An Excellent New Read: "A Brief History Of Why Artists Are No Longer Making A Living..."


Posted March 14th, 2019 by Ian Tamblyn. "A Brief History Of Why Artists Are No Longer Making A Living Making Music".

https://www.rootsmusic.ca/2019/03/14/a-brief-history-of-why-artists-are-no-longer-making-a-living-ma...


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Go see The Struts. $20. One of the best shows I've seen. Going to see them twice in May. A real rock show.

However, looked into Gary Clark, Jr and Leon Bridges as well. Around $100 and neither one of them are household names. I'd pay that, but not more.
Then again, how many of these artists dictate their prices vs. having a set fee and the venue dictating the prices to recoup that fee plus expenses?

Whart, I thank you very much for your extremely informative post.

(As you stated in regard to earning a living in the beginning, it has never been easy, but it's almost impossible now)
That, of course, was the key- to be able to make enough money from songwriting or performing to be able to devote full time to the art without having to work a "straight" job to put food on the table and cover the rent, kid’s needs, etc.


When there were nightclubs in St. Louis and East St. Louis, Ill, I saw many good bands and musicians who were unknown. Since I've been an avid jazz fan all of my life, I think I'm qualified to judge what's really good in comparison to all the jazz greats that have gone before now. I saw a band at a club in E. St. Louis that was truly unforgettable; one of the instruments they used was an "African finger piano", and they incorporated it in a fashion that I've never heard, nor can I find anything that resembles their music, but it was so intoxicating that the place was packed whenever they played.

That group was unique and original; they played music that set them apart from anything I've ever heard before or since, and that's not easy. Now, the places for new musicians to begin no longer exist in numbers. Believe me, I've seen and heard fantastic unknown musicians all over this country in clubs that I don't even remember; but some of them could have become household names, they were just that talented.

If you're going to raise chickens, you have to have a breeding ground, if you're going to raise musicians, you have to have nightclubs (or other venues) where they can perform live in front of audiences.