Middle-Class Musicians Face Economic Crisis

Traditional 360 record deals often leave artists in debt as labels recoup advances and expenses, with musicians earning little from their work.

Streaming platforms pay artists at most a few cents per thousand streams, meaning most musicians make negligible income from recorded music.

Touring costs have surged due to inflation, post-pandemic supply constraints, and higher visa fees, often leaving mid-tier artists losing money on the road.

Live music revenue once sustained a vibrant ecosystem of venues, crews, and related businesses, but financial pressures threaten its continued viability.

Government grants and private funding offer crucial support but are highly competitive, limited, and subject to cuts, leaving many artists financially insecure.

Major labels and streaming services profit from extensive back catalogs and market power, while independent and mid-level artists struggle to earn a living.

Some artists are bypassing traditional channels by embracing direct-to-fan models—personal commissions, self-released merch, and paid events—to reclaim value.

Proposed solutions include stronger CanCon streaming quotas, continued arts investment, universal basic income proposals, and collective artist activism for fairer streaming payouts.