Riddle Music and Sound

10/02/2026

She doin IT!

Dev Lemons just keeps getting cooler!

Dev Lemons - another word you say (lyric video)Stream "hunting w...

09/26/2026

He's mutilating Angels with Oderus again.

R.I.P Sexecutioner

"To die, perchance to sin, that's the rub
For in that sleep of sin, what kingdom may come?

Welcome to the slaughter, what are you going to do?
What will be your epitaph, when we get done with you?
Are you gonna cry for your momma, are you gonna have a good time?
Are you gonna be a bohab, when it's your turn to die?"

His epitaph is all of sick, twisted, artist joy he brought to world. He will not be forgotten.

RIP, Sexi 🖤🖤🖤

09/21/2026

Solidarity is the only way forward.

09/13/2026

Musicians with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra are preparing for the first Dayton Performing Arts Alliance presentation of the season without a new contract.

09/06/2026

Hear, hear!!

Where Does the Money Go?

When Passion Becomes a Commodity

We love this industry.

There’s nothing like seeing a crew build something from nothing every day. Nothing like a band transforming a stage into a memory people carry for life.

But it’s getting harder to pretend this system still works.

It Didn’t Always Look Like This

There was a time when touring was a path to grow—when you could start in a van, build a following, sell CDs at the table, and step up to theaters. When ticket prices were reasonable, merch money stayed in artists’ pockets, and the middle tier could make a living.

Today, Live Nation reports over $22.7 billion in revenue. Their CEO earns $33 million. Ticketmaster adds 20–40% fees on every ticket. Venues take 20–35% of merch. Streaming pays fractions of a cent per play.

A mid-level artist grossing $500,000 on tour might clear $50–70K before taxes—split across the whole band. Many crew earn $1,200–$2,800 a week, with no benefits, no retirement, no safety net when the tour ends.

All or Nothing

What used to be a DIY path to opportunity has become an all-or-nothing venture. Stadium acts thrive. Everyone else absorbs the risk while the same corporations profit at every layer—ticketing, promotion, venues, resale.

It’s an economy that feeds on passion and sells it back at a markup.

What It Could Be

It doesn’t have to stay like this.

Imagine a touring model where:
• Merch revenue belongs to the artists who earned it.
• Ticketing fees are capped and transparent.
• Crew are paid fairly, with benefits and protections.
• Mid-tier artists can build sustainable careers instead of gambling everything on a single run.
• Fans know their money supports the people creating the experience, not just shareholders.

Time to Choose

If you care about live music, it’s time to start asking harder questions about who benefits, who sacrifices, and what happens if nothing changes.

Because this industry can be better—and everyone who loves it deserves more than burnout in exchange for someone else’s profit.

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

"a-political" within Black and Death Metal basically means not having the integrity to be honest to yourself and anyone who slightly challenges your actions. It's essentially the red flag keyword for anyone that has no issues with or even supports far-right ideologies.

FCK NSBM!