When a Record Label or PR Firm Asks You to Cover a Show: What It Really Means for Media Outlets

By: Terrell Stewart

I see this asked about on concert photographer pages on Facebook, "do I or should I ask to be paid"? That's up to the person being asked.
 Here is "my" take when this happens and it has happened a number of times over the years to me and I have had repeated requests! I have been ridiculed, insulted, told I don't value myself, and you're stupid to do this and not get paid! Oh, but I do get paid in a way that I am very very happy with. I got excited about photography and music as a kid, in the 1950's. The thought of combining the two didn't happen till the summer of 1977. I was going to a concert, Styx and April wine. I had a cheap 35mm film camera and had no clue what I was doing. I did this for 3+ years until a stop was put to it. A story for another time. 

Fast forward to 2014 Memorial weekend in Colorado Springs where I was living at the time. I heard a song on the radio that blew me away, Avatar’s, “Let it Burn”! The DJ said they would be playing at Sunshine Studios Live the day after Memorial day. I went down to Sunshine Studios on Memorial Day, met the owner Tony and asked him if I could shoot Avatar the next night. Little did I know then, my life was about to change. He said yes and the biggest door of my concert photographer career opened! A week later I was sitting at a conference table at 94.3 KILO radio and the second biggest door opened! Since that day, I have covered bands from 33 different countries, two rock festivals in Denver, 2016 and 2017 High Elevations Rock Festivals. And, Metallica at Mile High Stadium in Denver in front of 52,000 fans in 2017. And I was not
paid a dime!

Now back to the original question, When you are asked by a record label or pr firm to cover shows for them, "do I or should I ask to be paid"? Again, that's up to the person being asked. Me, I don’t bat an eye, the answer is always yes unless I have a show on the same night “and” approved for it. Also, you may be asked to cover artists in a genre you might not normally cover. But! When Sony Music, Columbia, Frontiers Music, and others, Along with PR firms that ask you to cover bands that they are working with, It opens doors, work with them and you may be asked again and again. I was! Not only does this look good for you, it looks good for the publications you work with. Have I turned down a request before, yes I have! Because I was already scheduled for another show. When that happens, it is usually because they ask to close to their bands show schedule. I have more than once mentioned to those folks to please contact me sooner so I can work with them. They do oblige and we both make out.

And by the way, those record labels I mentioned, yes I was asked to cover their artist’s. Now, are you only covering one genre of music, or are you open to covering any genre of music? How about this list of genres, I have covered and asked more than once! I’ll start with the easy ones, South Korean K-Pop, Hip Hop, Grunge, Industrial, Metal of various types, Heavy, Thrash, Symphonic, Power, Death, Melodic, Rock, Classic Rock, Punk, Electronic, Rap, Alternative, and I could go on and on! Lastly, how about a few of the counties I have covered bands from. Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Brazil, India, Mongolia, Greece, all the Scandinavian countries, Moldova, South Korea, and so many more! 

Money can’t buy this for the average person but, the bands I have seen, the people I have met. The people years later say hi with a big hug when you see them. When they actively follow you on social media and sometimes ask, do you need a ticket and photo pass for our show! Oh yes, I have been paid very well over the last 11+ years.

Terrell Stewart Concert photographer and reviewer for Sound Fury Magazine