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That's no different than most professions. Consider software development. Who makes more money, the CEO, the top sales people, or the developers? It's probably

That's no different than most professions. Consider software development. Who makes more money, the CEO, the top sales people, or the developers? It's probably top to bottom in that order.

hinkley 8y ago
I dunno man. Bad developers live in nicer houses than my parents ever had. Everyone who produces for a living is getting paid way less than their output is worth. The more risks involved (laws, strategy, logistics, safety), the more overhead there is and the smaller the fraction you're going to make. It's probably true that there's more risk in entertainment than any of us consumers or wanna-be artists can possibly appreciate. If you back enough flops then your brand is worthless, for one, and the odds that someone will take a chance on something from you are zero. But it still seems like music is far out of proportion to mechanic, plumber, carpenter, coder... maybe not so far off from writer (I hear you have to write a handful of books before you ever make more than you would as a teacher for the same amount of effort, and we don't pay teachers anything).
- csallen 8y ago
  I think it largely comes down to supply. Developers get paid a lot not only because digital applications make so much money, but also because there are so few competent developers compared to the number required. Whereas talented musicians are a dime a dozen, and we don't need all that many, because there are only so many spots on the radio. Also, I don't know if creation is worth as much as we'd like to think as it is on its own. Value comes from not from the existence of a thing, but from that thing changing hands. If you make a song and nobody hears it, is that song worth anything? If you write code and nobody uses it, is that code worth anything? There are plenty of smart people working hard to help creators get their creations in the hands of people who find it valuable.

That's no different than most professions. Consider software development. Who makes more money, the CEO, the top sales people, or the developers? It's probably top to bottom in that order.

hinkley 8y ago

I dunno man. Bad developers live in nicer houses than my parents ever had. Everyone who produces for a living is getting paid way less than their output is worth. The more risks involved (laws, strategy, logistics, safety), the more overhead there is and the smaller the fraction you're going to make. It's probably true that there's more risk in entertainment than any of us consumers or wanna-be artists can possibly appreciate. If you back enough flops then your brand is worthless, for one, and the odds that someone will take a chance on something from you are zero. But it still seems like music is far out of proportion to mechanic, plumber, carpenter, coder... maybe not so far off from writer (I hear you have to write a handful of books before you ever make more than you would as a teacher for the same amount of effort, and we don't pay teachers anything).

csallen 8y ago
I think it largely comes down to supply. Developers get paid a lot not only because digital applications make so much money, but also because there are so few competent developers compared to the number required. Whereas talented musicians are a dime a dozen, and we don't need all that many, because there are only so many spots on the radio. Also, I don't know if creation is worth as much as we'd like to think as it is on its own. Value comes from not from the existence of a thing, but from that thing changing hands. If you make a song and nobody hears it, is that song worth anything? If you write code and nobody uses it, is that code worth anything? There are plenty of smart people working hard to help creators get their creations in the hands of people who find it valuable.