by Shirley Manson, lead vocalist of the band Garbage, announced during their concert at The Anthem in Washington DC that the band has made a difficult decision about their touring career, citing economic challenges in the music industry. The announcement was captured in a fan video shared on Facebook.
Manson explained the band’s reasoning behind their decision to scale back their headline touring operations.
“We have as a band decided that, due to basically the economics of the music industry, that we have to curtail our headline touring business,” Manson said. “It has, thanks to the thievery of the record industry, made touring very, very difficult.”
The singer expressed particular concern for emerging artists facing similar challenges in the current industry landscape.
“We’re not complaining, we’ve had a f*cking great run. I bring this up only because my concern is of course for young musicians who go out there and tour, they’re holding down jobs, they take two weeks off their work and they go around the country,” she continued. “Sometimes they’re sleeping in their van, sometimes they’re staying in really, really dodgy so-called motels and it’s dangerous and it’s really unacceptable and it really has to stop.”
Manson emphasized the finality of their decision regarding large-scale touring.
“So we have just decided that the economics have become untenable, so this is kind of the last time that we’ve decided we’re going to get on a bus and just tour all over North America,” she said. “It’s a fantastic privilege and it’s so beautiful and exciting and amazing. And all the more so because I doubt that we’ll do a tour this size ever again.”
Despite the challenges, Manson expressed gratitude for their fans’ unwavering support throughout their career.
“We all feel that we’ve been so immensely privileged and we’ve enjoyed unbelievable support from our fans, from you. At times in the music industry, they’ve told us we’re old, we’re over, nobody’s interested, nobody gives a f*ck, nobody wants to play us on radio, nobody wants to interview us,” she said. “And then you lot came along. You were like, ‘get behind us, Satan’. And we won’t forget it.”
This announcement comes at a pivotal time for the band. They prepare for significant developments in their musical journey while navigating the harsh realities of today’s music industry economics.
Wikipedia reported that Garbage is currently focused on finalizing their eighth studio album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light. The album completed mixing in November 2024 and is expected to be released in 2025. This upcoming release represents the band’s continued creative output despite the touring challenges they face.
The band’s recent performance history reflects their ongoing commitment to their craft, even amid industry difficulties. Setlist.fm documented that their recent tours have featured a mix of classic hits and newer material. This demonstrates their ability to engage fans across different eras of their music while maintaining artistic relevance.
However, the band has faced additional challenges beyond industry economics. Wikipedia noted that Garbage had to cancel all remaining 2024 shows due to an injury sustained by Manson. They prioritized finishing their new record during this period. This decision underscores their dedication to their artistic legacy even as they scale back their touring operations.
The band’s current situation reflects broader challenges facing established artists in the modern music landscape. Streaming revenues and industry changes have fundamentally altered the economics of touring and recording. Garbage’s three-decade career has spanned multiple industry transformations. This makes their perspective on current conditions particularly significant for understanding the pressures facing both veteran and emerging artists today.
