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The author seems to make the weird assumption that DMB is somehow not as "big" as Bon Jovi and so they must be doing something clever to be making as much money

by qq66 16y ago

The author seems to make the weird assumption that DMB is somehow not as "big" as Bon Jovi and so they must be doing something clever to be making as much money. That's simply the delusions of an out-of-touch 50 year old. DMB was the most consistently popular musician of my generation. How to make money in the music industry? Make music that hundreds of millions of people want to listen to.

wmf 16y ago
Also, DMB got famous from the "old" music industry when you could still make some money by selling CDs. I'm tired of the "now that the label has made me famous, who needs labels" and "now that I've had N platinum albums, who needs to sell albums" stories; I'd like to hear about a new artist who succeeded without help from the industry.
- fleitz 16y ago
  Vampire Weekend did pretty well with out much support from the industry. I think they've finally signed though now that I'm hearing them on the radio.
- Umalu 16y ago
  Sufjan Stevens seems to have built a reasonably successful music career without having a major label deal. His CDs are issued by an indie label (Asthmatic Kitty) he reportedly co-owns with his stepfather (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthmatic_Kitty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthmatic_Kitty), and while he doesn't seem to come close to Dave Matthews in concert revenues, his tours seem to do all right.
  - jswinghammer 16y ago
    Good example. I wasn't aware he did everything on his own. I've been to see him live and the crowds are always large and very excited.
    - jhamburger 16y ago
      Clap Your Hands Say Yeah achieved widespread popularity in the indie scene through MP3s with a self-release debut, no record deal of any kind.
      - jamesbritt 16y ago
        How much of that do you think depends on location? How critical is having a local (e.g. tri-state) scene?
- qq66 16y ago
  While the term "artist" is of dubious applicability, Justin Bieber built his career on YouTube and the labels came to him with no leverage.
kgo 16y ago
I hate to pull a [Citation Needed] especially when I won't provide my own, but I find it really hard to believe that DMB was the most consistently popular musician of any generation. He's never been Elvis big, Beatles big, or even Jay Z or Bon Jovi big. (Bon Jovi only being referenced in the original article because they took the number one slot, not because the author was a huge fan.) He's very popular, has a pretty good niche, don't get me wrong. (Must... Resist... urge... to... crack... on... lacrosse... players...) But I think plenty of people would be surprised that he was in that top ten list, not just old timers.
- taylorlb 16y ago
  DMB may not be the "most popular" but they did sell more tickets than any other act in North America over the last 10 years http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2010/01/dave_matthews_band_tops_decade.html http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2010/01/d...
  - kgo 16y ago
    Well yeah, but that's the whole point of the original article we're linking to, right? They're not the biggest band of a generation, they're not the current KISS-FM darlings, and they're still raking in the money by touring non-stop, building a dedicated fan base, and giving a good show. I think if you asked most people, even the ones who aren't old and 50, to make a list of the top ten tours this year... It'd be easy to guess the expensive shows for the baby boomers (Eagles, etc) and the hip acts for the kids (Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas). But I don't think many people would peg the Dave Matthews Band. That's why I thought the article was interesting. Not because Bon Jovi is awesome and Dave Matthews is lame or vice versa...
- thebooktocome 16y ago
  "most consistently popular musician of my generation" is what GP said.
  - whatusername 16y ago
    But there is a significant difference between "my generation" and "my demographic". I can believe DMB being the biggest musician of a demographic (US, College educated, mid twenties?) -- but probably not a "generation".
rospaya 16y ago
DMB has never been very succesful outside of North America. My grandma would know who Bon Jovi is, but wouldn't have a clue about DMB, as wouldn't my parents. Not scientific, but some music doesn't translate across the pond.

by qq66 16y ago

wmf 16y ago

Also, DMB got famous from the "old" music industry when you could still make some money by selling CDs. I'm tired of the "now that the label has made me famous, who needs labels" and "now that I've had N platinum albums, who needs to sell albums" stories; I'd like to hear about a new artist who succeeded without help from the industry.

fleitz 16y ago
Vampire Weekend did pretty well with out much support from the industry. I think they've finally signed though now that I'm hearing them on the radio.
Umalu 16y ago
Sufjan Stevens seems to have built a reasonably successful music career without having a major label deal. His CDs are issued by an indie label (Asthmatic Kitty) he reportedly co-owns with his stepfather (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthmatic_Kitty http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthmatic_Kitty), and while he doesn't seem to come close to Dave Matthews in concert revenues, his tours seem to do all right.
- jswinghammer 16y ago
  Good example. I wasn't aware he did everything on his own. I've been to see him live and the crowds are always large and very excited.
  - jhamburger 16y ago
    Clap Your Hands Say Yeah achieved widespread popularity in the indie scene through MP3s with a self-release debut, no record deal of any kind.
    - jamesbritt 16y ago
      How much of that do you think depends on location? How critical is having a local (e.g. tri-state) scene?
qq66 16y ago
While the term "artist" is of dubious applicability, Justin Bieber built his career on YouTube and the labels came to him with no leverage.

kgo 16y ago

I hate to pull a [Citation Needed] especially when I won't provide my own, but I find it really hard to believe that DMB was the most consistently popular musician of any generation. He's never been Elvis big, Beatles big, or even Jay Z or Bon Jovi big. (Bon Jovi only being referenced in the original article because they took the number one slot, not because the author was a huge fan.) He's very popular, has a pretty good niche, don't get me wrong. (Must... Resist... urge... to... crack... on... lacrosse... players...) But I think plenty of people would be surprised that he was in that top ten list, not just old timers.

taylorlb 16y ago
DMB may not be the "most popular" but they did sell more tickets than any other act in North America over the last 10 years http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2010/01/dave_matthews_band_tops_decade.html http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2010/01/d...
- kgo 16y ago
  Well yeah, but that's the whole point of the original article we're linking to, right? They're not the biggest band of a generation, they're not the current KISS-FM darlings, and they're still raking in the money by touring non-stop, building a dedicated fan base, and giving a good show. I think if you asked most people, even the ones who aren't old and 50, to make a list of the top ten tours this year... It'd be easy to guess the expensive shows for the baby boomers (Eagles, etc) and the hip acts for the kids (Lady GaGa, Black Eyed Peas). But I don't think many people would peg the Dave Matthews Band. That's why I thought the article was interesting. Not because Bon Jovi is awesome and Dave Matthews is lame or vice versa...
thebooktocome 16y ago
"most consistently popular musician of my generation" is what GP said.
- whatusername 16y ago
  But there is a significant difference between "my generation" and "my demographic". I can believe DMB being the biggest musician of a demographic (US, College educated, mid twenties?) -- but probably not a "generation".

rospaya 16y ago

DMB has never been very succesful outside of North America. My grandma would know who Bon Jovi is, but wouldn't have a clue about DMB, as wouldn't my parents. Not scientific, but some music doesn't translate across the pond.