The Manchester-based doom punk band Witch Fever has opened up about their financial struggles following a recent two-month arena tour across Europe with Volbeat. Despite the tour’s success, the band members expressed their dire financial situation, highlighting the ‘crazy’ state of the music industry today.
Singer Amy Hope Walpole shared her frustrations on the 101 Part Time Jobs podcast, stating, ‘So we’re broke as f*** – and we just did two months in arenas. We also can’t get a job because we’re back on tour in March, so nowhere will hire us.’ She revealed that she is living off her late mother’s pension, which is running out quickly, contributing to a bleak outlook.
Bassist Alex Thompson echoed her sentiments, noting that their profits are currently tied up in withholding taxes across Europe, despite having played prestigious venues like Wembley. Witch Fever, signed to a subsidiary of Sony Music, is not alone in this struggle, as other bands like The Agonist and Anthrax have recently faced similar financial challenges while touring in Europe.
Sarah Woods, Chief Executive of Help Musicians, remarked on the precarious financial landscape for musicians, citing rising travel and crew expenses, increased paperwork, and the negative impact of Brexit as significant hurdles. She emphasized the need for changes to help musicians build sustainable careers both domestically and internationally.