A lesson for the recording industry

(originally posted 2004-10-21 16:48:18)

Béla Fleck is quoted in USA TODAY as saying that "concerts reflect 70% of the band's income, records 20% and merchandising 10%" and they gross about $9 million for 120 shows.

Perhaps next to Phish and the Dead, the Flecktones have to be the most widely taped band on the planet.  They let people tape, but not sell their concerts.   You can get a good recording of just about any Flecktones gig if you look hard enough.

On top of this, Flecktones tickets are about $30.  That's cheap for a concert these days.

So how do they still make money?

It's simple.  Their music doesn't suck and they are incredibly talented.

They don't need to sue their fans to get them to come to the concerts.

That's a lesson for the music industry if there ever was one.