Rockonomics

Starred review from June 1, 2019
The late Krueger, who was a professor at Princeton University, may have been brilliant, but he was still human and proud of his lifelong love of music. Peppered with interviews of famous industry insiders (including Steve Ferrone and Gloria Estefan) and culminating with an appendix that details Krueger's exclusive access to concert-sales data, Rockonomics informs the reader about the many different slices that make up the contemporary music-industry pie. He explains that most stars make their money from touring, not album sales, and identifies the different ways artists sell concert experiences to fans (for example, Garth Brooks performs two concerts a day in specific destinations). Krueger also reveals the distinctions between streaming services, satellite radio, and YouTube. The final chapter, Music and Well-Being, is a shift from an economic analysis to a medical one, and it strikes a different tone but is no less meticulously researched than the other chapters. Readers shouldn't be intimidated by Krueger's academic background. Though not quite a beach read, this is a fun book about the business side of a world that touches us all.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)