You say that you'd rather be really poor than scratching, saving, scrimping all the pennies

[venta]

There's a very sad article this morning: the recession is really hitting the music industry badly. Bands are having to drastically scale back their names in order to keep down touring costs.

Obviously the worst hit are the smaller bands of today, or bands whose career peak is long past. The article I read mentioned Vampire Saturday Afternoon, Primal Whimper, The Stone Carnations, Belligerent Femmes and Avenge Twice. But even the big boys like U1½ and Coolplay are having to make savings.

Some bands are really struggling, of course. British Sea Power's last tour flopped totally, because the posters advertising concerts by A Couple of Dinghies Off Dover didn't appeal to anyone. Black Box Recorder's promised new album failed to materialise because they just couldn't face recording as The Pilot's Old Notebooks.

Has anyone else heard about this, or know any bands which have been affected?

Comments

[zotz]

It's dreadful. Magnapop have become Minipop, and Minipop have disappeared altogether. The Richard And Judy Chain have cancelled most of their concerts (but are still on TV occasionally if you can get the right channels). The John Spencer Skiffle Surprise are on hiatus, A The aren't as distinctive as they used to be, and Gogol Massageparlour may even have to open a mixed sauna instead.

Mind you, Mark E Smith's solo act The Trip have an interesting new psychedelic direction, The Entire Population Of China haven't been noticeably affected at all, and Skinny Puppy could have been invented for times like these. Could be worse.