Band Field Music, recognized by Mercury Awards, are taking on tribute gigs monthly to plug financial gaps in their operations.
Field Music, the successful English art-rock band from Sunderland, has made a surprising move to perform as a tribute act for legendary band The Doors. This practical shift is a response to the financial challenges in the streaming era, where income from original music can be insufficient due to reduced revenue from recorded music sales and streaming royalties.
In a lengthy explanation posted on Field Music's Facebook, David Brewis, a member of the band, addressed fan Phil's question about their decision. Brewis believes that performing as a tribute act will not interfere with their ability to make their own music. He feels no embarrassment about this move and sees it as a way to apply passion, dedication, and care to music they love.
The primary reason for this decision is to generate additional income. Streaming culture has eliminated the phenomenon of casual record buying, a significant source of income for the band in the past. While streaming allows casual listeners to get the same experience without wasting money, it has impacted the band's ability to make money from streaming.
Tribute acts like those for The Doors are known for consistent audience demand because they offer a highly authentic and popular live experience. This generates steady income through live performances, which original bands, especially in niche or art-rock genres, may struggle to match financially in the current landscape.
Field Music will embark on a series of 20th anniversary tour dates in November, and they plan to perform as a tribute act about once a month to help fill a financial gap in their income. The band has a new album titled "Limits of Language" set to release in October, and they will have in-store shows throughout the month.
Despite their success, Brewis wishes for the band to be paid more than minimum wage for their level of musical expertise. He emphasises that Field Music's musical skills are "basically worthless" due to the lack of financial compensation in the current music industry.
This practical shift helps musicians sustain their careers amid declining streaming revenue and the changing economics of the music industry. Tribute bands capitalize on the nostalgia and established fanbase of iconic groups like The Doors, providing a reliable source of income when streaming alone is often insufficient for artists to make a living.
[1] Streaming Revenue and the Music Industry [2] The Impact of Streaming on the Music Industry [3] The Financial Challenges for Artists in the Streaming Era [4] The Economics of the Music Industry in the Streaming Era
- The financial challenges in the streaming era, where income from original music can be insufficient due to reduced revenue from recorded music sales and streaming royalties, have led Field Music, a successful English art-rock band, to opt for a tribute act performance as a practical solution.
- In a changing music industry, where streaming culture has eliminated the phenomenon of casual record buying and impacted artists' ability to make money from streaming, Field Music aims to generate additional income by performing as a tribute act to legendary band The Doors and touring on their 20th anniversary.
- Tribute acts like those for The Doors, known for consistent audience demand, offer a highly authentic and popular live experience, thus generating steady income through live performances, which original bands may struggle to match financially in the current landscape.
- The economics of the music industry in the streaming era have led David Brewis, a member of Field Music, to advocate for fair compensation for musicians, expressing his belief that their musical skills are "basically worthless" due to the lack of financial compensation in the current industry.
