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Today I read this article on how pirating music has been responsible for also raising concert prices. What stuck out was the concept that it is only ticket prices and touring is the only way to make money. The root of this issue can be found at the source. Unfortunately, the source is not the person who created the music, but rather the label that put out the record. The label pays a huge amount of money out to bands to make music. The label assumes it will make this money back, and in fact holds the band liable for advances.

The solution is that bands need to take responsibility for their actions and treat their music career as a business. This sounds shallow but it is the truth. If you want to make money doing anything, you have do it like a business. Music is no exception. Labels have gotten in the habit of trying to put out one big hit because artists do not take responsibility for the risk they take, which means the labels make money on bands whether the bands make money or not.

To direct this back at concert ticket prices, the bands should not consider touring merely advertising as the label does. The bands have an opportunity to make a lot of money with merch in addition to promoting a record. When bands do small things like move their own equipment and use vans instead of buses, the costs start dropping very quickly. Anything a band can do reduce the need for staff will help to make them more money. I am not saying someone like U2 should drop Zoo TV and start traveling in their own van. But, bands that take the time to manage their own tours and understand all the details will be able to use their resources more effectively when the time comes to spend a few million on pyrotechnics and some security guards.

Just to recap, if you are in a band make an effort to enjoy the peripherals around the "biz" and you will be able to enjoy your music that much more.