Putting on a concert isn't cheap. Just ask anyone at the New York State Fair who puts together the entertainment lineup each year. $2.3 million was spent on Grandstand and Chevy Court acts for 2015 with Eric Church costing the most.

Eric Church's grandstand show cost the fair over $600,000 but brought in over $830,000 in ticket sales. Hank Williams Jr's show, on the other hand, didn't do as well. He was paid over $200,00 but the show only sold a little over $155,000 in tickets.

GRANSTAND:

Eric Church $617,879.50
The Cadillac Three (Church opener) $5,000
Hank Williams Jr. $200,000
Chris Stapleton (Williams opener) $18,750

Every contract comes with a 'rider' that includes artist requests. It could be anything from alcohol and food to flowers and movies. Hank Jr contract included a line saying he "shall not be required to perform before a segregated audience of any description," according to Syracuse.com.

Hank's opener, Chris Stapleton asked for a 12-pack of bottled Mexican Coca-Cola and a bottle of Colonial EH Taylor bourbon.

For the first time, Chevy Court concerts cost the fair more than the grandstand acts with Cole Swindell earning the most for a country artist.

CHEVY COURT:

Dan + Shay $30,000
The Swon Brothers $25,000
Cole Swindell $75,000
Oak Ridge Boys $40,000
Joe Nichols $45,000
Sawyer Fredricks $10,000

Concerts at the fair grandstands are a thing of the past. Shows will move to the new Lakeview Amphitheater with Live Nation booking the shows.

Artist contracts including cost and rider requests were published by Syracuse.com.. See the full list of 2015 acts and what they were paid.


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