Art for the End Times: How capitalism wrecked the music industry, ft. Torq Campbell of Stars

Where did all the good tunes go? Have millennials just gone the way of Gen X and Boomers before them, pining nostalgically for gilded memories of a past that never glittered? Or has the music business—and music along with it—really changed? In this episode of Art for the End Times, Lyta Gold explores the unsavory reality of the capitalist music industry with special guest Torquil Campbell (AKA Torq), co-lead singer of the acclaimed indie pop/rock band Stars. Torq guides us on a journey to understand the contemporary music industry, and how streaming platforms and usurious music-industry capitalists have built an environment hostile to creativity with their relentless fleecing of artists and consumers alike. To take back the culture, we'll have to take back the means of artistic production, and Torq offers some thoughts on what that might mean for cultural workers. Torq Campbell is a socialist musician, songwriter, co-lead singer of the band Stars, and co-host of the Soft Revolution podcast. Stars have released nine studio albums—including, most recently, From Capelton Hill—and have been nominated for multiple Juno and Polaris awards.<br /><br />Read the transcript here: <a href="https://therealnews.com/torq-campbell-how-capitalism-wrecked-the-music-industry" rel="noopener">https://therealnews.com/torq-campbell-how-capitalism-wrecked-the-music-industry</a><br /><br />Studio/Post-Production: Dwayne Gladden<br /><br />Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: <br /><br />Donate: <a href="https://therealnews.com/donate-pod" rel="noopener">https://therealnews.com/donate-pod</a><br />Sign up for our newsletter: <a href="https://therealnews.com/newsletter-pod" rel="noopener">https://therealnews.com/newsletter-pod</a><br /><br />Like us on Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/therealnews" rel="noopener">https://facebook.com/therealnews</a><br />Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/therealnews" rel="noopener">https://twitt