Gene Simmons did another similar interview with Joe Rogan where he said "the good news is with today's digital age you can get your music published, the bad news is in today's digital age is no one will pay you for it!" Gene Simmons is very intelligent and said the harsh reality of the music industry!

I have to agree with what Gene Simmons says. Whilst I enjoy listening to today's music, it won't go down as the best in history. It's a sad state of affairs.

Legend has it that he is still upset that Metallica sued Napster first lol....

I bought 26 KISS albums growing up. Doubled a few from cassette. Straight from the record store and cd store new. He earned that money. Always respect for the Beatles.

The downfall of the music industry is the glut of artists with close to no talent who get big with provocation and gimmicks. You know, like KISS.

I completely agree with Gene but don't take his word for it... listen to the music on the radio.

Not an album released since Psycho Circus congrats 👏. Alive is a pain to illegally download I rather buy it

It was the Internet that destroyed the music industry....

Just have to agree with Gene on this one! This entitled generation, who demand everything is available for free, are responsible for the demise of the truly great classic rock acts of the future. I am still prepared to cough up my hard earned to pay for music of bands I support! Gotta keep rock alive!!

Iconic bands/musicians since 1988. How about pearl jam, smashing pumpkins, jeff buckley, RHCP, alice in chains, nirvana, amy winehouse, GNR, faith no more, pantera, sepultura, cranberries, silverchair, white stripes, adele. Im sure i could name more.

He is absolutely right too. For example, I am a freelance writer for our local newspaper here in Sumter, South Carolina. I compose film reviews that is published for the community. Not trying to sound as if I am anything spectacular or anything. My reviews were very well received by the company and the public.

Brilliant man I agree 💯

This is the truth man , gene YOU ARE totally right . Music is dead and Kanye west , sadly, Now is the King with taylor swift , rihanna, and jay z !!!!

The recorded music industry is indeed quite dead. The results are not DIRE for everyone though. There has been a 180 degree "flip" in how bands get paid. When I was teen in the 1970s I saw a huge number of bands play for what is truly small change ticket pricing. Tickets were so much cheaper, even after factoring in the effects of inflation, because touring was done to support where the money was made....record sales. Today bands record and distribute music the best they can on their own because with file sharing there is no money to be made. Now they just about give it away for free in the hope that this will get the exposure and fan base that will demand tickets for shows. In this you can easily explain the explosion to the upside in ticket prices. Gene is right about what this means for bands trying to make it today. Lot's of songs and stories written and told in years past about Record Company demands of artists as if these people and companies were little more than leaches on bands and individual performers yet nothing could be further from the truth. Recording executives were always on the look out for the next big thing. Most artists and bands will not have a business minded Gene Simmons in it. Turns out the recorded music industry actually provided exactly what SImmons describes. Structure and a vetting process in a sea of way too many bands and artists they had a financial interest in promoting the best, hottest and what would become the biggest sellers. With that part gone.......it is a mess..... the cream can't rise and the next Elvis or John, Paul, George and Ringo eventually needs to Eat and Survive so most all will give up and take that "real job" before they make it.

In 2023 the average price for a Kiss concert ticket is $1888.

Another reason that there won't be another Beatles is that it's all been done. There is no more new ground left to break.

Since this interview and another Gene did with Henry Rollins about this subject , many old school rock rollers have doubled down on his comments . Roger Daltry “ Musician’s are getting robbed “ Stevie Nicks “ Video Killed the Radio Star . Internet killed the every star ..

I think Gene is correct to an extent. The way bands got big and became "iconic" may very well be over. IMO this does give help give the independent artists a greater chance of finding an audience.

One addendum to my initial comment . The late David Crosby sold his catalogue to a streaming service and reaped some coin . When Crosby was asked what advice he would give to young people about going into music as a career . He replied “ Don’t ! “ Yes he was aware of the situation

great book on the subject "Appetite for Self Destruction "