Revealing the fees of singers.

The controversy surrounding musician Phu Quang's story about singer Ngoc Anh 3A demanding a fee of 10,000 USD has attracted significant public attention in recent days. Industry insiders believe it's a normal fee, well-deserved for an overseas singer of Ngoc Anh's caliber. However, many others agree with Phu Quang, arguing that the singer, born in 1975, "lacked sincerity" and prioritized money over her close relationship with her favorite musician.

For the general public, $10,000 per show is a specific figure, but it's difficult to quantify and assess whether it's high or low because performance fees have always been a sensitive issue. Artists almost never disclose their fees, even when asked. Organizers also behave similarly, or if they do answer, they only give a difference.

Bang Kieu once received a fee of 15,000 USD per show.

A defining characteristic of Hanoi's entertainment market is its large-scale music nights, held in theaters. These events also bring together the most singers from various genres, both domestic and international.

Concerts at theaters are generally divided into three types: solo live shows by singers (which can be self-organized or supported by an organization), live shows dedicated to composers/songwriters (such as Trinh Cong Son, Phu Quang, Lam Phuong, etc.), and themed concerts featuring multiple artists (usually organized by professional media and event companies).

Typically, unless it's a solo live show, each singer performs about 2-4 songs, possibly an additional song if the audience is enthusiastic. The fee for this type of theater concert for A-list singers in Vietnam ranges from 80-140 million VND. Some A-list overseas singers may command even higher fees, up to 10,000 USD per show, equivalent to 220 million VND.

A representative from an event organizing agency stated that My Tam, Dam Vinh Hung, and Le Quyen command fees ranging from 100-140 million VND for major shows. This is also the amount organizers have to pay when inviting Son Tung M-TP.

In 2015, there was a public uproar when it was revealed that Bang Kieu's fee for the "Night of Lovers 2" live show was as high as $15,000.

Also during this performance, Quang Le sang two songs and received a fee of 7,000 USD. The singers Tuan Ngoc and Khanh Ha received a fee of 10,000 USD.

According to Zing.vn, after two years, the performance fees of overseas singers like Bang Kieu, Tuan Ngoc, and Khanh Ha are no longer as "expensive" as before, but still remain at around $10,000 per show. Typically, those who accept this price do not receive any support for hotel or airfare.

Although they are both A-list stars, domestic singers often receive lower fees than their counterparts from overseas, even if the difference is not significant.

A representative from an event organizing company stated that My Tam, Dam Vinh Hung, and Le Quyen command fees ranging from 100 to 140 million VND for major shows. This is also the amount organizers have to pay when inviting Son Tung M-TP.

Divas and divos like Thanh Lam, Hong Nhung, My Linh, and Tung Duong command slightly lower fees, ranging from 80-120 million VND per major show. In the Hanoi market, divas and divos are in high demand for concert shows. In 2017, these divas both performed in joint concerts and were guest performers at concerts by their colleagues.

Revolutionary music stars like Trong Tan and Anh Tho command performance fees comparable to divas and divos. Beyond the Hanoi market, these revolutionary music singers are also in high demand for shows in the provinces. Thanks to this, they earn a considerable income.

In an interview with Zing.vn not long ago, Anh Thơ said that she doesn't sing at parties or weddings, only at music nights and in the provinces, but "she has more money than she can spend." "If anyone asks whether my income is low or high, I can confidently say that it's not low," the female singer stated.

There is a significant difference in fees between A-list and B-list singers.

Speaking to reporters, a singer's manager said that performance fees are not only a "sensitive" issue but also a "very sensitive" one. It's "sensitive" because if the exact fee is revealed, the singer is easily pressured into accepting lower prices. "For example, if you publicly state you receive 50 million VND per show, other shows will only pay that amount, never more," the manager said.

However, not only the artists but also the organizers, despite being quite open with the media, often remain silent when asked about their fees. Representatives from some organizations agreed to answer but did not want to be named, as a singer's fee sometimes depends on the nature and genre of the program.

"Ticketed concerts have different fees than commemorative or tribute concerts. For some charity events, singers may only receive a very low fee," this person said.

When asked about the pay difference between A-list and B-list singers, industry insiders all give the same answer: "The difference is quite significant." A-list singers can receive over 100 million VND per concert or event, but B-list singers will only get around 30-50 million VND.

Speaking to reporters, the manager of a singer said that artists like Nhat Thuy and Duong Hoang Yen typically charge 30-40 million VND per show. In the Hanoi market, these two are highly sought-after performers for events.

30-40 million VND per show is also the fee for the OPlus group. Singer Quang Minh - the leader of OPlus - admitted that the fee for a music group in Vietnam is often only equal to that of a solo singer. Meanwhile, the cost of accommodation and travel that the group has to pay for 4 members is many times greater than that of a single singer.

"A band usually has to invest much more, not to mention that when receiving a new song, arranging and mixing harmonies also takes a lot of time. It's almost like starting from scratch. Therefore, a band that doesn't work professionally will find it very difficult to reach an agreement on performance fees with the organizers," the leader of Oplus confided.

Violinist Hoang Rob, who previously won the New Artist of the Year award at the Dedication Music Awards, also commands a fee of over 40 million VND. The artist stated that his fee increased after focusing on investing in his work with albums and solo concerts.

"In 2012, when I was just starting out, I only earned about 400,000 VND for each performance at live music venues. Now, my fees have increased more than 100 times," the male artist added.

When asked about the highest fee he had ever received, Hoang Rob declined to answer. However, a friend of the artist revealed that he once received 80 million VND per show, a price comparable to that of some A-list stars in the country.

Hoang Rob also said that for high-level programs requiring extensive rehearsals or performances abroad, he finds it difficult to charge a low price. However, for charity events, the violinist doesn't prioritize his fee.

Besides charity events, artists often don't prioritize fees for television appearances. The manager of the group OPlus stated that while the fees for singing on television aren't usually high, the artists' images are brought closer to the audience.