Top-grossing artists of 2006: a couple obvious questions for the music industry
Who were the top-earning acts in music in 2006? USA Today‘s list probably has some surprises for you unless you’re an industry insider who sees the numbers every day.
These results ought to scare the pants off the music industry. You have The Stones, three country acts, Madonna/Celine/Streisand, Bon Jovi, Nickelback and Dave Matthews.
Notice anything missing? Yeah – where is the viable, relevant contemporary rock here?
The Stones are making it with a dinosaur tour (and I say that with all due respect to the legends that they are – they’re rock gods, but they haven’t been relevant for centuries). Dave Matthews is an established jam act. If you like him, great, but he’s not the Next Big Thing. And Nickelback? Bitch, please…
Where are the bands who are moving rock forward. Where’s the innovation?
Well, obviously there are plenty of creative acts out there (like VAST, shown here). I can tell you where to find a lot of fantastic bands who ought to be selling out stadiums and watching their voice mail recordings go platinum (here’s some – ooh, and here’s some more), but unfortunately, the cooler, rock-forward artists have been just about entirely unhitched from the revenue machines.
If I were an exec at a label or a radio chain, this would keep me up at night. Oh, no it wouldn’t – if I were an industry exec I’d barely be smart enough not to drool on my myself. My reaction to this list would either be “damned Napster ruined everything” or “Yay! Me like Cenedion! Yay! Gimme juice box!” I wouldn’t be bright enough to realize that there aren’t any new rock bands on this list because I had abandoned the critical task of artist development, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to grasp the long-term implications. The Stones are making money in this century because somebody in the last century invested in making them stars.
So, who’s going to be making you the big bucks 40 years from now? Who are the future Stones on your label’s roster right now?
(Uhhh, dude, you got a little drool working there….)
:xpost:
lullaby pit 
I’d like to see the Dandy Warhols sell out venues and make it big. Only 600 people showed up to see them at their last date here. They still played a kick ass concert.
Jeff
I’d like to see the Dandy Warhols sell out venues and make it big. Only 600 people showed up to see them at their last date here. They still played a kick ass concert.
Jeff
I wish I had a dollar for every amazing band I’ve seen live playing to a couple hundred people (or less). Never saw the DWs, though.
I wish I had a dollar for every amazing band I’ve seen live playing to a couple hundred people (or less). Never saw the DWs, though.
You have a good point about the lack of investment in grooming the stars of tomorrow, in exchange for a quick paycheck today. Unfortunately, next year’s list is probably going to be just as bad, there’s the much reported possibility of a Police reunion tour and just recently, I saw word that Van Halen is likely to sign for forty cities with David Lee Roth.
You have a good point about the lack of investment in grooming the stars of tomorrow, in exchange for a quick paycheck today. Unfortunately, next year’s list is probably going to be just as bad, there’s the much reported possibility of a Police reunion tour and just recently, I saw word that Van Halen is likely to sign for forty cities with David Lee Roth.
I’m torn on this one. As much as I want to see new artists dominating the list, a Police reunion is something I’d kill to see. And a Diamond Dave/VH reunion would be worth the price of admission just for the inevitable can-they-hold-it-together drama.
I’m torn on this one. As much as I want to see new artists dominating the list, a Police reunion is something I’d kill to see. And a Diamond Dave/VH reunion would be worth the price of admission just for the inevitable can-they-hold-it-together drama.
OK – It sounds like Sting would get both of our money because I’ve only seen him solo and never bothered to see them, back when they were a band.
Of course, I’ve also never seen Van Halen, but you may appreciate this: When I was a teen, I remember that we once parked outside of Reynolds Coliseum, laid on the hood and listened to the show. That was long before “Jump”, I want to say it was ’78 or ’79, but that’s the closest I’ve ever come to seeing VH. Though, I do have a couple of their disks, a greatest hits with Diamond Dave and at least one, if not two of Van Hagar.
OK – It sounds like Sting would get both of our money because I’ve only seen him solo and never bothered to see them, back when they were a band.
Of course, I’ve also never seen Van Halen, but you may appreciate this: When I was a teen, I remember that we once parked outside of Reynolds Coliseum, laid on the hood and listened to the show. That was long before “Jump”, I want to say it was ’78 or ’79, but that’s the closest I’ve ever come to seeing VH. Though, I do have a couple of their disks, a greatest hits with Diamond Dave and at least one, if not two of Van Hagar.
Awww. Jessica “I don’t know what it means, but i waunt it” Simpson didn’t make the list? That’s just downright scandalous.
Awww. Jessica “I don’t know what it means, but i waunt it” Simpson didn’t make the list? That’s just downright scandalous.