TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA violinist Anna Phoebe, who recently joined ROXY MUSIC for live shows, has posted her latest weekly blog. An excerpt is available below:

"The music industry has reverted back to the '70s where money has to be made from touring live since everyone expects recorded music to come for free. But this expectation that creative people should produce art simply for the love of it is not a new argument. The phrase ‘Ars Gratia Artis’ comes from the Romans, translating as ‘art is its own reward’. It’s been floating around in various guises ever since as an excuse to exploit creative people, by paying them as little as possible (or nothing) for producing art/literature/music.

Most musicians would agree that you don’t go into the music business because it will make you rich; you play music because it’s the only thing you can ever imagine doing. However, once you’ve accepted this ‘golden ball and chain’ and you find yourself part of the music industry, it is nice to make a bit of cash and earn a respectable living. And if you can combine being a musician with being a sensible business person, good for you! KISS are a band of excellent entrepreneurs. Love or hate them, they know about marketing, about branding and about selling, and are not ashamed to flaunt it to its full potential.

Footballers and the football industry probably make far more money than the music industry here in the UK. Football fans don’t expect to get their entertainment fix for free – they spend hundreds (if not thousands) per year on satellite subscriptions to sport channels, on season tickets to clubs, and on the latest kit. And after 90 minutes on the football pitch, no-one expects the footballers to turn up for a meet and greet. Footballers play football for the love of the game, and yet nobody expects to be entertained by them for free. Why should music fans’ expectations be any different?

Right. Unpaid hours of violin practice beckon."

Go to this location for the complete blog.

Anna's Roxy Music summer tour schedule is as follows:

June

17 - Kaisafest - Helsinki, Finland
19 - Sonar - Barcelona, Spain

July

17 - Lovebox - London, England
31 - Fuji Rock - Tokyo, Japan

August

8 - Lokerse Feesten - Belgium
27 - Lots Festival - Holland
29 - Rock En Seine - Paris France

September

3 - Electric Picinic - Stradbally, Ireland
11 - Bestival - Isle Of Wight, UK

Anna's solo live schedule is now as follows:

May

31 - The Purple Turtle - London, UK **

June

1 - The Bedford - London, UK (fulll band - free entry)

September

5 - Weyfest Festival - Farnham, UK (full band)

** Jurojin show