The Musician’s Census 2024
We at Musosoup were thrilled to partner with Right Chord Music (RCM) to conduct the 2024 Musicians Census.
This initiative aims to delve deep into the lives and careers of musicians, shedding light on the unique challenges they face today. By participating in this census, musicians not only contributed valuable insights but also stood a chance to win exciting prizes from both us at Musosoup and RCM.
Our involvement in this project underscores our commitment to supporting the music community. We believe that understanding the current landscape is crucial for fostering a more supportive and sustainable environment for artists.
The data collected will help shape future initiatives and provide a clearer picture of what it means to be a musician in 2024.
The Musicians Census 2024 Findings
We are excited to share the findings from the 2024 Musicians Census.
This comprehensive survey, completed by 300 independent artists across 64 countries, provides an in-depth look at the current state of the music industry and the challenges faced by grassroots musicians.
Key findings from the census include:
Beyond payment ‘Getting music heard’ remains the most significant challenge for most respondents (54%). Meanwhile over two-thirds (68%) of respondents believe it’s becoming harder to be an independent musician. When asked why three major themes emerge:
Oversaturation of the market: The sheer volume of new music being released daily makes it difficult to get noticed.
AI-generated music: The rise of AI-generated music is contributing to the difficulty for independent artists. The presence of low-quality acts or AI-generated content is diluting the music landscape.
Challenges in building a fanbase: The continued difficulty of gaining a loyal following and leveraging social media effectively.
The research highlights the lengths independent artists go to, to promote their music. It’s a time-consuming, multi-channel process. On average artists report using five different social media platforms. Instagram dominates as the primary promotional channel.
In addition to social media, artists typically use five more services. A music distribution service was the most frequently mentioned, followed by a Link Page provider and a Press/promotion service. DistroKid was the most recognised distribution service, but also the most polarising, reported as the most liked and disliked service.
By mapping the total population of musicians and understanding their lives and careers, this census aims to provide the music industry with the insights needed to support today’s community of musicians and those of the future.
Everyone who completed the survey was automatically entered to win prizes from Musosoup and Right Chord Music, with five artists winning a free campaign coupon with Musosoup. Congratulations to US dream-pop band Waltzerr who scooped the main prize.
For more detailed findings and insights, read the Musician’s Census