Exodus guitarist Gary Holt recently clarified his previous comments about the financial challenges facing musicians in today’s industry. He addressed misconceptions in a statement shared on Instagram.
The clarification came after Holt’s earlier remarks about how bands like Exodus rely heavily on merchandise sales to sustain their touring operations and make a living.
“I mean, some bands — Metallica, I’m sure, could do well without selling a single shirt — but for bands like Exodus, we’re a traveling pop-up store,” Holt previously said. “We play music, so you’ll come in and visit our store. I mean, we’re lucky — I still get some royalties and stuff. If your guarantees cover the entire cost of the tour, you’re way ahead of the game, because then the merchandise is yours. So you can go home with some money.”
Following these comments, Holt felt the need to provide additional context about his financial situation and the realities of touring.
“To say suffering is a reach,” Holt explained. “The point was merch is where we make our money, breaking even on the show fees is HUGE. And I sell tasteless merch myself, why pay someone to do it! I’m doing okay. Not rich but a man’s gotta hustle!”
Holt’s perspective reflects a broader industry reality that has affected many metal bands in the streaming era. His bandmate Jack Gibson has been equally candid about the financial challenges facing musicians today.
MetalSucks reported that Gibson described himself as “a t-shirt salesman. I’m not a musician” due to the decline in record sales amid streaming dominance. This stark assessment highlights how merchandise has become the primary revenue stream for many touring acts.
“We don’t sell s**t for records. If we don’t go out and sell T-shirts, we don’t make money,” Gibson stated in a recent interview. His comments emphasize the dramatic shift in how bands generate income in the modern music landscape.
Despite these financial challenges, Exodus has achieved notable commercial success in recent years. Exodus Attack noted that their 2014 album “Blood In, Blood Out” peaked at #38 on the Billboard 200. The album marked the band’s highest chart position and nearly doubled the sales of their previous release from 2010.
The guitarist’s comments highlight the ongoing discussion about how musicians navigate the modern music industry’s economic landscape. Traditional revenue streams have been fundamentally altered by digital streaming and changing consumer habits.
