New Report : UK Audiovisual Performers’ earnings and contracts

CREATe is pleased to announce the launch of its latest report, on the earnings and contracts of UK Audiovisual Performers. This report is part of an ongoing series of longitudinal research on creators’ earnings and contracts by Arthur Ehlinger, Amy Thomas, Martin Kretschmer, Michele Battisti, and Helena Saenz de Juano Ribes, forming a key element of our new research theme, Dealing with Creators. For this study, 2,469 performers were surveyed, and a series of interviews and focus groups were conducted to capture their experiences and perspectives, adding valuable context to the quantitative findings. This independent research was commissioned and funded by the British Equity Collecting Society (BECS).

The findings reveal that performers’ median annual earnings are significantly lower than the national average, with a typical income of £17,500 per year, well below the UK median of £34,963. Earnings for performers with disabilities are alarmingly lower, at £7,500.

The report uncovers disparities in diversity within the industry. While LGBT+ performers are better represented than in the general UK population, women are underrepresented across the sector, suggesting barriers to pursuing performing arts as a career. Additionally, the industry remains a privileged profession, with more than half of performers coming from affluent backgrounds, yet these individuals do not earn more than those from less privileged backgrounds. Income differences across demographic groups are less pronounced than expected, with men and women earning similar amounts, and performers from professional backgrounds not earning significantly more than their less privileged counterparts.

Concerns about buy-outs and the extent of rights transferred to producers are rising, alongside perceptions of declining fees and royalties. In addition to a weakened bargaining power, our study evidences pervasive exploitative practices in the industry, from non-respect of contractual obligations to more severe on-stage mistreatment. Performers also expressed concerns about the growing use of AI in the industry, with 19% asked to provide images or audio for digital replicas and 8% reporting that digital lookalikes were created without their consent.

“This research comes at a time of declining earnings for creators across multiple creative industries. Last year’s SAG-AFRA strikes – the largest withdrawal of creative labour on Hollywood history – meant the ‘behind the scenes’ working conditions of performers gained global prominence. What this research shows is that none of the potential harms to performers highlighted during the SAG-AFTRA strikes are neutral or inevitable results from developing and new technologies. Rather, many of these harms are a deliberate result of strategic, corporate decision-making by powerful market gatekeepers”.

“These reports go beyond examining earnings and contracts among audiovisual performers – they reveal a broader spectrum of challenges and what we see on screen is different from the realities experienced behind the scenes. Performers are not only struggling with low incomes but are also subjected to exploitative practices, diminishing bargaining power, and the growing threat of AI. This is why this research is important, because if we fail to protect creators, we risk eroding a crucial aspect of our cultural identity.”

“Reliable statistical data about the working conditions and earnings of creators are difficult to obtain. Typically, authors, artists and performers are self-employed and survive on a portfolio of jobs. If we, as a Society, wish to incentivise and nurture creative activity, we need to know much more about how economic conditions are changing in the digital environment. This pioneering study of audio-visual performers is an important first step.”

These reports continue our long-standing work on creators’ contracts and earnings in the UK, through repeat surveys that capture the effects of digital changes on the labour market and working conditions of the creative sector. In 2023, we received ESRC Impact Acceleration (IAA) funding to formalise a Creators’ Earnings and Contracts hub.  Reports on independent authors and freelance journalists were published earlier in 2024. Surveys of directors and visual artists are under development with a range of industry partners.

Stay tuned for imminent updates from our Dealing with Creators research theme by subscribing to our newsletter.