Mastadon guitarist on streaming music

[Flint]

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/new...sists_explains_why_band_t-shirts_cost_50.html

Interesting. Nothing we haven't heard before, but it comes from someone else and is more raw.

 

[Dentman]

Sad. It seems we seldom have middle ground on anything these days, everything is degrees of extremes.

 

[Flint]

Well, regardless of the musicians and writing, if it costs more than $100K to make a good album to modern standards and another $60K a month to tour, how do you make a living if the only income is 50% of ticket sales, 60% of merchandise sales, and 25% of streaming sales at $2 per track. If you are a talented 40 year old with a wife and kids, you won't want to travel in a broken down van and be your own roadie for a 6 month tour.

 

[Dentman]

Well, regardless of the musicians and writing, if it costs more than $100K to make a good album to modern standards and another $60K a month to tour, how do you make a living if the only income is 50% of ticket sales, 60% of merchandise sales, and 25% of streaming sales at $2 per track. If you are a talented 40 year old with a wife and kids, you won't want to travel in a broken down van and be your own roadie for a 6 month tour.

My reply was incomplete. What I meant was music went from pretty expensive to so cheap artist cant sustain a modest lifestyle.
By the way this guy is my nephews neighbor.