The Age Of Entitlement - Hand Outs In The Music Industry

When looking through the list of potential revenue streams and sources of income listed in the second lecture it was really interesting to see all of the different ways that creatives can make a living. However one source made me roll my eyes and give a small groan of displeasure, crowdfunding, specifically Patreon. Crowdfunding is a marvellous way to get independent projects off the ground and generate awareness for both the artist and the project itself. With Patreon though, I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that you can ask for people to pay you a "wage" so that you can make your art or music.

For the purposes of this response I am going to focus more on music. Purely because I am a musician. Until recently the music industry generated a lot of income and jobs, by no means is it dead but it has atrophied in a way that no one saw coming. However it's absolutely no secret that being a musician and making an income from playing music in the 21st century is difficult. A study conducted by Entertainment Assist noted that 63% of people employed within the entertainment industry make less than the national minimum wage (Carr, M. 2015). The question must be asked then, what is my issue with Patreon? It sounds as though it could help someone like me. I'll elaborate on some things and then get to that

When looking at the history of music, the incredibly profitable period that was the 60's through to the 90's was really the blink of an eye and it has left a very skewed perception of how easy it was to be a professional musician. Ultimately it was a very broken and unregulated system that failed to adapt to modern trends and technology which is why a computer company sells more records than the smouldering ashes of Warner Bros. The more time spent moaning about the way things used to be means that bands fail to look at the new opportunities presented to them. The collapse of the major label influenced industry has only added strength to independents. Allowing artists more control over their final products, a stronger business relationship between artist and label and more money from sales and touring going directly to bands.

One huge positive to be considered is that the quality of recorded music that is released and distributed can really only improve. Given that there is less money available labels will be far more considered in choosing the acts to promote and release. Obviously this makes things more competitive but it drives individuals to work harder than the next act ultimately resulting in a better product. We are currently looking at what really can be considered the best period in music since the start of the 60's from both an artist and fan perspective.

Patreon is a flawed system because it relies on fans to give money monthly rather than a once off and it adds to the idea that bands are entitled to live the rock and roll dream in the 21st century. What happens when fans decided they don't want to donate any more and would rather pay their own bills? Local Melbourne band Ne Obliviscarus started a Patreon campaign earlier this year looking to raise $16,353AUD per month (Rhombus, E. 2016) or what would be the equivalent of Australian minimum wage for all 6 members. The reasoning behind this was that given the current state of the music industry wanting to do the band full time meant that they could not meet employment, financial and parental commitments (Ne Obliviscarus. 2016). In asking fans to support them in pursuing their dreams they are literally asking for money to cover their adult responsibilities while they take a trip around the world to play their instruments. Music is not free and musicians deserve to be paid but someone giving you $10 a month for a year to see a video of you in the studio a few weeks before you put it on Youtube or hang out with you at a show is disrespectful and lacks integrity.

There is absolutely no quick fix for making sure that musicians make enough to survive and continue creating. Changes are already happening within the music industry with organisations like APRA and Music Victoria making sure that artists are paid and supported properly. Recently the Australian Greens Party proposed a living wage for artists (Cuthbertson, D. 2016). I am not 100% certain this is the right change to be making but it is important that the government involves itself to a degree as a thriving arts cultures only contribute to cities being international tourism destinations. Ultimately though, creatives do not do what they do because they dream of turning it into a full time profession. They do it because broken down cars you can't afford to fix, failed relationships, shit jobs, no jobs and eating peanut butter on toast 3 meals a day really mean nothing when you get to play to a handful of people that resonate with your expression. "Making it" is really just a pleasant surprise not a destination

References

1. Music Feeds. Retrieved 8 June, 2016, from http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/shocking-mental-health-figures-in-entertainment-industry-revealed-by-new-study/

2. Metal Sucks. Retrieved 8 June, 2016, from http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/03/04/ne-obliviscaris-launch-patreon-campaign-keep-touring/

3. Patreon. Retrieved 8 June, 2016, from https://www.patreon.com/neobliviscaris?ty=h

4. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 June, 2016, from http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/arts-for-the-dole-greens-propose-living-wage-for-creatives-as-part-of-election-policy-20160607-gpddk6.html

5. Illustration of Joe Hockey smoking a cigar by Jonathon Bentley, Retrieved 8 June, 2016, from http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-treasurer-joe-hockeys-image-goes-up-in-smoke-and-that-cigar-puffing-image-will-go-straight-to-the-pool-room/story-fnihsr9v-1226915007293

#Patreon #NeObliviscarus #HeavyMetal #Metal #Music #Melbourne #LiveMusic #Arts #JoeHockey