“They can’t keep doing this forever:” Tokyo Police Club's Graham Wright on the dire state of music

There’s a cone of silence over the music business like no other industry, mainly because everyone in it is afraid to upset the one dominant company at the centre of it all: Live Nation.Graham Wright, guitarist and keyboardist for the recently disbanded, multiple Juno-nominated indie rock band Tokyo Police Club, is one of the few who isn’t afraid so speak out.He joins the Do Not Pass Go podcast this week to talk about how Live Nation is making indentured servants of working musicians through buying up venues, demanding cuts of merchandise sales and driving ticket prices to the point where regular people can’t afford to see their favourite bands.The artists, meanwhile, have no choice but to go along with it, since there’s no other game in town.“Sooner or later the bottom’s gonna fall out,” he says.Plus, we also talk about the growing movement among artists against streaming services, why people are increasingly going to see cover bands, and even the merits of Kid Rock.Graham has his own podcast, Major Label Debut, where he talks to other musicians and industry insiders on breaking into the business. Check that out on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.(Also, my apologies for actually uttering the words “Star Wars: The Next Generation”)Do Not Pass Go is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Do Not Pass Go at www.donotpassgo.ca/subscribe