David Bowie: A Star Unlikely in Today’s Music Industry?
Bowie’s Path to Stardom Wouldn’t Fly Today:
In a stark assessment of the modern music industry, Nile Rodgers, Bowie’s collaborator on the iconic “Let’s Dance,” declared yesterday that the British star would have struggled to find success under today’s profit-driven labels.
Early Struggles and Commercial Triumph:
Rodgers, himself a music legend with Chic, pointed to Bowie’s early career filled with commercially unsuccessful songs and a debut album that barely cracked the UK charts.
Yet, it was this very space for experimentation, Rodgers argued, that allowed Bowie to eventually explode with “Let’s Dance” in 1983, reaching number one in the UK and the top five in the US.
Lost Chances in the Streaming Age:
“They gave him all that time to try and make a hit,” Rodgers remarked, lamenting the lack of such patience in today’s music industry.
“Those days honestly are truly over.”
He cited a recent report alleging that Snoop Dogg received a mere $45,000 for a billion Spotify streams, highlighting the artist’s meager share of the streaming pie.
A Call for Reform:
Rodgers’s comments come amid growing scrutiny of the economics of music streaming.
Two years ago, the UK Parliament’s culture committee called for a “complete reset,” urging platforms to provide artists with a fairer share of the revenue they generate.
Rodgers’s Appeal:
As a music industry veteran and Bowie confidante, Rodgers’s voice holds significant weight in the debate.
His assertion that artists like Bowie wouldn’t find their footing in today’s environment raises concerns about stifled creativity and the potential loss of future music legends.
The Future of Music Making:
The question remains: can the music industry adapt to provide artists with the time and resources needed to nurture their talents and achieve lasting success, or will we witness the decline of organic artistic growth in favor of chasing quick hits and streaming algorithms?
Only time will tell if Bowie’s story remains a relic of a bygone era or serves as a cautionary tale for the future of music.
