(HYPEBOT) – A new report examines the challenges faced by songwriters. “Songwriters Take The Stage” is based on the first-ever survey of over 300 songwriters, providing insights into their needs and offering recommendations for support.
67% of songwriters surveyed identified the lack of meaningful streaming income as the main impediment to their success.
The MIDiA Research report highlights significant income disparities among songwriters, with only 10% of surveyed songwriters earning more than $30,000 annually and 54% earning less than $1,000. The primary challenge 67% of respondents identified is the lack of meaningful streaming income, which affects songwriters across all career stages.
When asked about the challenges faced by songwriters, most defined success as creative fulfillment and earning a sustainable living from their craft. Additionally, the report uncovers a strong desire among songwriters for sync opportunities, emphasizing the critical role of sync deals in the publishing industry.
Songwriters need Support and Services
The new MIDiA report also showed a disconnect between what songwriters want to achieve and the tools and services available.
While many aspire to land sync deals, they don’t consider sync services a primary reason for signing a publishing deal. Songwriters also desired to improve their skills but admitted to not actively seeking available resources.
Most songwriters aim to build a brand and fanbase around their songwriting on social media, highlighting the growing importance of online presence and recognition.
Notably, the report emphasizes the need for the music industry to understand better the business of being a songwriter, especially in an era when many songwriters are also performers with different aspirations and needs.
Tatiana Cirisano, senior music industry analyst at MIDiA Research, emphasized the underrepresentation of songwriters and the importance of this report in understanding the business of being a songwriter. “There are many studies on and surveys of artists, helping build the flourishing artist services market we have today, but the same is not true for songwriters,” said Cirisano. “This report is a crucial step in better understanding the business of being a songwriter – especially in an era where many songwriters are also performers, yet have different aspirations and needs for these two sides to their craft.”
Fernanda Balzaretti, a music researcher at MIDiA Research, co-authored the report.
Download a free summary of the Songwriters Take The Stage report here.
Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.
