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BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 More than 35 years after his song “Painting by Numbers” captured the frustration of America’s heartland and became an MTV video hit, singer James McMurtry still is a troubadour in the truest sense.<\/p>\n
McMurtry said he spends most of his time on the road these days, playing shows such as the one he’ll do at 7 p.m. next Sunday, June 21, in Musikfest Cafe at ArtsQuest Center.<\/p>\n
\n\n\u201cWhen that record from the tour stops dropping off, we need you guys [the media] to write about us or talk about us to get people into the shows. That\u2019s really the only commercial value of a record anymore.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Singer James McMurtry <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWell, that\u2019s the only revenue stream right now,” he said in a phone call from his home in Lockhart, Texas. “You can\u2019t make it on royalties. Royalties for downloads and streams are nothing.<\/p>\n
“You know, the days when you toured to support record sales, hoping to live off the record sales, are long gone. It\u2019s the other way around now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite that dour outlook on the recording scene, McMurtry’s current tour is supporting his latest disc, “The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy,” released a year ago Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I mean, what I was looking to do is keep my current career going,\u201d he said of the disc, tongue only partially in cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen that record from the tour stops dropping off, we need you guys [the media] to write about us or talk about us to get people into the shows.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s really the only commercial value of a record anymore.”<\/p>\n
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