It’s not easy to make money as a musician in 2025. Some artists are removing their music from streaming sites due to abysmal payouts and the platforms’ support of AI-generated music. On the concert end, many venues are struggling, which means less money in the pockets of musicians.
Not quite two years ago, the RN&R talked to a local benefactor who had started an organization to help with the crisis. The goal of For the Song is to make shows more lucrative for bands and musicians, and the organization has been consistently hosting concerts in its two years of existence. In August, For the Song will feature two artists: Walt Wilkins and the Ramble, and Raul Midón.
“We’re small enough where this is still curated by my wife and me. We have decades of following Americana music in all of its forms, whether it’s rock ’n’ roll, or folk, or country, or even jazz,” said founder Ford Goodman during a phone interview. “I was a tech executive until five years ago, when I retired, but through that process, I learned a lot about the business model. … The artists we’re looking to help are nationally touring, critically acclaimed, but virtually unknown in the Northern Nevada area. … It’s unlikely a venue would see this as a profitable opportunity, yet we know their music is terrific, and it’s something that the community ought to see.”…