In an interview on Joe Pags's "Unshaken And Unafraid" podcast, veteran American rocker Ted Nugent complained about how poorly musicians are now paid in an industry that has shifted from selling records to streaming, where listeners pay for access rather than ownership. He argued that streaming royalties are so meagre that even huge play counts yield little money, contrasting this with the earlier era when album sales and live gigs provided a dependable income. His remarks reflect a wider concern among established artists that the modern music economy makes it difficult for even talented performers to cover their costs.

Nugent claimed that his songs "Stranglehold" and "Fred Bear" are each approaching a billion streams, yet suggested that such figures might earn an artist only around $29.95, compared with "a couple of bucks" per album sold in the past. He stressed the practical costs of running a band — amplifiers, strings, vans, fuel and tyres — and said many virtuoso musicians can barely stay afloat. He pointed to his own venture, NugeVault.com, which sells archived recordings, outtakes and original vinyl, as a successful alternative revenue stream. The article notes Nugent has reportedly sold over 40 million albums, released his latest record "Detroit Muscle" in April 2022, and remains outside the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, something he attributes to his outspoken conservative politics.