by Garbage frontwoman Shirley Manson issued a stark warning about the state of the music industry during the band’s recent performance at Denver’s Mission Ballroom, as captured in a video posted by a fan on TikTok.
Manson addressed the unsustainable economics facing working musicians. She used her band’s touring challenges as an example of broader industry problems.
“It has become entirely unsustainable for a band like us to come and tour anywhere except the coasts,” she said. “And it’s upsetting, but we’ve had a glorious 30-year career, and we really have no complaints. But I bring this up every night because I think it’s imperative that that we all start to understand what exactly is going on in the music industry.”
She acknowledged the disconnect between public perception and reality in the music business.
“And it’s difficult to get your head around, right? Because you see all these big pop stars, and they’re making billions and billions and billions of dollars and they’re rich and they’re glamorous and they’re amazing,” she continued. “But the problem is that most of the music industry is not made of these big pop-stars. They’re made of working musicians.”
Manson emphasized that her comments were not about self-pity but about advocacy for emerging artists.
“This is not a pity party for us,” she stated. “This is an alarm call for all the young generations of musicians who are in our wake, and who we feel duty-bound to speak up for because there’s nobody speaking up for them. There is no governmental body. There’s no f*cking real effective union for musicians that fights for young musicians to get paid.”
Manson’s concerns reflect a growing crisis in the music industry that extends far beyond Garbage’s touring challenges. Mid-tier musicians increasingly face high touring expenses that strain financial sustainability. Artists battle rising costs for travel, crew, equipment, and promotion against stagnant or declining income streams from recordings and streaming.
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) represents approximately 70,000 professional musicians in the U.S. and Canada. The organization reported that many mid-level artists struggle to break even on tours despite the long touring schedules necessary to remain financially viable. The AFM focuses on fair contracts, health benefits, pensions, and rights advocacy to counter industry challenges like digital streaming revenue shortfalls.
The income disparity in the music industry has become increasingly stark. Streaming platforms pay artists very low per-stream rates. This causes most musicians to rely heavily on touring for income. However, touring profitability is decreasing due to increased logistical and crew costs. Musician advocacy groups noted that top-tier stars earn substantial profits while mid- and lower-tier artists frequently struggle to make ends meet. Unions are actively lobbying for reforms in streaming payments and better protections to help musicians secure sustainable income.
While organizations like the AFM, the United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW), and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) work to represent musicians’ interests through collective bargaining, education, and political lobbying, Manson’s frustration about the lack of effective representation highlights ongoing gaps in industry advocacy. These groups continue to push for improved compensation and working conditions. However, the challenges facing working musicians remain significant.
Garbage has been active since the mid-1990s with a long touring history supporting albums like Version 2.0 and Beautiful Garbage. The band has experienced these industry shifts firsthand over their three-decade career. Manson’s vocal advocacy on musicians’ rights, equity, and industry sustainability aligns with her support for unions and grassroots music worker campaigns. Her recent warnings are part of a broader pattern of engagement with musician labor issues.
