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[Stouffers]

With the trillions of bailout dollars flying around to the movie industry, airlines, Ruths Chris Steak House, car manufacturers and other assorted small and large businesses, I think it's important we not forget the medium-small to small bands that might be having a tough time making ends meet during the shutdown.

I just got an email earlier today from They Might Be Giants:

"Clearly we have picked the wrong century to try to keep a band together. In an effort to help our people make it through this difficult time, we have put together a small compilation of some great but less exposed songs, including a few rarities that aren't on streaming sites at all. Over the years we have facilitated a number of fundraising events and we have always marveled at our audience's generosity. Now in this strange moment, it has all come home. On behalf of our co-workers, we hope you all can participate now so we can keep things going for them.

ALL proceeds will be an even 11-way split to the dedicated people John and I have relied on the most--our band and crew. "

You can access the benefit compilation album/donation page here.

 

[GHG]

Does most of the revenue for music bands/artists not already come from online sources these days anyway?

Or are they more reliant on gig's/concerts to make money?

 

[Rock And Roll]

Does most of the revenue for music bands/artists not already come from online sources these days anyway?

Or are they more reliant on gig's/concerts to make money?

There's almost no money in streaming/online avenues. All the money is made on the road

 

[GHG]

There's almost no money in streaming/online avenues. All the money is made on the road

So basically the streaming platforms act as free exposure and then they make the real money by other means.

If this goes on for much longer and concerts can't be held for another couple of years then the streaming platform model needs to be rethought. I've always wondered how anyone makes money when I'm paying the price of one album a month to get unlimited music content from all the artists and eras I want.

 

[Stouffers]

There's almost no money in streaming/online avenues. All the money is made on the road

This.

 

[lock2k]

There's almost no money in streaming/online avenues. All the money is made on the road

It depends...

MATT HEAFY: When I'm At Home, I Make Significantly More Money From TWITCH Streaming Than I Do With TRIVIUM

TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy spoke to Forbes about his Twitch channel, which boasts a total viewership of 3.5 million views and a subscriber count of over five thousand. Matt, who streams everything from video games, guitar clinics to TRIVIUM and acoustic song covers, all while he's off the road...

www.blabbermouth.net

 

[Rock And Roll]

So basically the streaming platforms act as free exposure and then they make the real money by other means.

If this goes on for much longer and concerts can't be held for another couple of years then the streaming platform model needs to be rethought. I've always wondered how anyone makes money when I'm paying the price of one album a month to get unlimited music content from all the artists and eras I want.

The biggest problem with revenue and streaming at the moment is the major labels have their paws all over it. Typically in the old days a record deal was basically you'd get 15%. So $10 album the artist gets paid out $1.50 (which then your team or management takes a cut of). The other 85% got split up between the label and the retailer for the most part.

That still exists in some form now, but if a stream generates 1 cent, that model from before is still more or less relevant. So the artist gets 15% of that penny, which once again might get divided up even further. There's a lot of industry bullshit and stuff I'm leaving out to oversimplify the payouts here.

Now if you're a newer artist/indie artist, fantastic, the majors haven't got their hands in your pockets and you can keep most of that penny. So some artists do make a decent amount off of streaming while they aren't exactly famous. But unless you are top 40 radio generating millions of streams, you won't make much of you have a label involved.

That's why most artists/bands generate the majority of their revenue from touring (and selling overpriced merch, if you wondered why T shirts are $50).

I said it years ago but overtime streaming services will effectively become the new majors and sign artists directly. That way the next generation will get the promotion and get a decent amount off of their streams. But until then they have to play nice with the major labels or they take their catalogue off the platforms.