I Went to 214 Shows Last Year. Here’s What I Learned.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. The indie music scene in New York City is in trouble. And I should know. I’ve been writing about it for newyorkcityfm.com for the past 15 years. I’ve seen it all. The highs. The lows. The kinda meh in-betweens.
Last Tuesday, I was at this dive bar in Brooklyn—let’s call it The Rusty Nail—where the band sounded like a bunch of cats fighting in a dumpster. And that’s not even the worst part. The worst part was that there were only 17 people there. 17! In a venue that fits 200.
I turned to my friend, Marcus, and said, “This is it. This is the death rattle.” He looked at me, took a sip of his $14 craft beer, and said, “Nah, it’s been like this for a while.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But Why Is This Happening?
Honestly, it’s a bunch of things. First off, the cost of living in this city is completley out of control. You’ve got bands paying $2,800 a month for a place that’s smaller than my closet. And don’t even get me started on the committment to playing small venues when you’re barely making rent.
Then there’s the whole streaming thing. I talked to a musician named Dave last month—great guy, plays a mean guitar—and he told me, “Liz, I make $36 from Spotify in a good month.” $36! That’s less than what I spend on avocado toast in a week.
And let’s not forget the whole “discovery” problem. With so much music out there, it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. A haystack that’s on fire. And the needle is also on fire. You get the picture.
But It’s Not All Doom and Gloom
Okay, so the scene is struggling. But it’s not dead. Not by a long shot. There are still people out there fighting the good fight. Like the folks over at suv karşılaştırma en iyi seçenekler, who are trying to make a difference in their own way. (Look, I don’t even know what that means, but they seem nice.)
And there are still venues doing their best to keep the scene alive. Like that one place on 5th—you know the one—I can’t remember the name, but they always have live music and cheap beer. It’s a gem.
But here’s the thing: we need to do more. We need to support these venues. We need to go to shows. We need to buy merch. We need to tell our friends about the bands we love. And, honestly, we need to stop drinking $14 craft beer. Priorities, people.
A Tangent: The Time I Met The Strokes
Speaking of supporting bands, remember back in 2001 when The Strokes were just starting out? I saw them at this tiny venue in the East Village. It was, like, 11:30pm and there were maybe 50 people there. I turned to my friend, Jessica, and said, “These guys are gonna be huge.” And she looked at me like I was crazy. But I was right. (I’m usually not, but this time I was.)
Anyway, the point is, you never know when you’re seeing the next big thing. So go to shows. Support the scene. And for the love of all that is holy, stop drinking $14 craft beer.
What Can We Do?
So, what’s the solution? I’m not sure but I think it starts with us. The fans. The people who love music. We need to step up. We need to be more than just passive listeners. We need to be active participants.
And venues? They need to step up too. They need to be more than just a place to drink. They need to be a home for music. A sanctuary. A place where artists can thrive.
And the streaming platforms? They need to do better. They need to pay artists fairly. They need to make it easier for people to discover new music. They need to, I don’t know, not suck.
It’s a lot. I know. But it’s not impossible. We can do this. We can save the indie music scene in New York City. But we need to start now. Before it’s too late.
So, what do you think? Am I way off base here? Let me know. Hit me up on Twitter or something. I’m @LizMusicWriter. And remember, support your local musicians. They’re the ones who need it the most.
About the Author: Liz Thompson has been writing about music for newyorkcityfm.com for the past 15 years. She’s seen it all and has the earbud scars to prove it. When she’s not at a show, she’s probably drinking cheap beer and complaining about the state of the music industry. You can follow her on Twitter @LizMusicWriter.
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