How Will Musicians Survive The Spotify Era

meccalecca · 2013-08-14T16:58:44-04:00

I just finished reading this rather thoughtful discussion between Sasha Frere Jones, Dave Allen (Gang of Four), DJ Rupture, and Damon Krukowski (Galaxie 500) https://www.newyorker.com/culture/sasha-frere-jones/cash-on-the-pinhead All four of them make a lot of great points. I found this particularly intersting: Allen: O.K. The Gang of Four reunion in 2005 through 2008 netted me more income in those three years than I’d ever made in all the prior years of touring with the band. My other outfit, Shriekback, was a “studio-only band” for a span of an EP and two albums, and weirdly (although probably, obviously, with hindsight) the lack of live shows created demand—ex-Gang of Four member, ex-XTC member. When we lit out on tour we had audiences! And Shriekback on the tour circuit created a better stream of income for me than G4. But this discussion shouldn’t really center on musicians’ income or the lack thereof. I believe that’s where the search for solutions takes a wrong turn. It has always been difficult to make a living as an artist—and I mean artist generically, whatever the preferred medium. I chose to be a part of the system back in 1979 by signing to EMI Records and Warner Bros. Records for our record deal, and to EMI Publishing and Warner Chappel to administer my publishing rights. For those actions I received advances. Thirty-four years later I remain un-recouped with EMI Records and finally, in the last five years, in the black with the Warner Music Group. Those companies still control our master rights (recordings) and my publishing rights. And for the last two decades the Internet brought about profound change. So we can’t cry over spilt milk, over those original deals that don’t help us now in the new music world. We must adapt and move on.

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kramerfan86 Profile

IMO for bands it always has been and always will be about touring. Albums, streaming, radio royalties, etc are never going to fork over a large slice of the pie. Streaming isnt particularly different or worse in that regard. Best a band can hope for is people become fans off these low return (for them) avenues and turn around and buy tickets. its certainly not fair, but its certainly not a new concept.
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Kiki

meccalecca wrote:

A reminder that it was never really easy for bands...

Link

Well told story. Before I knew anything about touring I considered it like some romantic adventure.

bonafini Profile
Rio de Janeiro

I'm in favour of the abolition of rights. It would stop this madly commercial and made-to-sell pop shit.

Kool Keith Sweat

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