nitta

Unless they are popular and/or major,  nobody got money in the VK business. So yes, Buck Tick have some $$$
 
Acquintance of mine worked in the business told me how it work.
 
For the scouting to no name new bands, the systems are the label with lend them money, technically, for recording their first maxi, and it will usually have 1 or 2 upbeat songs, 1 ballad, and usually there will be SE too, this happened because budget given aren't big.
 
I said technically because the band will record their 1st maxi with the label's owned studio, and they are charging the band for it.
And after this maxi released, the band are in debt to the record label, not just for the recording, but also for the costumes, photographer fee and such, and each of maxi sold, the money goes into the label's pocket.
 
They pay up their debt, by selling their maxis, and another singles, or EPs, or else they will just disband cos they didn't make any money.
 
As for bands that never sell enough, they will be given options by the label, stop their music activity at once and never to be seen again, usually ended up as salary man, or disband and make a new band with another member of bands who also disband in that label.
 
If any bands disagree with either option, they will have a name change instead with new direction and looks and gimmick.
 
Meanwhile, those who always selling out singles after singles, after a year, they will be signed by flagship company (example: PSC). Meanwhile, the 2nd and 3rd best will be signed by secondary (i.e: SPEEDISK) and tersier (i.e: Resistar) labels.
 
Those who does not get signed by any labels but still want to continue will have to record music, they will have to do so with their own money, this is where shops like Like An Edison takes important role for them because releases below 500 copies will not be accepted for sale in major stores such as HMV and Tower Records. And the same reason why some bands did live show only CD-R album too often rather than official releases.
 
 
As for live shows at live houses, the band will pay for the live house fee, hence is why many new bands are always performing with 4-5 other bands to cover the rental fee. And depends in the scale of the event, usually each band will be responsible to pay for 15-25 tickets/band, say ¥1500x25, hence is why you will be asked who do you wanna see when you are attending concerts at Japanese live shows. And as for famous  bands or bands who affiliated with very good and reputable booking agency such as DNR, they will be listed as guest instead and free from all responsibilities from paying up the venue or at least they will gather their street team to fill up the venue.
 
Indie bands barely make any money, instead they got more debts, hence they have day jobs. They are only get money once they becomes big name in the scenes, signed by major labels, got endorsement from brands, and touring big venues all over Japan.
 
So if we are talking famous and established ones like The Gazette, DEG, Luna Sea, Buck Tick, L'ARC, MUCC, and such they make money and live well. But if we are talking about bands like Sibile Bashir, no they don't, they are dirt poor.
 

A nice rule of thumb for visual kei bands is to use the estimated cost of their wardrobe as the lower bound for their net worth. As in, they have to have at least enough money in their pockets to buy their outfit, or someone has to think they are worth it enough to invest.
 
But then when you get into comparing the different members of a band to see how the 100% is split between them all, it would be hard to say without knowing more information. To me, a band's main composer would clearly have a higher net value. But then another member could handle business and money which is essential but also invisible to us as fans so his value to the band is invisible too. No way to measure that. You can have a unique vocalist that isn't the best but then there's no one like him and he gives your band identity, so he has value too. Then there's the excuse that the band breaks up because someone left and it doesn't "feel the same anymore", so that's an indirect way of saying the band member was so valuable they couldn't buy someone else to replace him!

So really it defines on what you want to measure.

Kaya's gotta be worth at least 6.
 
 
 
In all seriousness, I believe a lot of bandmen actually do have side jobs and their music career is not their real one. That's why a lot of ex-Matina guys who are now "retired" now have regular desk jobs or why some of them own bars / host clubs. I think unless you are in a band with a fairly intense touring schedule that sells well, you'd need a side gig, such as hosting or modeling, to keep afloat. A lot of bands also post their tour schedules for the upcoming 6 months, but if you look, it's usually like 4 - 7 gigs a month, which I'm assuming is no where near enough to feel financially secure.
 
Groups signed with big indie labels, such Shimizuya, PSC, -AINS-, Goemon, and BP Records, are probably fine with just making music, but would need to find something else once their current band splits. Very few people are like Yoshiki with race cars and pianos made out of smaller pianos

most band members: CONSTANT DEBT and SUFFERING

3 bowls of instant ramen

KEEL new EP "Ugly duckling" will be released at their one-man live "UNDER TAKE" at Shimokitazawa SHELTER at 2016/07/16 and will be released through KILLER TUNE official web-shop later, which will include CD+booklet (4 pages)
 
[track list]
01.SWANS
02.クラッカー(cracker)
03.LEM
 

their new album will be released in 2016 autumn
 
 
they will hold their live tour "Death Is A Flower Tour 2016 前編" since Mito SONIC at 2016/10/15 and up to Shinjuku ReNY at 2016/11/18

人時(HITOKI) acoustic mini album "匿名希望(tokumeikibou)" & bass instrumental solo mini album "Scream" will be released at his live since Takadanobaba CLUB PHASE at 2016/07/18 (2,000yen each)
 
"匿名希望(tokumeikibou)" [track list]
01.匿名希望(tokumeikibou)
02.It might be a lie
03.雨霧の中(ugiri no naka)
04.真夜中に(mayonaka ni)
05.とまらないために(tomaranai tame ni)
 
 
"Scream" [track list]
01.Scream
02.Join The Play
03.inst5
04.DE・A・I
05.Just Like You
06.Always

T.M.Revolution: My first interest in Japanese music .. I was only listening to anime songs before.
Janne Da Arc: Best band ever ! I was never into a musical act like I was into them... I hope they come back soon.
Kuroyume: If you ask me to categorize all bands this one will stay alone. They're just unique.
you (Janne Da Arc): I started playing guitar because of him.
heidi. : All their songs have that Dejavu feeling & I think it's awesome !
MUCC: Great music, I wish they could perform live as good.

just reading the title alone made me imagine the following:
 
LADY'S X - Yoshiki-shaped tampon line
Comes in 3 editions:
BLUE BLOOD edition
RUSTY NAIL edition
NEVER COMING OUT edition
 
needless to say i was disappointed by the actual thing...

I'm cracking up and cringing at the same time at some of these 'requirements' listed on the official site...
 
...like...
 
 
 
also,
 
 
yyyyyyeah right.

I hope I am able to listen to this new project as well as X JAPAN new album during my lifetime

watch this new group be formed just to ghostwrite the new X album.

it is announced at heidi. 10th anniversary one-man live at Akasaka BLITZ at 2016/06/03 that their new album "邂逅(kaikou)" will be released in 2016, although details have not yet been announced
 
 
btw they will hold their member birthday live as follows:
 
2016/08/18 at Shibuya REX - ナオ(nao) birthday live "#818 O.O.O."
2016/09/27 at Daikanyama LOOP - kiri birthday live "360° ∞ループstage!!"
2016/10/19 at Hatsudai DOORS - 義彦(yoshihiko) birthday event "義彦新喜劇〜劇はやりません(笑)〜"
 
 
they will hold their fan-club picnic in Karuizawa at 2016/10/01-10/02
 

X JAPAN album "Jealousy" (remastering ver.) will be released at 2016/07/27
 
 
how about their new album...

even trombe is done with yoshiki's shit!

Ba.人時(HITOKI) & Dr.笹渕啓史(sasabuchi hiroshi) have finished recording their parts for CREATURE CREATURE new album

CREATURE CREATURE members are in the process of recording for their new album, for which 6 songs have been finished, although details have not yet been announced

The title should be "I am Yoshiki" >.>

I know my fellow Monochromians are anxious to hear about the status of the new X JAPAN album. Not to worry, Yoshiki has made an important update about his current activities:
 
https://twitter.com/YoshikiOfficial/status/707219197038690305
 
...oh.

Dead is Me
I Aim to Inspire
Fuck Kisaki
My Mixtape is Fire

Same. This year is their 20th anniversary. If they don't come up with something this year, then I guess we won't ever see them again. Plus, they've been on hiatus for 10 years or so, right ? It's time !
 
Their solo projects are nothing, compared to JDA. They should come back and stay united forever.

Rayflower new album "Color & Play" will be released at 2015/10/21 (2 TYPE, 10 songs)
 
limited edition (3,780yen) will include CD+DVD, and regular edition (3,240yen) will include CD only
 
[limited edition DVD track list]
U-TOPIA (PV)
サバイヴノススメ(survive no susume) (PV)
彩戯心(saigishin) (PV)
Shining GARDEN (PV)

Day 25: KEEL - R'lyeh

 

Release Date: 2015-10-07
Label: ROCK GUILD Inc.
Genre: shoegaze, indie, rock, nagoya kei roots
 
 
Impressions from @Ito:
 
 
Impressions from @Zeus:
 
 
Sample song:

 
Buy the album:
CDJapan | Google Play Store