The music creator economy has been slowly developing but was thrust into the spotlight by a surge of new creators during the Covid lockdowns. As with any bubble, it eventually burst; many creator tools companies saw the ensuing surge flatten post-lockdown. The market has settled into a steadier, organic growth pattern, but this lockdown cohort of creators is transforming the music creator economy. The effects will be felt widely, with their new needs, expectations, and aspirations seen not only in the way they make music but how they plot their careers.

This rise of this new generation coincided with structural fissures beginning to manifest in the traditional streaming economy. Streaming has been through several cycles with creators: 1) distrust, 2) enthusiasm, 3) royalty dissatisfaction, and now 4) apathy.

Key data and insights:

• Total number of music creators, broken out by tenure, and if they upload, record, or self-publish
• Average income of music creators broke out by revenue source
• User profile for creators who upload directly without a label
• Favourability towards music and social platforms by beginner, intermediate, and advanced creators
• DAW usage by service and by age
• Analysis on how the differences in creator tools such as: software, equipment, instruments, production libraries changes with age

Survey data is from MIDiA’s Q2 2024 Music Creator Survey fielded globally. Segments include music creators by: aspiration, experience level, money spent, time spend making music, and software used.

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