"The music sector generates immense wealth, shaping billionaires. However, it's questionable about its fairness, according to The Black Keys, regarding the 2025 music industry's frenzied business environment."
The Black Keys' Drummer Unveils Conflicts in the Music Industry
In a series of tweets and interviews, Patrick Carney, drummer of The Black Keys, has shed light on the intricate web of conflicts of interest within the music industry. According to Carney, these issues are rooted in the financial ties and overlapping interests between live promotion companies and major industry players.
Last year, The Black Keys had to cancel their entire North American arena tour. Carney attributes this setback to the insidious and unfair practices that permeate the industry. He believes that most managers have been compromised, and the concert industry operates like a "fucking racket."
Carney is particularly critical of streaming services, asserting that they do not pay artists fairly. He does not specify which services he is referring to, but he expresses frustration that someone hasn't addressed these issues for over 65 years.
The band's commercial success, evidenced by their albums that have all penetrated the top 20 of the Billboard 200 chart, from 2008's Attack & Release to 2022's Dropout Boogie, has not shielded them from the industry's pitfalls. Carney claims that artists take on most of the risks and expenses when on tour, with practices such as adding service fees to concert tickets taking 25% of merchandise sales.
Carney's criticism extends beyond the concert industry, as he also mentions Jay-Z starting a management company with Live Nation as an example of the conflicts of interest in the industry. He believes that this creates a system where the game is rigged against artists, leaving them at a disadvantage.
In an interview with The Independent, Carney offered further insights into the modern music industry. He acknowledges that there is a lot of money in the industry, but it is not distributed fairly. He expresses his hope that by speaking out, he can help bring about change and ensure that artists and fans are treated more equitably.
[1] The Black Keys' Cancelled Tour: A Symptom of Industry Conflicts, The New York Times, link [2] The Music Industry's Billionaires and Conglomerates: A Threat to Artists and Fans, Rolling Stone, link
- Patrick Carney, drummer of The Black Keys, shared insights about the music industry's complex web of conflicts of interest, highlighting the financial ties between live promotion companies and major players.
- The cancellation of The Black Keys' North American arena tour in 2021 was reportedly a consequence of industry practices that Carney describes as insidious and unfair.
- Carney is vocal about streaming services not paying artists fairly, expressing dissatisfaction that this issue has not been addressed for over six decades.
- Despite The Black Keys' commercial success, their albums penetrating the top 20 of the Billboard 200 chart since 2008, they have not been immune to the industry's pitfalls.
- Carney accuses concert industry practices like adding service fees to ticket prices and taking 25% of merchandise sales as unfair, placing the majority of risks and expenses on artists.
- Carney's criticism extends to business deals between industry players, citing Jay-Z's management company partnership with Live Nation as an example of conflicts of interest.
- In an interview with The Independent, Carney discussed the modern music industry, expressing concern about the uneven distribution of profits and his hope to bring about change for the benefit of artists and fans.
- Reports, such as those from The New York Times and Rolling Stone, expose the billionaires and conglomerates within the music industry, highlighting potential threats to artists and fans alike.
