Music Industry News and Stuff

Hi Peggy

 

I agree with what you say about stats, but it's also about how statements are framed.

• is this data real rather than a Spotify-inflated marketing smokescreen? (Is it independently audited?)
• "earning enough to live" ... what does that actually mean?
  • Enough to raise a family and pay a mortgage?
  • Enough to cover the artist's expenses like manager, advertising, insurance, equipment, travel and accommodation, services (like websites, recording), etc..?
• In the U.S. the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour (about $15,000 annually).
  https://www.minimum-wage.org/federal
  I certainly could not live on that, and I'm retired, married and live in my own house!
• I believe that most 'artists' still live with parents or couch-surf due to poor income
• "36,100 artists generated between $10k and $50k on Spotify last year".  Quick back-of-the-envelope calcs indicate less than 20,000 of these artists will earn over $20,000.  And that's world-wide!

 

Cheers,

Greg

@GregB

I am in the same situation as you and believe we are also the same age.  I have owned businesses alongside playing Music and the union also has a pension fund.  My money has always come from having multiple sources of income.

 

I do this now simply because I can and I enjoy doing it.  I would not expect to live off selling music on the web.  Both our overheads are probably too high to risk on that assumption.

20 minutes ago, GregB said:

 

I agree with what you say about stats, but it's also about how statements are framed.

Oh yes, I completely agree.  I could have included several articles of analysis that used or highlighted the numbers in other ways bringing out different perspectives.  It might be fun to add those links in here.  

 

I'm not completely sure, but these numbers, I think are by Spotify. 

 

Living on Spotify, numbers for most of those receiving payments, not very likely and including other streaming services may get someone alittle closer but still would be a reach.

54 minutes ago, Clay Anderson Johnson said:

money has always come from having multiple sources of income.

I know it's a pain in the a**, but I've always been a big proponent of merchandise for artists and bands (start small) as an additional income source.  Especially now, with such inexpensive availability of the music.  I surely have purchased a lot of favorite bands/artists t-shirts, decals, pictures/artwork, probably mouse pads and socks, too. Haha.   

24 minutes ago, Peggy said:

I know it's a pain in the a**, but I've always been a big proponent of merchandise for artists and bands (start small) as an additional income source.  Especially now, with such inexpensive availability of the music.  I surely have a lot of t-shirts, decals, pictures/artwork, probably mouse pads and socks, too. Haha.   

 

The lion's share of my income has come from owning an Events Production company and a commercial website development company for businesses not individuals.

 

I have made money playing Music both live and in a studio however the other two produced much, much more which allowed me to pursue Music. I am a union member so I make good money when I play.  However that has never been my sole income nor did I wish it to be.

Edited March 26, 2022 by Clay Anderson Johnson

I think most, probably have  additional income source(s) probably even as the primary income.  Did you work with a studio as a session musician?

1 hour ago, Peggy said:

I think most, probably have  additional income source(s) probably even as the primary income.  Did you work with a studio as a session musician?

 

I have in several, not for the studio but picked for an individual assignment. In early 2020 I was hospitalized with Covid for 28 days and suffered neurological damage.  This severely hampered my ability to play and can no longer do so at a professional studio level.  

 

I although I am a member there I have never lived in Nashville only gone there on short trips for work, usually staying with a friend who passed away from a stroke in 2020.  I don't like tourists.  

 

I actually live in a very small town just outside of DC in Maryland.  It is close to the city for dining and entertainment but very quiet, with no crime, as it is upper income with more police than you can imagine. There are so many cops you cannot leave home without seeing at least one and there are often 5-6 squad cars in a group on the main street. 

 

I keep my union membership more out of solidarity with AFM than for income.  I am a big believer in unions and collective bargaining to protect musicians. 

 

This is when I started my first DAW recordings last Summer.  I never used one until then.  I also built my first home studio in a spare bedroom at that time.

 

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Clay Anderson Johnson

16 hours ago, GregB said:

is this data real rather than a Spotify-inflated marketing smokescreen? (Is it independently audited?)

 

 

16 hours ago, Peggy said:

 

I'm not completely sure, but these numbers, I think are by Spotify. 

 

Spotify launched its Loud & Clear website in March 2021

 

https://musically.com/2022/03/24/spotify-loud-clear-site-payouts/