--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ultimately, musicians make their money in…" description: "\"Ultimately, musicians make their money in live concerts.\" — John Popper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg" --- # Ultimately, musicians make their money in live concerts. ![“Ultimately, musicians make their money in live concerts.” quote by John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg) > “Ultimately, musicians make their money in live concerts.” [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Live performances generate the bulk of musicians' income because recordings earn little royalties. **In simple terms:** Concerts are where musicians earn most money. Key Takeaway Focus on touring and live shows. Themes music industry revenue live performance Mood pragmatic realistic Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - planning a tour - booking venues - merchandise sales - building a fanbase Key Concepts royalties touring economics fan engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can artists diversify income beyond concerts? - What strategies increase concert profitability? A Different Perspective Streaming revenue is low and unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) [Live concerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-concerts/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musicians/) ## Related quotes > [Most musicians make the same record every time, and that's fine. But the people I respected when I was growing up, like Jeff Beck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/most-musicians-make-the-same-record-every-time-and-that-s-fine-but/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [We're musicians. We make music for a living. It's that simple. Nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/we-re-musicians-we-make-music-for-a-living-it-s-that-simple-nothing/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [Some musicians make and record music; other musicians play in a band... I just make and record music, and I don't feel a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/some-musicians-make-and-record-music-other-musicians-play-in-a-band-i/) [Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/) > [Ultimately, musicians of the world must come to realize the potential of their calling... If the musician is illuminated from within, he becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-werner/ultimately-musicians-of-the-world-must-come-to-realize-the-potential/) [Kenny Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-werner/) > [Ultimately, what we do as musicians, I think of us as a type of emotional engineer. We essential take these sound waves, this sound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefon-harris/ultimately-what-we-do-as-musicians-i-think-of-us-as-a-type-of/) [Stefon Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefon-harris/) > [In fact, when Jaan wanted to be a part of some of my live concerts, I let him join me for a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/in-fact-when-jaan-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-some-of-my-live-concerts-i/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) > [Studio work is very methodical, while live concerts must be very spontaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-squier/studio-work-is-very-methodical-while-live-concerts-must-be-very/) [Billy Squier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-squier/) > [If you told me I could only do one thing, I would choose live concerts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/if-you-told-me-i-could-only-do-one-thing-i-would-choose-live-concerts/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I'd rather make less money and live in a just world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-clennon/i-d-rather-make-less-money-and-live-in-a-just-world/) [David Clennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-clennon/) > [“Save money live worser China”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-patel/save-money-live-worser-china/) Jay Patel > [I have to go back to work! I know what you're going to say but I need the money because I cannot live like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-carangi/i-have-to-go-back-to-work-i-know-what-you-re-going-to-say-but-i-need/) [Gia Carangi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-carangi/) > [“You can either love money or live moment. It is better to live in the moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-can-either-love-money-or-live-moment-it-is-better-to-live-in-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Don't Migrate, Get money and live great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/londa-ntombela/don-t-migrate-get-money-and-live-great/) [Londa Ntombela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/londa-ntombela/) > [I can live without money, but I cannot live without love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-garland/i-can-live-without-money-but-i-cannot-live-without-love/) [Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-garland/) > [In order to function and pay our bills and our taxes and feed our families and stuff, musicians have to make a living. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-snell/in-order-to-function-and-pay-our-bills-and-our-taxes-and-feed-our/) [Matt Snell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-snell/) ## More by John Popper > [When you're at a concert and you hear someone improvise well, that's special; it puts you in the moment and takes you someplace. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/when-you-re-at-a-concert-and-you-hear-someone-improvise-well-that-s/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You know, technology caught up with precisely what was wrong with the way that I used food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/you-know-technology-caught-up-with-precisely-what-was-wrong-with-the/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [The idea is that we're always going to have a good live show, and we love to pay our music and write well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/the-idea-is-that-we-re-always-going-to-have-a-good-live-show-and-we/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [If you're going to be creative, you ultimately have to be in different ways because if you're going to be in the same ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/if-you-re-going-to-be-creative-you-ultimately-have-to-be-in-different/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You know, Blues Traveler is its own thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/you-know-blues-traveler-is-its-own-thing/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Throughout history, musicians have never counted on intellectual property really getting them rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/throughout-history-musicians-have-never-counted-on-intellectual/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [For those of us who have had the good fortune of a career in music, we feel an obligation to speak out for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/for-those-of-us-who-have-had-the-good-fortune-of-a-career-in-music-we/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Working with Secondhand Serenade, I just felt like a songwriter, you know, working with another songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/working-with-secondhand-serenade-i-just-felt-like-a-songwriter-you/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [You have a right to love firearms. And you also have a right to hate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/you-have-a-right-to-love-firearms-and-you-also-have-a-right-to-hate/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [There are plenty of very different sounding bands that could be H.O.R.D.E. bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/there-are-plenty-of-very-different-sounding-bands-that-could-be-h-o-r/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [We don't sound like a Mississippi Delta band, but we play what we mean, and that's the spirit of the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/we-don-t-sound-like-a-mississippi-delta-band-but-we-play-what-we-mean/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [Yeah, some people said I tried to rip off Cat Stevens and Stevie Wonder. Oh, well. I've always admired those guys. But for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/yeah-some-people-said-i-tried-to-rip-off-cat-stevens-and-stevie/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I fainted in airports twice on different occasions, because I didn't get my food right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-fainted-in-airports-twice-on-different-occasions-because-i-didn-t/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [There's a certain kind of confidence that comes with being older that you can't fake when you're young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/there-s-a-certain-kind-of-confidence-that-comes-with-being-older-that/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) > [I'm just funny enough as a comedian to know I'm not good enough to be a comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/i-m-just-funny-enough-as-a-comedian-to-know-i-m-not-good-enough-to-be/) [John Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) [Explore all 105 John Popper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/) ## More Concerts quotes > [The live concert industry has become corporate-ized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-farrell/the-live-concert-industry-has-become-corporate-ized/) [Perry Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-farrell/) > [I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-still-get-nervous-about-singing-i-drink-tea-with-honey-and-lemon/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [In fact, when Jaan wanted to be a part of some of my live concerts, I let him join me for a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-sanu/in-fact-when-jaan-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-some-of-my-live-concerts-i/) [Kumar Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-sanu/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [Britain has the IRA and no one cancels concerts there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-osbourne/britain-has-the-ira-and-no-one-cancels-concerts-there/) [Sharon Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-osbourne/) > [Congratulations to each and every one of you for the concert last night in New York and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-ormandy/congratulations-to-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-the-concert-last/) [Eugene Ormandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-ormandy/) > [My favourite song of Elton's is... it's a tricky one for me. I'm a proper fan and I've probably seen him in concert about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lucas/my-favourite-song-of-elton-s-is-it-s-a-tricky-one-for-me-i-m-a-proper/) [Matt Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lucas/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [My first concert isn't that cool or ironic. I wish it had been like, "My first concert was the Backstreet Boys," but the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-kroll/my-first-concert-isn-t-that-cool-or-ironic-i-wish-it-had-been-like-my/) [Nick Kroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-kroll/) > [Since it is impossible for the people spontaneously and universally, to move in concert towards their object; and it is therefore essential, that such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/since-it-is-impossible-for-the-people-spontaneously-and-universally/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Of course we're still having the concert. Don't let a little rain ruin your night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-dee-messina/of-course-we-re-still-having-the-concert-don-t-let-a-little-rain-ruin/) [Jo Dee Messina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-dee-messina/) > [I like to go to concerts because I love to see my favorite band through the phone of the asshole who's standing in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-like-to-go-to-concerts-because-i-love-to-see-my-favorite-band/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The reader's impression is one of a dream - the only thing that's left upon waking is the memory of a melody at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dumitru-tepeneag/the-reader-s-impression-is-one-of-a-dream-the-only-thing-that-s-left/) [Dumitru Tepeneag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dumitru-tepeneag/) > [My ex-wife was trying to be nice once, so she took me to a concert in Los Angeles. I went with her to Symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/my-ex-wife-was-trying-to-be-nice-once-so-she-took-me-to-a-concert-in/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-taylor/do-not-have-your-concert-first-and-then-tune-your-instrument/) [Hudson Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-taylor/) [Browse all 988 Concerts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ultimately, musicians make their money in live concerts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Popper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in-live-concerts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concerts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in-live-concerts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/john-popper-4917_concerts_ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in_1480252.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ultimately, musicians make their money in live concerts.” — John Popper", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Popper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-popper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ultimately, musicians make their money in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in-live-concerts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-popper/ultimately-musicians-make-their-money-in-live-concerts/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```