“There’s No Real Money in Streaming” Steel Pulse’s David Hinds Reveals Reggae’s Financial Crisis

The lead singer and founding member of Grammy Award-winning British reggae band Steel Pulse says while reggae music continues to reach audiences around the world, the genre is facing significant economic challenges in the streaming era, making live performances the primary source of income for many artists.

Speaking during the St. Kitts Music Festival, David Hinds said the state of reggae varies depending on the region, noting that in the United States, white reggae bands have increasingly come to dominate major festivals and streaming platforms.

“It depends which part of the world you are,” Hinds said. “In the United States, for example, the reggae scene is like an elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about. The reality is that when it comes to the white reggae bands in the United States, they’re the ones who’ve taken over the scene in regards to festivals and streaming.”

Hinds said this shift has left many traditional reggae acts competing for fewer opportunities, unlike previous decades when Caribbean reggae artists occupied a more prominent position.

“We are, in a sense, picking up the trickling aspect of things, where we are not in the forerunning position like we were before,” he explained.

Despite the changing landscape, Hinds said he remains encouraged by the continued growth of reggae and supports all artists helping to expand the genre’s global reach.

“I still recognize all the dancers and all the artists. It’s all about getting the music spread far and wide, keeping everybody current, keeping everybody strong, and giving everybody a sense of worth,” he said.

He also highlighted the financial realities facing reggae musicians, explaining that streaming services generate little meaningful revenue for most artists.

“There’s no real money in streaming when it comes to reggae acts, in all honesty,” he said.

Instead, he pointed to touring as the industry’s most reliable source of income.

“When it comes to revenue, touring is the best revenue you can find. Nobody’s buying music like they used to before, where you buy a CD for $12 and the band gets a share of that. It’s not like that anymore. So it’s immediate revenue when it comes to touring.”

Steel Pulse, formed in Birmingham, England in 1975, has remained one of reggae’s most influential bands for five decades, earning international acclaim for its socially conscious music and winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1986.

The group performed before thousands of fans at the St. Kitts Music Festival, continuing a legacy that has helped shape reggae music around the world.

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