Industry News

Top 3 Industry News
Independent Artist Era is Here

🗞️ Story 1 — Indies Are Winning the Streaming Game

Independent labels now represent 44.15% of the U.S. recorded-music market in Q1 2026 — nearly doubling the share of any major label group. That's not a fluke — it's a trend. Independent artists and labels accounted for half of all Spotify royalties paid out in 2025, and there are now more artists generating over $100K per year from Spotify alone than were getting stocked on record store shelves at the height of the CD era. The indie era isn't coming — it's here.

What this means for you: The playing field is leveling. If you're consistent, strategic, and building the right foundation — the numbers are on your side.

🔗 Read more

🗞️ Story 2 — AI Music Is Flooding Streaming Platforms. Here's What You Need to Know.

Roughly 28% of new uploads to Spotify were AI-generated as of 2025, with the true number likely continuing to rise. For independent artists — who already compete in an environment of massive content oversupply — that shift could have major implications. The concern is real: streams of AI-generated tracks are paid from the same royalty pool as songs created by human musicians, meaning if automated content captures a growing share of listening time, the overall payout available to human artists becomes diluted.

What this means for you: Your authentic voice and brand identity matter more than ever. Artists who build real connections with real fans will always have the edge.

🔗 Full breakdown

🗞️ Story 3 — Spotify Is Regulating AI

Spotify is testing a powerful new feature called Artist Profile Protection, allowing artists to approve releases before they appear on their profiles. At the same time, starting April 16th, Spotify launched a beta feature that allows artists to share how they've used AI in their music, with credits for specific contributions like vocals, lyrics, or production appearing in Song Credits on mobile.

What this means for you: Platforms are shifting toward protecting artists, not just growing content. Make sure your Spotify for Artists account is claimed, verified, and active.

🔗 More here

Tip Of The Week

Tip You Need To Know
💡Stop Releasing and Hoping — Here's How to Actually Work Streaming Platforms

💡 Tip of the Week: How to release on streaming platforms

Most independent artists release a song and then wait. They check the streams, refresh the dashboard, and wonder why the algorithms aren't picking them up. Here's the truth — streaming platforms don't reward releases. They reward engagement signals.

Every major streaming platform is watching the same core behaviors: saves, completion rate, and repeat listens. When listeners save your track, finish it all the way through, and come back to play it again — the platform reads that as a signal to push it to more people. When they skip it in the first 30 seconds, the algorithm pulls back immediately.

What this means for how you release:

Before your song drops, warm your audience up. Tell them it's coming. Give them a reason to save it to their library on day one. A track that gets strong saves and completions in the first 48 hours looks completely different to any streaming algorithm than one that quietly accumulates streams over three weeks with no engagement behind them.

What to do right now:

• Pitch to editorial playlists before your release date. Every major platform — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL — has a submission process for independent artists. You can't get on a playlist if you don't pitch. It's free and takes minutes.

• Ask your audience specifically to save the track — not just stream it. "Save it so you don't lose it" converts better than "go stream it."

• Watch your completion rate. If people are dropping off early, your intro might need to hook faster. Most platforms show you where listeners are tuning out — use that data.

• Release consistently. Artists who release every 4–6 weeks stay active in algorithmic feeds. Disappear for months and you lose the momentum you built.

The algorithm isn't broken — it rewards artists who treat their releases like campaigns, not moments.

Your music deserves to be found. Make sure you're giving it the best shot.

Recommended For You

Tools For Your Career
24/7 Artists Career GPS

Most independent artists know what they want — a fanbase, a sustainable career, real momentum. What they don't have is a clear picture of what to actually do next. So they stay busy without moving forward.

Career GPS fixes that.

It's your step-by-step career development system built exclusively for independent artists — powered by AI trained on the real-world expertise of music industry veterans Yudu and Vee (founders of 24/7 Artists). Not generic advice. Not another resource to skim and forget. A structured, proven path that moves with you — task by task, goal by goal.

Think of it as the professional GPS your career has been missing. You tell it where you are, and it shows you exactly where to go next.

What's inside Career GPS:

• Structured goals and tasks you move through at your own pace

• Video guides from 24/7 Artists built into every task

• Interactive AI-guided exercises

• Downloadable resources and recommended tools for every step

• Brand Foundation — where every artist starts, locking in your name, bio, reference points, and the foundation everything else gets built on

Every task you complete translates directly into something you can use — in your pitches, on your profiles, and in the room.

Given this week's tip about working streaming platforms strategically — Career GPS is where you build the artist foundation that makes every release, every pitch, and every opportunity land harder.

👉 Sign up for the waiting list →

24/7 Artists Updates

Here’s What’s New
New Beta Dashboard

Our brand new 24/7 Artists dashboard is coming soon for our beta users, and it's a completely different experience from what you've seen before. Sleeker. Smarter. Built around one simple idea: tell us what you're working on, and we'll line up the tools that get you there.

No more jumping between tabs, apps, and random notes trying to piece your career together. Everything you need is now in one place — and it actually knows how to help you use it.

Here's what's inside the new dashboard:

🎯 Career GPS — Your AI-powered career planning tool. Tell it where you want to go and it builds the roadmap to get there — personalized milestones, goals, and next steps based on where you are right now.

🎤 Workshops — Practical sessions built specifically for independent artists. No fluff — just education you can apply to your career immediately.

🗂️ Catalog Manager — Your single source of truth for every song, split, file, and registration in your catalog. Stop losing money to disorganization.

🧮 Calc Tools — Quick calculation tools built for artist decisions. Royalty splits, streaming revenue estimates, tour profit margins, and more. Numbers made simple.

🤝 Partner Tools — We've also brought in best-in-class tools from trusted partners directly into your dashboard. beatBread helps you get funded while keeping your music and independence. Backline connects you with mental health and wellness support built specifically for musicians. More partners are being added regularly.

And we're not done. We're continuing to build, improve, and add features based directly on what our beta artists are telling us they need.

The goal is simple: give every independent artist the infrastructure that used to only exist inside major labels.

If you're not in the beta yet and want early access — sign up for the waitlist

Upcoming Events

Don’t Miss Out
The Content + Marketing Cohort — Starts May 26

If you've been posting consistently and still not growing — this is for you.

The 24/7 Artists Content + Marketing Cohort kicks off May 26 and doors close May 25. This is a focused 30-day challenge designed to turn your posting into real engagement, real fans, and real opportunities — with a community of 50–100 artists doing it alongside you.

No more posting into the void. No more guessing what to put out. Every morning you get a prompt pulled straight from a label playbook. You execute. You build the habit. By Day 31 you'll have 25+ posts live, four weeks of analytics, and a content system you can run for every release moving forward.

Here's what's inside:

• 📅 Daily prompts from a real label playbook — no guessing what to post

• 🏆 A live leaderboard scored on consistency and craft, not just volume

• 👥 A cohort feed of 50–100 artists — you're never posting alone

• 📞 Weekly live strategy calls — show up Tuesdays, bring questions, leave with answers

• 🎓 Monthly industry workshops with A&Rs, marketers, managers, and lawyers

• 📖 The full playbook library — step-by-step guides for every part of an artist career

"The artists who break aren't the ones with the best song. They're the ones who post it 20 different ways." — Alexis Warner

What artists are saying:

• "24/7 Artists changed the game for me." — Brooklyn The Kid

• "It's a blessing to be plugged into a priceless resource." — Liesl Michelle

• "It changes the way you think — you come out with crazy outcomes." — Shango

• "I have an actual plan and idea now — I have direction." — Liesl

Pricing:

• Pro Monthly — $50/mo (locked for 1 year · was $99/mo)

• Pro Annual — $500/yr · $41/mo · Most Popular · Save $100 · includes royalty audit (worth $300) + annual planning intensive

⚡ Rate locked for 1 year. Once doors close May 25, the next cohort isn't until next quarter.

Tickets:

Tickets go on sale this week. Only 100 spots available. Stay tuned for the link.

📅 Starts May 26 · Doors Close May 25