By Anna Tingley
Plus IconAnna Tingley
See All
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.
The music industry has never had fewer gatekeepers.
Independent artists are increasingly releasing music without traditional label deals, while established acts have more options for retaining ownership and control over their recordings. In 2025, more than a third of artists who generated at least $10,000 in Spotify royalties were DIY artists — meaning they self-released through independent distributors — or had started their careers that way, according to Spotify. Roughly half of the royalties the service paid to the music industry last year were generated by independent artists and labels.
Related Stories
