Nile Rodgers feels that David Bowie would have been cast aside in the modern music industry.
Rodgers who collaborated with Bowie during his career, made these comments when speaking in front of the UK’s House of Commons select committee, investigating the music streaming economy.
According to Rodgers, streaming’s ability to provide music for listeners on a global scale is “amazing”.
However, the Chic co-founder also warned that inadequate artists payments “has changed things considerably, and not for the better”.
Back in April, the music of the late David Bowie also featured at the coronation of King Charles III, alongside artists Kate Bush, and the Beatles.
Nile Rodgers On The Music Industry Of Today
Speaking at the House of Commons, Nile Rodgers stated that the music industry has changed considerably over the years, but not always for the better.
“I’m 71 years old, I’ve been doing this for 50 years of my life”, Rodgers said.
“In 50 years, you would have thought with the advent of all the new technologies, people like me would have a much better life, things would be easier, we’d all profit together, and that’s not the case. There’s something dreadfully wrong with that”.
Elsewhere, Nile Rodgers also claimed that today’s industry is less likely to nurture an artist, as they are more interested in finding those quick, viral hits.
He also explained that the impact of business practices of the streaming industry is felt beyond the dollars and cents.
It was at this point that Rodgers referred to his former collaborator David Bowie, who originally struggled commercially during the 1970s and 1980s.
However, that was until Bowie released ‘Lets Dance’ in 1983, which Rodgers co-produced.
“The label gave him all that time to try and make a hit, he called me up and we made Let’s Dance,” Rodgers explained. “They took on this financial responsibility and they would carry the artists they believed in that at some point in time would finally break. Those days are truly over”.
There is no doubt that the legacy of David Bowie still burns brightly.
In fact, Oppenheimer and Golden Globes nominee Cillian Murphy revealed that his wardrobe for the film was taken from the late musician’s White Duke era.
More on that here.
