Santiago, Chile. Photo Credit: Chalo Gallardo
SANTIAGO, Chile (April 19, 2026) — A newly released study is shedding light on the “streaming paradox,” a frustrating reality where digital platforms are considered vital for a career while simultaneously failing to provide a livable income. Funded by the European Research Council as part of the PlatforMuse project, the report surveyed nearly 1,200 artists across Brazil, Chile, Nigeria, the Netherlands, and South Korea to map out the current economic landscape of global music.
The Economic Reality of the DIY Artist
The findings currently paint a discouraging picture for the independent sector, with 84% of respondents identifying as “self-releasing or DIY.” According to the data, 55% of all artists surveyed earned less than €1,000 from their music in 2025, and a staggering 26% reported earning no income at all. This financial strain is particularly acute for the “post-streaming” generation—those who debuted in or after 2015—with 69% of these artists failing to break the €1,000 annual threshold.
A Global Divide in Sentiment
While dissatisfaction with royalty rates is nearly universal, the study revealed a sharp geographical divide in how streaming is perceived. In Nigeria, 83% of artists credited streaming with improving their career prospects, despite nearly half of them earning no music income last year. In contrast, only 14% of artists in the Netherlands viewed the advent of streaming as a net positive. Across all five countries, 83% of participants described themselves as “not at all” or “not very” satisfied with current payout structures.
The Discovery Paradox
Despite the financial criticism, artists remain tethered to these platforms due to their role in global discoverability. The report found that 81% of artists still view streaming as “extremely” or “somewhat” important to their careers. This creates a difficult cycle: musicians feel forced to participate in a system that upends their financial stability because it is currently the only efficient way to reach a global audience.
Transparency and the Payment Gap
The report also explored why compensation often fails to reach the artists themselves. While major platforms like Spotify claim to pay out the majority of their revenue to rights holders, the study suggests that money is often diverted before it hits an artist’s pocket. One indie-signed respondent noted they received “nothing” from streams, suggesting that complex distribution deals and intermediary fees continue to be a barrier to artists actually seeing the profit from their work.
About the Author
