82% of global independent artists can’t afford to tour in 2025
Only 18% view touring as financially feasible according to a recent survey by Ditto Music.
January 24, 2025
An artist survey carried out by leading music distribution and record label services company Ditto Music has found that 82.1% of global unsigned musicians cannot afford the costs associated with touring.
Ditto's survey of 1,500 independent artists found that 74.8% of acts have never toured, with 58.3% having turned down touring opportunities solely due to financial reasons.
The latest Private Eye also features some eye-opening stats, highlighting the stark contrast between Ticketmaster's £60,000 donation to the Music Venue Trust and their £111 million payout to CEO Michael Rapino.
Other key findings from the survey can be seen below:
Findings paint a similar picture across the globe, highlighting the impact of the cost of living issues many artists are experiencing worldwide and supporting the argument that "the working class can’t afford it" as reported by The Guardian last year.
75% also revealed that they primarily fund their music careers through personal savings, underlining the financial burden placed on emerging talent. Due to this, a staggering 87.5% of artists aged between 18-24 cited touring as completely unaffordable.
Reflecting on the survey results, Ditto Music CEO, Lee Parsons had this to say:
“At Ditto Music, we understand the financial hurdles many independent musicians face. Our mission is to help our artists build sustainable careers and help them reach global audiences, no matter their budget.”
- Lee Parsons, Ditto Music CEO.
Ditto's findings outline the significant challenges facing independent artists in the current music landscape and emphasize the growing need for industry-wide support to help musicians navigate the economic barriers to touring. Read Ditto's full findings here.
For more info on Ditto's research and the company's services, head to dittomusic.com or reach out to press@dittomusic.com.
