Official band merchandise is approved by the band or their management, and every sale sends royalties to the artist. With a bootleg, only the counterfeiter gets paid. Want to be sure your merch is genuinely official? Run through these four checks.
1. Licensing notice
On the wash label or next to the print, official merch carries a © notice with the band’s name and the licence year. If it is missing entirely, that is the clearest sign of a bootleg.
2. Print quality
Official prints are sharp and colourfast. Fuzzy edges, bleeding colours or a grainy print point to an illegal copy.
3. Fabric and finish
Licensed shirts are printed on solid cotton quality with neat seams. Thin, see-through material and sloppy stitching belong to cheap knock-offs.
4. Sales channel
Buy your merch at the merch stand on tour, through the band’s official site or from a licensed retailer such as Popmerch, and you are safe. Be careful with marketplaces selling through unknown sellers at prices that look too good to be true.
All merchandise at Popmerch is 100% officially licensed. Unsure about something? Our customer service answers every question within 24 hours. Also read how to keep the print sharp for years, or head back to the merchandise for bands guide.