84% of UK independent artists can’t afford to tour in 2025
Only 16% view touring as financially feasible according to a recent survey by Ditto Music.
January 24, 2025
An artist survey carried out by global music distribution and record label services company Ditto Music has found that 84% of unsigned musicians in the UK cannot afford the costs attached to touring.
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 Ditto's survey can be seen below:
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Ditto's global survey of 1,500 independent artists found that 70.6% of UK acts have never toured, with 62.2% having turned down touring opportunities solely due to financial reasons. These figures arrive the week of the Carry on Touring Campaign hosting its UK-EU Summit and Lobby Day in Parliament and support the growing argument that "the working class can’t afford it" as reported by The Guardian last year.
70.6% also revealed that they primarily fund their music careers through personal savings, putting focus on the financial burden placed on emerging talent. Due to this, a staggering 87.5% of artists aged between 25-34 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.
