What do folk singers make?

There was an article in this past week's Parade on how much people in different occupations make. One of the people listed was Slaid Cleaves, one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Slaid is as talented as anyone out there. He gets national air play albeit on mainly public radio stations. He tours most of the year. And what did he earn last year? $30,000. That's a disgrace. I can't for the life of me figure out why he isn't bigger. He seems to have everything going for him. But even at his modest level of success he should be doing better than that. I know I do my part. I've seen him a more than a dozen times the last few years and bought all of his CDs. You have to support your favorite artists. Buy their CDs and recommend them to your friends. So check out Slaid's website and see when he's playing near you. Believe me you'll love him when you see him.

Though I have no idea what Peter Mulvey makes, I suspect he's in the same boat. He's been all over national radio, had a full song of his played on the season finale of Felicity, toured all over the place and released lots of albums. He has a loyal national audience, but when you're playing clubs and making $100-200 a night a few nights a week for part of the year, minus gas, minus Goody's cut when he's around, minus business overhead, etc. CD sales help too, but then you're losing cuts to every middleman. Unfortunately, you just aren't going to make much money as a folkie.

Of course on the other end of the spectrum you have people who are rolling in the dough. I think the biggest thing that could help touring folkies is a leveling of the playing field, which the Internet is starting to bring. Take, for instance, the case of Launch. The idea: you tell it what music you like, and it'll play you songs that it thinks you'll like. You rate each song, and it gets better at knowing what you like. You like Moxy Fruvous? A few other people who like MF also like this band called "Eddie From Ohio", so let's see if you do.

I really believe that if this idea of "customized radio" becomes more widespread, then people won't need to settle for hearing N'Sync every five minutes. They'll find other performers who need the money and fit their interests better.

I think you can pretty much say that of any musician.  It really is the scant few who do well enough to make even a decent living.  Those living the life of millionaires are even further and fewer between.

It's a tough decision to do music "full-time".  DVN spent many years as a part-time act before finally making it their meal ticket, and we've heard the stories of what EFO's parents though of when they said they were going to do it full time. "What are you going to do, play at Bad Habits for the rest of your life?"

Many bands have broken up because of getting to a level where you have to make that decision of making the jump to full time.  I know this because I've seen it when I was in the ska/punk scene.  One particular band, One Cool Guy, had a VERY big following in NJ, but outside of NJ they had nothing.  The question arose in the band whether to pursue this full time, and it was a hung jury.  The band broke up.

I have to give kudos to bands that do decide to take the chance to go it full time, because it is an awful risk.  If you fail, it's tough to get back to trying to establish a "real" job.

My opinions here, feel free to disagree.

I'm afraid that the promise of "customized radio" is a chimera. When everything is available then you can't find anything. It just comes down to word of mouth. Mass market radio serves a real purpose. It becomes someone's job to wade through the music released and separate the wheat from the chaff. Not that long ago it was possible for one person to actually listen to every single album released in a year. Now that would take more time than there is in a year. This forces music to become more balkanized. The situation has become more people dividing the same pie. It's a zero sum game. For folk singers to make more money what really has to happen is for less of them to make any money at all or for a greater percentage of money spent on music to go to folk. I'd love for that to happen and it might. There are periodic folk revivals.

What's really depressing was that he was listed next to Mandy Moore, who earned $4 million last year.

Mandy Moore doesn't make all of her money from music.  She also makes money off of movie roles and endorsements.  How many endorsements does Slaid have?

Music, last I knew.....

You took my response Nate!

;)

Booyah!

I can make a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl...

boooo!

hahahahah I love those movies. :D

But that's not important right now...

A hospital? What is it?

It's a big building with patients...but that's not important right now.

"Captain, how soon can you land?"
"I can't tell. "
"You can tell me. I'm a doctor. "
"No. I mean I'm just not sure. "
"Well, can't you take a guess? "
"Well, not for another two hours. "
"You can't take a guess for another two hours?"

The fog was getting thicker...And Leon's getting Larger!

"Well, there was a choice, steak or fish."
"Yes, I remember. I had the lasagna."

"You got a letter from headquarters this morning."
"What is it?"
"It's a big building where generals meet, but that's not important."

Johnny tell me everything that's happened up until now...

...well first the earth cooled...and then the dinosaurs came...but they got too big and fat...so they all died and turned into oil...and then the Arabs came and they bought Mercedes Benzes....

"Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"It's an interrogative statement, used to test knowledge, but that's not important right now, mister."

okay. um. please someone tell me what that was all about :D

The Airplane! movies. :)

See here and here.

They're classics!!!! You must see them.

And then Prince Charles started wearing all of Princess Di's clothes...

And how about a game like Hollywood Squares, but with kids!   Gary Coleman could host!

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

PANCAKES!!!!

Sausage!

An excellent stew.

mmm.. folk singer stew....

Leave it to us to take a serious forum question and turn it into a geek fest. :)