74% of Independent Artists Made Less Than $1,000 From Music Last Year

According to Ditto Music’s Independent Music Report 2026, 74% of independent artists surveyed earned less than $1,000 from their music in 2025.

The report surveyed more than 5,000 independent artists across 112 countries, offering a snapshot of the financial reality behind today’s growing independent music scene. Despite artists having greater access to distribution, recording technology, and global audiences, earning a sustainable income remains one of the industry’s biggest challenges.

Only 9% of artists surveyed reported earning more than $5,000 from music last year, while 64% said they work a full-time or part-time job alongside their music career.

Money was also the most commonly reported barrier to growth. According to the Ditto Music report, 43% of artists identified finances as the biggest obstacle standing between them and the next stage of their career.

The pressure extends beyond simply paying for studio time. Independent artists are increasingly responsible for their own marketing, social media, content creation, touring and release strategies. Ditto Music found that 86% of respondents create social media content to promote their music, while 75% believe social media success is essential to building a career.

Touring presents another financial hurdle. The report found that 82% of artists surveyed said they could not currently afford the costs associated with going on tour. Still, artists aren't necessarily looking toward major labels for the answer. When asked what could accelerate their careers, signing with a major label ranked last among the options presented, at 13%.

Perhaps the most concerning finding is how many artists are questioning whether they can continue at all. Nearly one-third of respondents said they had considered quitting music within the past year.

The numbers arrive at a time when independent music is often positioned as one of the industry's biggest success stories. Artists have more tools, more control, and more ways to release music than ever before.

But Ditto Music's latest report highlights a much less glamorous side of that independence: for the majority of artists surveyed, making music still isn't making much money.