Originally Posted by Notes Norton
This is true, not only in the music business, but many of the arts. The artist buys the paint, the canvas, buys the frame, pays for it to be mounted, puts it in the gallery, and the gallery takes 60% of the money.
It isn't even just the arts, though the arts get a worse deal than many.

Here in the Uk, when I design a product I have to ensure that I can produce if for 1/5 or 1/6 of the retail price.
The government takes 20% as VAT.
The retailier takes 50% of what remains as their margin.
The distributor takes 40-50% of what still remains as their margin.
We're already down to 1/5.
Subtract some more for packaging, shipping, support, warranty, repairs.
I'm now pretty close to 1/6th and I still have to make a profit myself and pay more to the state in tax on that profit.

It doesn't vary a great deal wherever one does business. Shocking, really.

Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.