--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Royalties are not how most writers or…" description: "\"Royalties are not how most writers or musicians make their living. Musicians by and large make a living with a relationship with an audience that is ec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/john-perry-barlow-9208_audience_royalties-are-not-how-most-writers-or-mu_2077603.jpg" --- # Royalties are not how most writers or musicians make their… ![“Royalties are not how most writers or musicians make their living. Musicians by and large make a living with a relationship with an audience that is economically harnessed through performance and ticket sales.” quote by John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/john-perry-barlow-9208_audience_royalties-are-not-how-most-writers-or-mu_2077603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/john-perry-barlow-9208_audience_royalties-are-not-how-most-writers-or-mu_2077603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/john-perry-barlow-9208_audience_royalties-are-not-how-most-writers-or-mu_2077603.jpg) > “Royalties are not how most writers or musicians make their living. Musicians by and large make a living with a relationship with an audience that is economically harnessed through performance and ticket sales.” [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers and musicians earn mainly through live performances and audience relationships, not royalties. **In simple terms:** Live shows drive income for creators. Key Takeaway Support artists through attendance. Themes economics art audience relationship Mood reflective pragmatic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - concert attendance - fan engagement - crowdfunding - merchandising Key Concepts music industry intellectual property Questions to Reflect On - How can artists adapt to streaming? - What role do fans play in sustaining creators? A Different Perspective Digital streaming may shift revenue models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Royalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/royalty/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Musicians by and large make a living with a relationship with an audience that is economically harnessed through performance and ticket sales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/musicians-by-and-large-make-a-living-with-a-relationship-with-an/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I do work a lot. I mean, most of my income, I would say, comes from live performances. And then you've got publishing, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-do-work-a-lot-i-mean-most-of-my-income-i-would-say-comes-from-live/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Here's the way the licensing works ... If you write a song, nobody can record your song before you do without your permission. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/here-s-the-way-the-licensing-works-if-you-write-a-song-nobody-can/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I haven't the faintest idea what my royalties are. I haven't the faintest idea how many copies of books sold, or how many books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/i-haven-t-the-faintest-idea-what-my-royalties-are-i-haven-t-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Talking about a materialistic thing, I get about 13 times more royalties from Europe than I do from America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/talking-about-a-materialistic-thing-i-get-about-13-times-more/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [I can tell you this, if it wasn't for my book royalties, I'd be in debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/i-can-tell-you-this-if-it-wasn-t-for-my-book-royalties-i-d-be-in-debt/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [I've been getting publishing royalties and stuff like that. I have just been lucky. They come in at the right time. Sometimes they don't,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoah-sanders/i-ve-been-getting-publishing-royalties-and-stuff-like-that-i-have/) [Pharoah Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoah-sanders/) > [You might be a redneck if Exxon and Conoco have offered you royalties for your hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-exxon-and-conoco-have-offered-you-royalties/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Those of us who had a perfectly happy childhood should be able to sue for deprivation of literary royalties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-patten/those-of-us-who-had-a-perfectly-happy-childhood-should-be-able-to-sue/) [Chris Patten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-patten/) > [Let's crowd source, curate, and add royalties to books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/let-s-crowd-source-curate-and-add-royalties-to-books/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [That an author takes a bow is not humility but presumption. What does the paleface want on the stage afterwards? But before the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/that-an-author-takes-a-bow-is-not-humility-but-presumption-what-does/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I had a very unusual contract. Most artists actually pay for their record dates and it comes out of their royalties. I paid for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-stafford/i-had-a-very-unusual-contract-most-artists-actually-pay-for-their/) [Jo Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-stafford/) > [Many first-time authors are not concerned about the advance or royalties, they want the notoriety. They get smarter on their second book and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-poynter/many-first-time-authors-are-not-concerned-about-the-advance-or/) [Dan Poynter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-poynter/) > [ I would say the hummingbird really deserves the royalties on \[some of my songs\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-would-say-the-hummingbird-really-deserves-the-royalties-on-some-of/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I would always find a way to blow the deal and I'm not sure why. I think there was part of me that wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-would-always-find-a-way-to-blow-the-deal-and-i-m-not-sure-why-i/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) ## More by John Perry Barlow > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [“the first responsibility of a human being is to be a better ancestor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/the-first-responsibility-of-a-human-being-is-to-be-a-better-ancestor/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [Our universities are so determined to impose tolerance that they'll expel you for saying what you think and never notice the irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/our-universities-are-so-determined-to-impose-tolerance-that-they-ll/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [You do not know our culture, our ethics, or the unwritten codes that already provide our society more order than could be obtained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/you-do-not-know-our-culture-our-ethics-or-the-unwritten-codes-that/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [The real issue is control. The Internet is too widespread to be easily dominated by any single government. By creating a seamless global economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/the-real-issue-is-control-the-internet-is-too-widespread-to-be-easily/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I don't know that I believe in the supernatural, but I do believe in miracles, and our time together was filled with the events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/i-don-t-know-that-i-believe-in-the-supernatural-but-i-do-believe-in/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I'm a member of that half of the human race which is inclined to divide the human race into two kinds of people. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/i-m-a-member-of-that-half-of-the-human-race-which-is-inclined-to/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I ... believe that angels, or something like them, sometimes live among us, hidden within our fellow human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/i-believe-that-angels-or-something-like-them-sometimes-live-among-us/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I think that humor is part of what saves us from despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/i-think-that-humor-is-part-of-what-saves-us-from-despair/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I personally think intellectual property is an oxymoron. Physical objects have a completely different natural economy than intellectual goods. It's a tricky thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/i-personally-think-intellectual-property-is-an-oxymoron-physical/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [Any powerful technology has sauce for the goose and the gander... It's just an extension of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/any-powerful-technology-has-sauce-for-the-goose-and-the-gander-it-s/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [Art is a service, not a product. Created beauty is a relationship, and a relationship with the Holy at that. Reducing such work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/art-is-a-service-not-a-product-created-beauty-is-a-relationship-and-a/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [We will create a civilization of the Mind in Cyberspace. May it be more humane and fair than the world your governments have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/we-will-create-a-civilization-of-the-mind-in-cyberspace-may-it-be/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [Incompetence is a double-edged banana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/incompetence-is-a-double-edged-banana/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [The first serious infowar is now engaged. The field of battle is WikiLeaks. You are the troops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/the-first-serious-infowar-is-now-engaged-the-field-of-battle-is/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) [Explore all 74 John Perry Barlow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Royalties are not how most writers or musicians make their living. 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