The Wall Street Journal ran a piece ‘Music Superstars Are the New One Percenters‘. A small number of artists have taken the lion’s share of the market which would include touring and music sales. For instance, just three artists including Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé collectively generated $1 billion in concert-ticket revenue in 2018. Beyoncé and Jay-Z charged $117 a ticket while Taylor Swift approximately charged $119, and Ed Sheeran a little lower at $89. That’s the top of the industry of course, not the bottom. We don’t need to look at the bottom, but if you really want to know, the lesser known acts were grossing $2,500 in 2017 from concert tickets.

Music superstars have always been the one percenters. The music business is a winner-takes-all market with those at the top get a disproportionate share of the market. It’s because the superstars drive the value what is produced. Consumers are willing to pay more for Ed Sheeran than a relatively unknown artist. The superstars also have a great deal power at the negotiation table. They are making more money today because of endorsement income which has become a significant revenue source. These superstars are dominant in the entertainment economy and are occupying even more space on playlists and radio charts leaving less for developing artists.

We first featured Danny Rocco in 2015 when he and his bandmate went under the moniker of Secret Weapons. The duo signed with Epic Records after gaining traction on Spotify and opening up for Weezer, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! The duo shortly parted ways after a regime change at the label. With remarkable resilience, Danny went solo and re-invented himself as Des Rocs. With his latest single SLO, Danny tells Kings, “It’s about being so infatuated with someone that even as they’re killing you, you want it to last a little longer just to spend a few more minutes with them.” Spotify has been a big supporter which placed the Brooklyn based artist on the biggest rock playlist “Rock This”. He’s very active live just finishing a 23 city sold out North American tour with Grandson and will embark on U.S tour next week with The Struts. Give it a stream!
mathew@thelowensteincompany.com

California pop duo X Lovers sign with Visionary/RCA Records. Eventually moving to LA setting up a music studio, the two 21-year-olds from Nevada City have been collaborating as a team since they were 10. Check out the track Easy. Give it a stream.

Fresh-on-the-scene 20 year old New Zealand producer who goes under the moniker of OSQAR releases the catchy pop tune Day By Day. Sonically, it’s reminiscent of The Weeknd. Starting as a drummer in an indie rock band, he found himself in electronic music and production this is where the vision for OSQAR started. Give it a stream!
osqarmusic@gmail.com

Look out for Chloe Castro . She just released the in-your-face pop track Drunk via indie label Kaleidoscope. Think early Jessie J when she came on the scene with attitude. The track made it on the popular Tom Robinson’s BBC Introducing Mixtape. Originally from Durham, UK, Chloe had her roots in street performing building a YouTube following, before appearing on ‘The Voice’ in the UK in 2016, making it to the finals. Give it a listen.
chloecastro.official@gmail.com