THE GOLDY LOCKS BAND Is Stripping Back the Illusions of the Industry

Music cities like Nashville, Los Angeles, and Austin may dazzle tourists with neon lights, live bands, and endless soundtracks, but behind the stage smoke and whiskey glow lies a darker truth. The truth is this: the very artists you dance to and sing along with are barely surviving. Live musicians aren’t just underpaid, they’re being redefined as something they never signed up to be. And that needs to change.

Somewhere between a show in Nashville and a candid conversation about streaming royalties, THE GOLDY LOCKS BAND made a decision: if the world was going to keep demanding skin, they’d serve it — but on their terms.

The result? A bold, vulnerable, and oddly empowering movement entitled Only Talent: Buy the Record, Not the Bod. It’s part satire, part protest, and all heart — a message-driven movement pushing back against the devaluation of artistry in the age of algorithms. This is the story of a band that dared to bare it all… for the sake of music.

“We had to make a a drastic statement in order to make many people aware that definite change needs to happen.”

A breakout personality from TNA Impact Wrestling and reality TV, Goldy has spent the last decade fronting a rock band that defies industry norms. “When someone casually suggested I should skip promoting my latest record and just start an OnlyFans instead, I couldn’t help but think, Is this really where we’ve come to? There was no malice in the advice — no calls to push singles or book gigs — just a blunt, “Take your clothes off.”

But instead of backing down, Goldy chose to push back — deliberately and cleverly. “If I’m going to strip, then fine,” she said. “But I’ll do it with vinyl records strategically covering the parts everyone’s distracted by. Because this isn’t about skin — it’s about the music.” And so #OnlyTalent was born: a witty, biting riff on the OnlyFans phenomenon, using well-placed records not to tease, but to challenge the conversation around art, exposure and respect.

Now, she’s not just leading a band — she’s leading a powerful movement. But this isn’t just about one woman pushing against the current. It’s about a band — a family — and their fight for dignity in an industry that too often favors aesthetics over authenticity. And for once, the drummer’s not just in the back. Rod Saylor, longtime percussionist and proud co-conspirator, has his own skin in the game — literally.

He doesn’t claim to stand out much — unless you count the mohawk, and the fact that he’s never been one to follow the crowd. “I’ve always danced to the beat of my own drum — literally and figuratively,” explains Rod. “I’ve never conformed, and I’ve never felt the need to fit anyone else’s mold. That’s exactly why I wanted to be part of this campaign. It’s about standing up, stripping down the industry’s expectations, and showing that authenticity matters more than appearance. Music should be about expression, not perfection — and that’s a message I’ll always stand behind.”

It’s not just about the music anymore; it’s about marketability.

“People always talk about how women are judged by their looks in this industry — and it’s true — but it happens to men too,” expains Rod. “I’ve watched less experienced musicians get ahead because they fit a certain image. Meanwhile, the rest of us are grinding it out just to be heard. If you’re not ‘marketable,’ you’re invisible. That’s the truth no one really wants to say out loud. And that’s the part that wears you down, no matter who you are.”

Although the campaigns have been challenging for Goldy and Rod to produce — physically, emotionally, and financially — they believe bold statements are the only way to cut through the noise. For them, it’s not about shock value; it’s about forcing people to confront uncomfortable truths. If the industry is ever going to change, it has to start by being seen. And sometimes, that means putting everything on the line to be heard.

Rod, do you think the music industry has normalized the idea that artists should give away their art for exposure?

This is difficult because there are definitely separate sections to the music industry. I believe venues that pay for live music think artists should give away their artistry for exposure and that in turn exposure is worth their low pay, most times I find it comical, I have a skill and a degree most people do not, nor could they comprehend and I have a brain like a sponge for learning and figuring things out. I am paid handsomely for my skills and services, and while I enjoy that, my passion lies in music, but I quietly chuckle to myself when I see a club owner say they’re only willing to pay X$  for an out-of-town band to come play for four hours and expect a band to be ecstatic about such a low number. It’s all relative to where we put our value, and I truly believe artists are undervalued in today’s industry.

Tourists see the bright lights of various music cities — but what’s life really like for live musicians behind the music?

Here’s the reality most tourists don’t see: the average base pay in downtown Nashville for example is $50 per musician for a four-hour shift. Some gigs drop as low as $40. I’ve heard some bars have bumped it to $100, but that’s rare. That’s before parking fees, where you’re left dragging gear through mobs of tourists just to make it to the stage. Add in the fact that you’re an independent contractor, no health insurance, no dental, no safety net, and the picture becomes clear: no one’s looking out for you.

Some venues dangle a so-called “guarantee”, maybe $450, but that’s split between five people. And if you do land a guarantee, you’re not even allowed to run a tip bucket, which guts your chance at making anything extra. Then, to add insult, certain bars actually take a percentage of your already-meager base pay as a “booking fee.” It’s exploitation disguised as opportunity.

Meanwhile, the toll on the body is brutal. Arthritis in your twenties and thirties is common. Live musicians are hurting physically, financially, and emotionally. Bartenders are struggling to make tips too. The whole ecosystem has shifted from music-driven magic to a bottom-line booze business.

A fellow Nashville musician and friend, Ryan, put it in painfully honest terms: “The reality that I’ve accepted is that I’m a liquor salesman. I have to push people to buy booze. Keep people drinking. I don’t feel like a musician anymore down there. And that’s taking the fun out of it. You can be the best band on the strip, but if you can’t keep people in the room buying booze, you’re fired. And they’ll find somebody else who’ll do it for less base pay.”

Nothing to Hide: Exposing the Truth About Paying Musicians

The musicians bringing the soul and heartbeat to these cities are being reduced to alcohol salesmen, chewed up by a system that doesn’t value their art. Are we still watching performances — or just watching people work?

I’ll never forget taking my dad downtown. We saw bands who looked like they loved it, sure, but we also saw too many staring at iPads, reading from the Nashville Number System, barely glancing at the crowd. It wasn’t music anymore. It was a shift. “10 to 2.” “8 to 12.” Punch in, play, punch out. That’s not what their talent deserves.

This isn’t just unfair, it’s scandalous. The scandal isn’t just the pay, it’s the lack of respect, the lack of future, the lack of care. Musicians live one health scare away from ruin, and when that happens, the only safety net is benefit shows. Not because they’re careless, but because they’ve been forced into a system where surviving today leaves no room for tomorrow.

You’ve been in the music industry a long time, how have you personally felt the sting of streaming payouts?

This is definitely a sore subject. We’ve watched some of our singles reach over 600,000 streams. We’ve gained excitement, and in the long run, when the check from that comes, it’s disappointing especially when you can see certain CEOs of streaming platform companies, recording, record, payouts, and growth.

What do most people misunderstand about what it actually takes to make music today?

I don’t believe many people know just how much effort and finances go into being able to record and make music. It’s not some RadioShack tape player you hit record on and you’re done. Before you even record, there are countless hours learning your instrument and countless hours of buying gear so you can catch those inspired moments. And that’s if you do it yourself. If you hire a studio that even gets more in depth and expensive.

Bare Essentials: Why Musicians Deserve More Than Exposure

What role do record labels play in an artist’s career today, especially for those who are just starting out?

There are certain milestones in your career where record labels may begin to offer financial support. Unfortunately in today’s market, the industry is so flooded with so many artists and different types of genres and bands. The record labels have become obsolete for the up-and-coming in today’s market. They only step in once the musicians have spent the money and time to develop their craft and their audience. So as an independent artist, buying that album will definitely go a long way and give insight into knowing more about the artist. We make it an experience as it should be.

What’s your hope for this campaign, for both your own band and for independent artists everywhere?

We truly want to see artist support on a personal level. Whether that means album, merchandise sales, or just live show support. Mostly live music, getting back to what it once was before it became so taken for granted. Because until fans value talent over taboos, the music industry will keep exploiting the very people who give it life. And that’s the scandal that no one’s talking about—until now.

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Only Talent: Buy the Record, Not the Bod.

Learn more about THE GOLDY LOCKS BAND, where they are playing live next and grab their latest album Talkin To Myself at their official website.