But that doesn't translate to interest lower down the food chain. E.g. with fewer pubs, there are far fewer venues for pub music now, which can mean less opportunity for cardboard box CD sales.
I'd love to see a comprehensive state of the industry report seeing who's making money and how, but I'm not sure such a thing exists.
The trade mag Music Week in the UK barely acknowledges anything and anyone who isn't signed to a major label, and they don't seem to accept that there might be more to the industry.
The pay for American musicians well below the level of the stadium shows is normally a share of the cover charge, so the more effective they are in finding places to play where they have fans, the better their income. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
here in italy, places to play are dwindling on the local level, while stadiums fill still.
only thing missing from a globalisation pov is itinerant chinese musos!
summer festas do provide some outlet, but pay is minimal, symbolic, accompanied by free food and wine.
i know very talented bands who have to show up at 6 for sound check, eat at 8, and then go on at 11 or 12 to play for 2 hours, then drive home with 50 euros a head, in time to fall asleep at dawn.
ain't living long, like this! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
