The $86 Billion Stage: Why Independent Venues Matter More Than Ever
Independent venues aren’t just places to play. They’re the backbone of the live music economy — and they’re carrying more…
Category: Popnomics
What Rising Touring Costs Mean for Artists
For touring musicians, 2025 feels heavier. literally and financially. Inflation, insurance hikes, and climbing artist fees are squeezing the independent…
Popnomics Podcast: State of Live Report
View our series of blog posts breaking out data from the 2025 State of Live Report – National Independent Venue…
The Attention Economy: Competing With 1,000 Other Artists a Minute
Every artist today is fighting for the same scarce resource: attention. On streaming platforms and social feeds, thousands of songs…
Streaming Is Nearly 90% of Music Industry Revenue
Over the past twenty years, the music industry has undergone a complete transformation. Physical album sales and digital downloads have…
Different Artist Business Entity Structure
Once your music starts earning consistently, it’s time to think about formalizing your business. The right entity structure affects how…
International Markets & Localization: Breaking Beyond Borders
For modern musicians, “making it” no longer stops at your home country. Streaming has turned the global market into a…
Hobby Loss Rules vs. Professional Musician Status
If you earn money from music, you probably think of it as a business. But the IRS might not agree.…
The Economics of Pop: How Artists Make Money in 2025
Streaming continues to dominate the music industry, making up nearly 90% of global revenue. But for artists, those pennies per…
The Not-So-Glamorous Side of Music: Taxes for Indie Artists
Every musician loves the creative rush of writing, recording, and performing. But when tax season rolls around, that same energy…