Many musicians dream of reaching the pinnacle of the industry, with accomplishments like winning a Grammy serving as proof of their hard work and success. However, as guitarist Justus West points out, even such prestigious accolades may not guarantee financial security.
West, who contributed to Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning country album Cowboy Carter, opened up about the stark contrast between recognition and the harsh financial realities musicians face. In a recent post, he shared his thoughts on the industry’s shortcomings, saying, “It’s funny because the ‘industry’ strings you along with these empty accolades.” He continued, “Grammy wins can change your life over time. Don’t get me wrong, they are a form of currency. Sadly, landlords don’t take ‘clout’.”
In addition to his work as a session guitarist, West has also released a solo album. He further emphasized the importance of financial stability, stating that “labels paying you on time can keep your life from falling apart though.”
West’s comments echo sentiments expressed by Exodus bassist Jack Gibson, who recently discussed the difficulties musicians face in today’s music scene. Gibson shared, “There’s no business. Once they started giving the music away, there’s no business. We don’t sell records anymore. If we don’t go out and sell t-shirts, we don’t make money. I’m a t-shirt salesman. I’m not a musician. I’m literally a traveling tchotchke seller. That’s what we do. We play music to try to get people to the store and sell them our stuff with stuff printed on it.”
Gibson further highlighted the challenges of gaining industry attention, stating, “If you can’t fill up a room, 50,000 units moved on the Internet, then they don’t want to talk to you.”
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