A new study from distributor Ditto Music paints a stark picture of life as an independent artist in 2026. Surveying more than 5,000 independent musicians across 112 countries, the research reveals just how difficult it has become to build a sustainable career.
The headline numbers are sobering. According to the study, 74% of respondents earned less than $1,000 from music last year, while 64% work a full or part-time job outside of music. Only 29% believe their music income will be sustainable over the next three years, and 32% considered quitting music altogether in the past twelve months.
Touring is another major hurdle. Although live shows are the second-largest income source after streaming for the artists surveyed, 82% said they cannot currently afford the expenses of touring. When asked about stress, 37% pointed to financial pressure, followed by 23.5% who named marketing and promotion.
The artists also had clear ideas about what would help. 43% called for better playlist and discovery tools on streaming services, and 41% asked for higher streaming royalty rates, with better education and resources a distant third. Spotify was named the biggest royalty earner by 37% of artists, ahead of YouTube Music on 27% and Apple Music on 10%. Most responses came from the US, the UK and South Africa, which together accounted for nearly two thirds of the sample.
For Ditto Music and the wider industry, the message is clear. For dance music, where so many careers begin in bedrooms and on independent labels, these numbers will feel familiar. They echo a wider conversation about an industry that does not always pay the people who build it, and they make a strong case for fairer streaming economics and better support for artists at the grassroots.
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