touring without relying solely on ticket revenue? like, between buying merch / buying albums / etc, which one helps you guys out the most?

[@thegodofcheese]

​You're all beautiful! This series is awesome. Much love!

[@KateBrunotts]

Love y'all, thanks for building this 💖

[@anaisabeljurado7128]

That assembly of the Jon Bellion Rap!❤❤❤ incredible work you all. This industry is hard and your work is beautiful. We appreciate it

[@justplainjosh]

Y’all are legends for calling out the bull in the music industry. Thanks for standing up for musicians WHILE being top tier musicians yourselves. This is why y’all rock so hard ❤🔥

[@jas_bataille]

I just wanna say that Live Nations recently announced 1500 extra transportation budget and compensations so BRAVO!!!!! Also I wanted to talk about this : "They're charging for all of those things and I don't know what to do..." I can tell you what to do, but it takes balls of steel. My dad been in this industry 40 years and have seen managers (not bookers : managers) do this on a very big scale when unknown cost come into play, especially at festivals where for example they say that the band is gonna take 10 but finish after 11 and have to pay the municipality noise complaints fees (seriously) and in one instance at Osheaga asked for... 100 000 more. Btw, if people are wondering why artists cancel last minute without apparent reasons....! Of couse you're not that big but I would advise to get a *manager* and then follow those steps : Numero Uno, you say that you aren't gong to assume the charges, else the show will be cut by the the amount of time corresponding to your remuneration that's been eaten by those costs. Once they say, "WTF dude", literally *all of you will mimic walking out* until they say "OK, let's talk". Once that's gone, you can negotiate. "This was NOT our deal...", you say, as calm as a whisper of wind in the autumn leaves. "The money transfer wasn't completed as expected." Smooth. Smoooooooth. No rush. Everything's good, fam. And this is how you have bands like Chic, that will only do 20 minutes headlinings sometimes. You get what you pay for. Deal with it. If they wanna be rough in business, you gotta toughen up!

[@revdeandawg]

Please continue marching onwards and upwards for all musicians and music fans!

[@JakeHageman]

I'm a simple man. I see Jon Bellion, I click.

[@franzjahnig4836]

These Videos are soo amazing!!!!! Thanks for all the insides and the hard work Keep it up btw you're literally living my dream :)

[@NickHallGuitarist]

Guys! When is live blu ray getting released?! You obviously have a lot of live pro shot footage ;) - Great doc! Love from the UK!

[@jaykay6412]

if you're being charged for production managers that aren't even there, that's on your manager, and touring manager. You shouldn't be surprised by any clauses or line items of your deal. as far as ticketmaster/live nation, it's a criminal monopoly antitrust racket with too strong of ties to D.C. to be broken up. The hearings are just for show. nothing will happen. as far as 8 people in your band, that's on you. you don't have to be the funkadelic. love the band though. After 25 years in the biz I got out. good luck

[@tmw3489]

Horrible comment.

[@marksmith8667]

They've taken a lesson from the hospital industry. Bandaid - 35 dollars, Juice, you want juice? 50 dollars

[@wilkinsnl]

This has been going on forever. You just have to find a way to thrive in it. You can look at it this way, before social media and the ease of self recording and publishing, no one would know who you are or care and you’d never tour anywhere. Sure, you’re not making money and music as a profession is a sacrifice, but you’re lucky to be doing it in this era.

[@AgeDrillin]

This is so important to see, thank you for sharing your guys’ experience!

[@nicolaihauptmann]

I am seriously amazed that you are able to perform like this while also dealing with this stuff literally until showtime! Huge admiration to all of you 🫶

[@lawrencetheband]

Thank you so much❤

[@scott1jb]

Thank you, for all you do. Your music is fantastic, you care, and are not afraid to put the spotlight on bad stuff happening in the industry.

[@sgsax]

I have so much love and respect for this band. Only seen you live once so far, but will definitely see you again next time you come my way. I'll keep doing my part, showing up and sharing the love. You keep making beautiful music that touches my heart and I'll be here for it.

[@Tony-Curtis]

What’s the best way to support the band? Merch?

[@marayastewart9842]

JONNNNNNNNN

[@josephpeacockiguaran]

Guys, go do it. I will support however I can over time. This is why I left music, and I’m so happy to see a chance for change for the music community now and to come. Be the difference! Thank you.

[@ttrreennttoonn]

Dang, that was awesome. I found you guys randomly on Spotify with the song “oh no” and obsessed with it so hard.; love y’all ever since. Great vlog- well edited and entertaining. Hope it gets some traction and I’m excited for the next episode. Peace

[@fxckthxtshxt.]

Thank you for all your unseen effort! Does the majority of the merch revenue go straight to the band? I wanna help support my favourite band ❤

[@FCWW87]

Goosebumps the whole way guys. As long as you are playing jams like false alarms…. You’re good. The rest will fall into place as long as you dream big, work hard, and play nice.

[@emmanuelmarchal9741]

Can't wait to see the whole NYC performance with Jon Bellion

[@chickox]

Seeing you in Fayetteville tonight! So stoked!

[@nimblybimbly4002]

I can't not hear Jonah Hill.

[@robertweaver5169]

You guys are completely amazing!!!! I love your music, I love your attitude, I love your energy that you put into everything, I love the way you are showing everyone that the music industry is completely f%$#ed up with the way it rips off talented artists like yourselves and pours milk and honey over deadbeat plastic manequins that brainwash teenagers into what they should be listening to and dressing like. I really hope that Lawrence makes it big time and gets to stadium shows where you can all be rewarded with some proper cash for the years of hard work that you have all put into honing your talents and your art. Your music is so genuinely authentic and full of life. What more can I say? I'm a high school music teacher in Sydney Australia and I'm going to be playing your music in all of my classes to demonstrate to students that THIS IS WHAT LIVE MUSIC IS!!!! Love you all...... Even those freckles above the knee are cool. Don't worry about what people think. Do your thing that you all do so well!

[@LaminarSound]

Im glad youre bringing attention to this. I know everyone needs to make money. But if you arent actually adding any value to the deal, its utter horseshit. Every time I buy tickets to a live show(in Houston) ill find tickets for say $60 per ticket, but once you get to checkout theyve added all these bullshit fees and the tickets are really $85 a piece. Why dont you just post the tickets for $85 from the outset??? Its a ruse and I think not only are the fans getting fucked, but the artists are even moreso getting fucked.

[@MariadeLourdesAniesSanch-ze7hf]

why... people.. because Iam be DIE she is crying forever man

[@dishamankar7]

dude we need Jon Bellion in Mumbai on 23rd February 2024!!!!!!

[@officialmoondancer]

I don't understand this. If you have a CONTRACT with a promoter and they aren't providing what you've agreed they would then DON'T PAY THEM. And if they try to buffalo you either stick a .380 in their face or sue them. But most certainly don't roll over and cry like a chump! Take the contract and ask "so where is this, where his this and where is this"? I'm not paying for any of this.

[@johnruby1363]

BANDCAMP.... guys.

[@pjextra2430]

Now you opening an arena tour with The Jonas Brothers. You made it guys.

[@sailfast2005]

Only if they get paid!

[@ItsWesSmithYo]

Yeah probably not, most opening acts get shxt on unless the main act steps up and carves out something using their clout…but it’s all just a symptom of free market, supply, demand, etc…that’s all.

[@RasmusSchultz]

oh, the people actually doing the work are getting screwed, while the owners and managers get fat off your work? so like every other industry in the US. you're fighting big C Capitalism - it's not unique to the music industry, and it's extremely sad. you people have all the talent, you do all the work, and get none of the rewards! 😥

[@geekazoid47]

Vancouver is a terrible place to play out. The promoters do a shit job. I have been to so many shows here where I apologized to the artist at the end of the gig. Literally 50ppl in the room for someone who filled a venue in Montreal. wtf

[@klippo1000]

Nice to see the insides and the backstage view. And also crazy that you play that many big shows and still can not make a living out of this. Keep up the good work and keep doing what you love. You will make it! Lots of love to you Lawrence! You are beyond good!!!

[@emilviuff2514]

I still adore Jon and Travis for making their scandinavia tour so financially accessible as it was, but it must have been a tough budget.

[@ShakkaFoota]

you guys have some of the greatest vocal showcase i have ever seen, you gotta collab with PTX

[@truebloodtheband]

good name for a song (?)

[@DouglasBurton]

I love hearing this from artists, well I hate it but I love that they can say it. As a fan I feel it too and would just never give Live Nation another dollar but then I feel like I have no other way to give the artist the cash instead. Some of my favorite artists only sell merch and then most of the merch is often sold out. As a fan I sometimes feel like I can't even help by getting money straight to an artist I iove. Maybe we need more virtual tip jars or something.

[@TheCommoners]

Premium content guys... we feel you on this one.

[@CorbCorbin]

You guys just need Jimmy Fallon from Almost Famous, to show up with the plane now.

[@PugetSoundFlyer]

If I loved this band any more, I'd have to marry it!

[@GroundbreakGames]

Too many leeches. The musicians need a union to buy our own venues and promote our own shows. A co-op venue system like like Nation Sized. These bottom feeders leeching off the talent of the artist needs to STOP.

[@RasMix1]

unions are leeches. we need a huge return to record stores everywhere and a rebirth of independent distribution. better venues not centered around the sales of alcohol would be good too.

[@NezNen]

You probably hear this all the time. You sound so much like Jonah Hill 😅

[@tetrgonofficial1074]

His voice sounds like Sonny Moore 😲

[@avishmusic]

damn that part when the live footage of that song hits. so so sick

[@vivvar2000]

I can put up with low pay, but cheating an artist, its way too much

[@MrBongobongbongo]

You either 3hour Ween show or you don't, and it shows.

[@LukeSebStaniland]

Yo, come to the UK I'm so sold on you guys now!

[@phoebexxlouise]

WHY doesn't this have 1M views

[@hahamasala]

Interesting, and thanks for sharing. Conferences and events are kind of the same way. They charge for EVERYTHING.

[@crankcaviar]

Appreciate you guys going to bat for all of us. Keep fighting the good fight!

[@BeauregardHall]

KZbin threw y'all up on my feed on Saturday night and I've become a big ol' fan in just three days. Great work with these videos and your amazing songs.

[@Pracemusic]

bought 2 copies of Hotel TV while watching this. thank you so much for standing up and speaking out!!!

[@onthewater4020]

Look I love you guys but it's Vancouver, BC, not Vancouver, California

[@devinthegreig]

You’re telling me, when I was too young and hungry to think clearly my band signed a record deal to get on a huge international tour where we would open for the package (and I would actually be drumming for the middle act as well) It was an amazing tour, made so many friends and connections and people loved our music. However, I learned what the headliner/co-headliner were making in guarantees alone and felt sick. Like they disclosed it to us because they were solid dudes, it wasn’t them that was shafting us, but outside of my middle act pay, my actual band got 100 a night for a 40 show tour where we got a slight per diem and I had to drive us in an Astro van on the looooong over night drives following the tour bus. In hindsight the experience was amazing and the live shows were unbelievable but it was the first step in seeing how predatory labels:management can be before it eventually cost us our band as a whole.

[@CarolineReadsbooks]

Dang Clyde! I saw the hearing in front of congress, but I hadn’t heard of you guys and your band yet. You guys are making change happen and are advocating for people in the industry. That is amazing! I love you guys, and wish you the most success!

[@Jeff-fy1fp]

Hey promoters, maybe stop piling on fees for stuff that you are not actually providing or are doing a poor job of providing,… you’ll feel better about yourselves.

[@MooNote_Music_Workshop]

Thanks for sharing Lawrence! I'm a huge fan of the music you've created. It's a pity I can't travel to another country to attend your live performance. I still believe artists should receive fair compensation for their work. I support your position on advocating for artists' rights.

[@CRASS2047]

Seems like every artist needs to have a subscription based website for fans to directly pay the artist. The whole industry needs an overhaul.

[@AnAfriCanuck]

hell yeah guys, this video is my introduction to your band and I cant wait to support you next time you come to Vancouver!

[@TheAmericanIndie]

yall fighting the good fight

[@spncryang]

thank you for fighting the good fight so that bands like mine can succeed in the future. much love keep going.

[@ShortP1089]

this video should have more than 37k views by now. it's really important for the public to see

[@HoeplessAlexis]

Ticketmaster and live nation make me mad as a fan and concert goer Makes me sad to hear y’all are barely getting a dime of the money we spend to see you :/

[@simplyafederalist]

Its what happens when you allow monoplies. Break up ticketmaster/live nation. But tour has always been hard and its hard to make money as a promoter.

[@RichardReadey]

So well put - thank you for fighting for the little guys! 🤘

[@dannyblau3850]

That really is such a vital thing in making a career in music. First and foremost are you good and can you actually do the gig properly, but like 1A behind that, are you a good hang? You have so much time you have to spend together especially on tour or steady week in and out gigging.

[@notahotshot]

I can't understand how anybody can be surprised by the situation in the music industry. Artists have been telling us about this as long as the industry has been around. The publishers, promoters, and venues have always taken the lions share of the revenue.