Friday, December 10, 2004
Just a reminder
"We don't often hear about the poverty of musicians. There is a pop culture myth, particularly prevalent among the young, that music makes you rich, fame equals fortune, and that anyone who dwells in the magic realm of television, or has their visage in the pages of a magazine, must be reaping abundant financial reward.
"Music videos are crammed with images of conspicuous excess. Stars are photographed next to swimming pools, draped in gold jewellery. We are shown footage on the news of Robbie Williams gleefully reacting to questions about his alleged £80 million deal with EMI, screaming: 'I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams.' And, of course, he is. But he is among a tiny minority in his profession.
"Only one in 10 records makes a profit, and even fewer of those make enough money to support the livelihoods of those involved."
(From "£10,000 a year –- who'd be a musician?")
¶ 12/10/2004 07:23:00 AM
"We don't often hear about the poverty of musicians. There is a pop culture myth, particularly prevalent among the young, that music makes you rich, fame equals fortune, and that anyone who dwells in the magic realm of television, or has their visage in the pages of a magazine, must be reaping abundant financial reward.
"Music videos are crammed with images of conspicuous excess. Stars are photographed next to swimming pools, draped in gold jewellery. We are shown footage on the news of Robbie Williams gleefully reacting to questions about his alleged £80 million deal with EMI, screaming: 'I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams.' And, of course, he is. But he is among a tiny minority in his profession.
"Only one in 10 records makes a profit, and even fewer of those make enough money to support the livelihoods of those involved."
(From "£10,000 a year –- who'd be a musician?")
¶ 12/10/2004 07:23:00 AM
