S I N G I N G
F O R Y O U R
S U P P E R
Macon Magazine's roundtable
on artist compensation with
local musicians
COMPILED BY JULIA MORRISON |
PHOTOS BY DSTO MOORE
B
etween a guitar-shaped airport runway,
branding a pickleball facility, and a
newspaper with musical themes, it's
clear Macon is trading on the sound of the city
as the center of it's soul – for tourism dollars,
downtown foot traffi c, and a core identity.
While the city's heritage is well-celebrated,
what about the artists shaping its future? We
invited working musicians – ranging from singer-
songwriters, producers, instrumentalists, band
leaders, and engineers – for an honest, wide-
ranging conversation about making money and
music today. The discussion focused on one core
question: how can artists be fairly compensated in
a city that considers itself a music town?
The folks at this table are not just hobbyists.
Their weeks are fi lled with rehearsals, gigs, studio
sessions, travel, teaching, side hustles, and day
jobs. They are deeply invested in this community.
Yet many of them shared stories of
undervaluation, economic precarity, and a system
that often takes their work for granted. We believe
if Macon wants to have a thriving cultural
ecosystem, it must center the voices of its artists.
That starts by listening. What follows is a highlight
reel from this candid conversation about taking
the stage (and making a living).
