David Gilmour: ‘The Rich and Powerful Have Siphoned Off the Majority of Music Industry Money
Legendary Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour has once again spoken out about the state of the modern music industry, criticizing the unequal distribution of wealth and power that he says is undermining the livelihoods of working musicians.
In a recent interview, Gilmour pointed to what he calls a “systemic imbalance” in the industry, where a small group of wealthy executives, tech giants, and major label stakeholders are reaping the majority of profits while artists themselves struggle to make a living. “The rich and powerful have siphoned off the majority of music industry money,” Gilmour said. “It’s a grotesque distortion of the system.”
His comments reflect a growing frustration among musicians, both emerging and established, who say that streaming services and corporate consolidation have stripped artists of fair compensation. Gilmour emphasized how digital platforms—though offering unprecedented access and exposure—have also driven down the value of recorded music. “Musicians are told to be grateful for the exposure,” he added. “But exposure doesn’t pay the bills.”
Gilmour, who has long been vocal about artists’ rights, highlighted the erosion of royalty structures and the way algorithms prioritize certain genres and labels over others. “We’re witnessing the slow death of musical diversity, and it’s being driven by business decisions, not artistic ones,” he said.
The Pink Floyd guitarist also warned that this trend isn’t just hurting individual musicians—it’s damaging the cultural fabric of music itself. “When you strip creators of their livelihood, you silence voices that could have shaped the future of music,” Gilmour said. “It becomes a marketplace dominated by what’s safe, easy to sell, and algorithmically friendly.”
While some may see Gilmour’s perspective as coming from a place of privilege, given his own success, he was quick to stress solidarity with younger, independent artists. “I’ve had a good run,” he acknowledged. “But I worry deeply for the next generation. They deserve better than a system rigged against them from the start.”
His message is clear: unless systemic change occurs, the soul of the music industry risks being commodified beyond recognition. Gilmour is calling on fellow artists, fans, and policymakers to push for fairer legislation and a restructuring of revenue models—so that music, in his words, “can belong to those who create it once again.”
