Joe Bonamassa is assuring blues rock fans that the genre is “not dead”—at least, it isn’t “yet.”

But the economic realities that touring musicians face these days do make it a tough job, one where success and fame often take years to achieve for even the most dedicated players.

“The cost of doing business is up,” Bonamassa said during a recent interview with Blues Rock Review. “Gasoline, hotels, lodging, meals—all of the trappings of the road that you have to pay for off the top line are more expensive. And so the margins are less.”

The three-time Grammy-nominated guitarist laughed a bit when he recalled an article he’d read in which one musician described themselves as “a T-shirt salesman,” a nod to the important role merchandise sales play for artists nowadays. “That’s a pretty cynical way to look at it, but, you know, the ancillary revenue on the road is more critical now than it’s ever been,” Bonamassa said.
Even physical media has a different meaning to fans in the 21st century, with so many turning to streaming services for their music. The artists who take the time to sign the CDs they sell at shows need to be aware that, “chances are, that CD will never see the inside of a CD player,” Bonamassa said. “They’re autograph widgets, you know?”

 

While the business side of music has changed, Bonamassa said there is still “a lot of great new talent in the blues rock world.”
Continue reading at Blues Rock Review by Meghan Ross

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