"Through staging approximately one Doors concert a month, UK band Field Music, nominated for a Mercury Prize, aim to bridge a financial gap in their financial struggles, by performing as tribute artists"
Field Music Turns to Tribute Act to Supplement Income
In a surprising move, the Sunderland-based art-rock band Field Music has announced they will be performing as a Doors tribute act to supplement their income. The band, formed by brothers Peter and David Brewis, has been struggling to make a living from their own music in the era of streaming culture.
David Brewis expressed his concerns about the impact of streaming on the grassroots music industry, stating that bands like Field Music are "basically worthless" due to lack of financial support. He laments the state of the industry, where the middle class of record makers either fights to get to the top table or gets a real job.
The band's relative inability to make money on streaming is attributed to their commitment to making the kind of music they want to make without regard for what might be popular. Streaming allows casual listeners to get the same experience without wasting money, inadvertently affecting the income of smaller artists.
The decision to become a tribute act came as a shock to some of their fans, particularly a fan named "Phil." Phil questioned why the band would choose to become a tribute act when they could be exploring their own musical and spiritual dark corners.
In response, David Brewis posted a series of eight images of text titled "On tribute bands, creativity, novelty, and surviving" to address Phil's question. He explained that their move into tribute performances was not due to a lack of confidence in their music but a realistic response to the current difficulties for artists to earn income from streaming and live shows of original work.
Despite passing "into contemporary irrelevance" partly because of the streaming-dominated landscape that disfavors mid-level bands financially, Field Music continues to create original art-rock music. They are currently working on a new album titled "Limits of Language," set to be released in October.
The band will also be embarking on a 20th anniversary tour in November and will be performing in-store shows throughout October. David Brewis feels no embarrassment about devoting time to someone else's music, as long as it allows them to continue making their own.
Despite expressing a desire for the band to be paid more than minimum wage for their musical expertise, Field Music is determined to keep performing and creating music in the face of the challenges presented by the streaming culture.
[1] Brewis, David. (2021). On tribute bands, creativity, novelty, and surviving. [Images of text]. Retrieved from [link] [2] Field Music. (2021). Field Music to perform as a Doors tribute act. Retrieved from [link] [3] Field Music. (2021). Field Music reveals struggles in the streaming era and their move to tribute performances. Retrieved from [link]
- In light of the financial challenges in the music industry, particularly the impact of streaming, David Brewis of Field Music has acknowledged the necessity of exploring alternative revenue streams, such as performing as a tribute act for iconic bands like The Doors.
- As the streaming culture continues to affect the financial stability of mid-level bands like Field Music, the Brewis brothers are focusing on creating new music while also pursuing opportunities in the entertainment business, such as tribute performances, to supplement their income and ensure their artistic survival.
