UPDATE 2/20/16: Woodstock is currently contemplating its 50th anniversary, which is exciting considering what kinds of acts might even be booked for such an event. We won’t know about that for another couple years (the 50th anniversary isn’t until 2019), but for the time being, we’re likely seeing the birth of some major musical players that could grace a stage in 3 year’s time. For more information on the 50th anniversary, head here.
Partying in style does not come cheap. Renowned DJs such as Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Hardwell, Tiesto, Afrojack, Martin Garrix and Oliver Heldens all have a price and it’s far from budget, starting as high as $500,000 and ending as low as $30,000. These approximate prices are estimated earnings per gig, so if you plan on booking these guys for anything extravagant, I suggest checking your piggy bank twice before putting in an initial request. In comparison to Woodstock, a prominent rock festival to date, artists’ earnings create a colossal gap. Well known rockers such as Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez could only dream of paychecks as high as today’s EDM sensations. According to Ultimate Guitar, the earnings of artists performing at Woodstock ’69 are as follows:
Note: Dollar amount in parenthesis is booking cost adjusted for inflation.
1. Jimi Hendrix – $18,000 ($114,624.69)
2. Blood, Sweat and Tears – $15,000 ($95,520.57)
3. Joan Baez – $10,000 ($63,680.38)
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival – $10,000 ($63,680.38)
5. The Band – $7,500 ($47,760.29)
6. Janis Joplin – $7,500 ($47,760.29)
7. Jefferson Airplane – $7,500 ($47,760.29)
8. Sly and the Family Stone – $7,000 ($44,576.27)
9. Canned Heat – $6,500 ($41,392.25)
10. The Who – $6,250 ($39,800.24)
11. Richie Havens – $6,000 ($38,208.23)
12. Arlo Guthrie – $5,000 ($31,840.19)
13. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – $5,000 ($31,840.19)
14. Ravi Shankar – $4,500 ($28,656.17)
15. Johnny Winter – $3,750 ($23,880.14)
16. Ten Years After – $3,250 ($20,696.12)
17. Country Joe and the Fish – $2,500 ($15,920.10)
18. Grateful Dead – $2,500 ($15,920.10)
19. The Incredible String Band – $2,250 ($14,328.09)
20. Mountain – $2,000 ($12,736.08)
21. Tim Hardin – $2,000 ($12,736.08)
22. Joe Cocker – $1,375 ($8,756.05)
23. Sweetwater – $1,250 ($7,960.05)
24. John B. Sebastian – $1,000 ($6,368.04)
25. Melanie – $750 ($4,776.03)
26. Santana – $750 ($4,776.03)
27. Sha Na Na – $700 ($4,457.63)
28. Keef Hartley – $500 ($3,184.02)
29. Quill – $375 ($2,388.01)
Before you freak out and deem the world unfair, keep in mind that the inflation from ’69 til today estimates $18,000 to be the equivalent of over $100,000. Although in comparison, Calvin Harris makes $400,000 per show, David Guetta cost $350,000 and Martin Garrix charges $100,000…
Source: EDM Sauce/Ultimate Guitar.
