Even at “grass roots” level many acts rely solely on merchandise to pay the bills.
Independent pro wrestlers (those not signed to WWE/AEW etc) are often not even paid to wrestle. Instead they make their money selling t-shirts, posing for photos in the ring with fans and signing 8x10’s.
Same...
I can do top ten artists at a push?
Lene Marlin
Kraftwerk
Meatloaf
Oasis
Madonna
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Elton John
Barenaked Ladies
Nat King Cole
John Denver
But there’s another couple of hundred different artists I could sub in on a different day…
I like them both because with music, movies, video games - everything except news really - I look backwards.
Hundreds of years of masterpieces. The odds of brilliance being around present day, with new songs/movies/games released every single week is comparatively very small indeed.
Add to...
I don’t like much modern pop music and I’m in my mid thirties. The reason being that I simply am not exposed to it like I used to be. Growing up I would listen to the top 40 on a Sunday afternoon, buy singles and albums on CD, talk about music with mates etc.
Now I don’t do anything like that...