He tours the world but can’t make a living as a musician

The vocalist for international touring metal band Thy Art Is Murder is leaving the band because he can’t making a living as a musician.

McMahon is unusual in that he’s leaving the road entirely. But many other musicians have recently had to cut back or cancel tours over rising costs. New global trade wars and fears of a recession seem likely exacerbate the problem.

He tours the world but can’t make a living as a musician

Thy Art Is Murder lead singer CJ McMahon shared on social media that each member of the band has only earned $16k-$18k each per year for the last 6 or 7 years.

With multiple releases and stats like 385,000 followers on Bandsintown and 435,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Thy Art Is Murder is by most measures an established artist that tours globally including at many major metal festivals. But like many artists the high cost of touring is making turning a profit harder and harder.

“there is something massively wrong with this”

“I / we have been broke for years and being 32 years old I can’t live like this anymore,” shared McMahon “I am getting married next year and plan on having a family, these things cost money, to put the finances into perspective for you I /we have earned between $16k-$18k each over 6-7 years, I feel there is something massively wrong with this, I will not live like this anymore.”

The band will continue without McMahon, but acknowledged the toll that touring takes:

“…Touring as hard as we do does take its toll on you physically, but more importantly mentally and emotionally. We are an underground metal band, and have been so fortunate over the last two years to carve out a small income thanks to so many dedicated and generous fans around the world. For some people, it comes to a turning point in their life where that income is no longer enough for their personal goals, and that point has come for CJ. We would like to wish him all our best as he leaves the band and moves onward to start a family and new life with his loving fiancée.”

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor and founder of the Skyline Artists Agency