The performers at the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair, commonly known as Woodstock, were not paid their regular performance fees. The festival, held from August 15 to 18, 1969, at Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York, was known for its emphasis on peace, love, and music, and it attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees.
Due to various logistical and financial challenges leading up to the festival, the organizers encountered difficulties securing enough funds to pay the artists their standard fees. As a result, many of the performers agreed to perform for free or for reduced compensation as a gesture of solidarity with the counterculture movement and the festival’s ideals.
Some artists who performed at Woodstock include Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Santana, and many others. These iconic musicians saw the event as an opportunity to reach a massive audience and to be part of a historic cultural moment, even without the promise of substantial financial gain.
While some artists did negotiate compensation after their performances, the majority participated with the understanding that Woodstock was a unique opportunity to connect with a large, receptive audience and to be part of a defining moment in music and cultural history. As a result, Woodstock became an enduring symbol of the 1960s counterculture movement and the spirit of unity, peace, and music.
For example, some of the more well-known artists who performed at Woodstock and their approximate compensation (if any) include:
– Jimi Hendrix: Reportedly received one of the higher fees, around $18,000.
– The Who: Were paid around $11,200.
– Janis Joplin: Received $7,500.
– Joe Cocker: Earned $1,375.