Joe Bonamassa recently criticized Hollywood stars who remained silent when musicians were fighting against streaming and are now voicing concerns about AI. He shared his perspective in a post on X.
The blues guitarist’s statement addressed the entertainment industry’s selective concern over technological disruption. He drew parallels between the music industry’s streaming struggles and Hollywood’s current AI concerns.
“When music streaming came along and basically reduced album sales by 60 to 70 percent year after year for nearly 15 years, I did noticed Hollywood staying oddly silent about the trials and tribulations of their entertainment industry kinfolk in music,” Bonamassa said. “Now that wolf has come knocking on their door step, I feel the need to do the same. Times change folks, better learn how to prompt or some sort of trade.”
When a music fan challenged his comparison, calling it a “terrible analogy” and arguing that music streaming differs from AI-created art, Bonamassa defended his position.
“Thanks, I’m sure you have more experience than I do in the music and entertainment industry,” he responded. “My point was when the film/TV industry gets co-opted, replaced, redacted or otherwise either by AI or format changes it mirrors our situation that happened slowly over the past 25 years. Very few outside the music industry spoke out when music’s value became $.003 cents per stream basically making it almost valueless.”
Bonamassa concluded by questioning Hollywood’s motivations. He suggested their concerns are more financial than artistic.
“But you already knew that right? Hollywood isn’t worried about artistic integrity as much as it worried about their mortgage payments,” he continued. “Trust me they see the writing on the wall. So please pardon my lack of sympathy on their behalf at this point.”
Bonamassa’s comments carry significant weight given his position as one of the music industry’s most successful independent artists. His firsthand experience with the industry’s transformation over the past three decades adds credibility to his statements.
Wikipedia notes that Joseph Leonard Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who started his career at age twelve when he opened for B.B. King. His early start in the music business means he witnessed the entire transition from physical album sales to the streaming era that he references in his criticism of Hollywood.
The Count Basie Center for the Arts describes Bonamassa as being “hailed internationally as one of the greatest guitar players of his generation and cited by Guitar World Magazine as ‘the world’s biggest blues guitarist.'” This recognition underscores his credibility when speaking about the music industry’s challenges and transformations.
The guitarist’s success has been built largely on live performances and independent releases. This makes him particularly attuned to how streaming has affected traditional revenue streams for musicians. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater reports that Bonamassa has achieved remarkable success with 28 No. 1 Billboard Blues Albums, demonstrating his ability to thrive despite the industry changes he criticizes.
His extensive experience in the music business spans over 30 years since his debut performance with B.B. King. This provides him with a unique perspective on how technological disruptions have reshaped entertainment industries. This background lends authority to his observations about Hollywood’s current concerns over AI technology and their previous silence during the music industry’s streaming crisis.
