Thread by @MrTomGray

Here’s a thought about @PaulMcCartney and his beat combo.

Between 1965 and ‘69, many people assert that some of the greatest records ever produced were made by The Beatles

They never played a single live show in that period.

Let’s look at if Rubber Soul was released today.

In 1965, 1.8 million copies sold in the USA. 11 songs. That’s 19.8 million confirmed song sales. That’s about £80k for Parlophone in streaming terms and £16k for The Beatles.

Let’s be fairer, say everyone averaged listening 20 times that year.

So that’s £1.6 million and £320k

The band recorded for one month in Abbey Road Studio 2. Renting that room, a rough guess, £3k per day. So that’s £90k for the room. A producer of George Martin’s stature today, no less than £15k. So the band are already endebted to the label for £105k.

They eat dinner every day in the studio canteen, they get picked up in cars by the label, then there’s the national marketing to consider.

The Beatles in 2020 would make no money from Rubber Soul. Indeed they’d be probably be endebted to their label.

They wouldn’t have any gigs to fall back on because of Covid19.

But this was a band at the peak of their powers who could choose not to tour, to simply craft music for anyone to enjoy for the next 55 years.

The market has failed.

It provides neither the resources or investment to allow for The bloody Beatles. What chance does your average kid with a dream of a career in music stand?

Something must be done.

#BrokenRecord

Correction they did play shows into 1966. Please transfer all of this thinking onto Revolver or Sgt.Pepper because I’m a daft knob.

Indeed Revolver took two and half months to record. So closer to £200k in costs alone.

Sgt. Pepper, four and a half months.

About £400k.