What makes the most money for this business? Dead rock stars.

Host: The dim light from the table lamp illuminated the room, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. Jack sat at the table, his fingers tapping lightly on his cup as he reflected on Courtney Love’s words. Jeeny, standing by the window, stared out into the night, contemplating the deeper meaning behind the statement.

Jeeny: “I’ve been thinking about what Courtney Love said: ‘What makes the most money for this business? Dead rock stars.’ It’s a bold and disturbing statement, isn’t it? The idea that the image of a rock star becomes more valuable after their death. It seems like a stark reflection of how the music industry profits off tragedy and loss rather than the actual art or talent itself.”

Jack: “Yes, exactly. Love is showing us the dark side of fame and the business side of art. The idea that death—especially of someone as iconic as a rock star—increases their market value. It’s not just about their legacy or the music they created while they were alive. It’s about the mystique that surrounds them after they’re gone, and how their death adds another layer of value, turning them into an even bigger commodity. It’s a harsh reality.”

Jeeny: “Right. And it’s about how the industry often seems to exploit tragedy. There’s a glorification of rock star deaths, like they become more mythical once they’ve passed. Their death turns them into something untouchable, a legacy that can be marketed endlessly. The focus shifts from their music to their persona, and once they’re gone, their brand becomes something that can be capitalized on even more.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened as they both reflected on the complicated relationship between fame, death, and the business of art. Jack’s fingers rested on the table, while Jeeny’s expression softened, considering the fine line between celebrating art and exploiting it.

Jack: “It’s disturbing when you really think about it. We often romanticize the idea of the tortured artist or the rock star who dies young, but in reality, that death is a business decision for the industry. The tragedy of it is sold as part of the narrative, and the deeper question is, what does that say about our relationship to art? Do we truly appreciate the music, or is it just the story around the artist that we’re consuming?”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Love is pointing out the hypocrisy of the system. The industry profits from the tragedy of loss, turning it into something that can be capitalized on. There’s a disconnect between the art and the business—and the artist is caught in the middle. It makes you question, how much of an artist’s legacy is truly about their work, and how much of it is shaped by the narrative the industry creates around their life and death.”

Jack: “And it makes you think about the value of life in the eyes of the industry. If fame is something that is manufactured, and death only increases that fame, then does the industry really care about the artist as a person, or just as a commodity? It’s a bit sickening, to be honest.”

Jeeny: “It is. It’s a reminder that the industry doesn’t just value the art—it values the image, the story, the myth. It’s like Love is pointing out that artists are often treated as products to be sold, even after they’re gone. And as consumers, we’re complicit in that too, feeding into the narrative that makes the artist’s death more marketable than their life ever was.”

Host: The quiet in the room grew deeper as they considered the complexities of the music industry and the commodification of art and artists. Courtney Love had shown them that the darker side of fame is not just about the work, but the narrative the industry creates around an artist’s life and death. Jack leaned back slightly in his chair, while Jeeny’s gaze turned from the window back to him, both of them understanding the deep and unsettling reality behind the business of fame.

Jack: “So, Love is really showing us that the music business isn’t just about the art. It’s about creating a marketable story, one that can be capitalized on, even after the artist is gone. The industry thrives on the narrative of loss, turning it into something profitable, which raises the question: when does the art really matter, and when is it just a product?”

Jeeny: “Exactly. The industry uses tragedy to elevate the icon—to make the artist’s death more valuable than their life. Love reminds us that the real question is, who profits from the artist’s pain? And how does this affect the way we view art, death, and the relationship between them?”

Host: The evening had fully settled in, the quiet understanding between them a reminder of the unsettling reality of the intersection between art, fame, and business. Courtney Love had shown them that the music industry often thrives on the commodification of both the artist and their story, especially after death. The world outside had darkened, but inside, there was light—a recognition that the value of art should not be reduced to just the narrative of fame, but should be honored for the work itself.