When asked to detail what would make a better life in three to five years, 60% of US adults said greater financial security
Americans may seem increasingly divided on beliefs and values, but in a new survey of more than 30,000 adults from across the country spanning generations and economic classes, a majority of Americans agree there’s a significant barrier to achieving a better life: the rising cost of living.
When asked to describe what a better life in three to five years would look like, 60% of Americans said they wanted greater financial security, according to a survey that was conducted by the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the WK Kellogg Foundation in mid-April.
In interviews that accompanied the survey, respondents often defined financial security as being able to afford basic necessities without worry.
They took advantage of a market that was relatively easy to corner. Big centralized music venues aren’t easy to manufacturer. Smaller venues experiencing exploding real estate costs aren’t competitive. Talent is far more fungible than the venues or the marketing teams or the financial networks that handle payment processing.
The dirty secret about someone like Taylor Swift is that she could have been anyone. She’s a good singer, but not that good. And she’s got a massive team behind her handling the promotion and the touring. She’s been more than willing to play ball, so she gets to headline all the most expensive events. But if she ever gets out of line, her brand tanks and a new pretty blonde starlet emerges with a deafening audience of enthusiastic online fans.
So long as musicians don’t control their own labels, their own venues, and their own promotional organizations, the simple talent for making music isn’t enough to generate and command a large audience.