The inaugural census asked 6,000 working musicians around the country a multitude of questions. The survey is the first of its kind in the country, created by The Musicians’ Union and the charity Help Musicians. It is expected that the survey will be repeated every three to five years.

The census also shed light on other demographics within working musicians in the UK as it was discovered that 70% of musicians are educated to a degree standard or higher with 50% holding a music degree.

Natalie Pohl, the Musicians’ Union General Secretary said about the survey: “The first Musicians’ Census highlights the challenges musicians face carving out and sustaining a career as a musician in 2023. As the UK’s trade union for musicians, this Census will help us be more effective at representing our members and tackling the nuanced challenges different communities of musicians face.”

More than half of the survey’s respondents reported they have to work multiple jobs in order to make a living. Investigations show that on average, a working musician has three or four other jobs. Musicians who are lucky enough to be able make it their entire livelihood on average earn only £30,000 a year, which is £4,000 less than the UK median average salary for the financial year ending in 2022. Only 3% of those who answered the survey earn £70,000 or more.

An anonymous respondent to the survey said: “a real glass ceiling in terms of performance pay with fees for most performance opportunities the same as they were 20 years ago … the hours are unsociable, rehearsals are often unpaid and there is much unpaid waiting around. Being a full-time musician and trying to be present as a parent is effectively impossible.”

44% of respondents complained of financial barriers that were holding them back in their career. Most notable and obvious financial issues surrounded around transport and equipment costs.

Furthermore, a lot of issues with debt were highlighted as well as the racial inequality in demographics. Overall, 17% of musicians were found to be in debt, whilst with black musicians it was found to be 30% were in debt.

In order for the statistics to make greater sense, 87% of the respondents were white and it was found that global majority musicians ultimately make less money than white musicians. From all of the respondents, a third of global majority musicians earn less than 25% of their income from music, whilst it is only a quarter for white musicians.

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Ethan Diamond, the CEO of Bandcamp explained the decision to aid musicians due to the global pandemic back in March, saying that the COVID-19 pandemic is in full force, and artists have been hit especially hard as tours and shows are being canceled for the foreseeable future. With such a major revenue stream drying up almost entirely, finding ways to continue supporting artists in the coming months is now an urgent priority for anyone who cares about music and the artists who create it.

Diamond further explained the impact of the First Fridays, stating that the money goes directly into artists’ pockets. For many artists, a single day of boosted sales can mean the difference between being able to pay rent or not. Still, we consider this just a starting point. A starting point it was, in November Bandcamp announced a new livestream service to assist struggling musicians even further.

Fans paid artists $40 million during the nine Bandcamp Fridays we held this year. Big thanks to everyone who participated, here’s what we’re doing in 2021: https://t.co/0KcZi3LKOj

— bandcamp (@Bandcamp) December 15, 2020

In the local music industry, the majority of artist earnings in the UK come from live shows and tours, because of the Covid-19 pandemic musicians have lost the bulk of their revenue. Through Bandcamp’s new livestreaming feature, artists now have a platform to continue ticket sales via remote concerts. Bandcamp’s Fairtrade Music Policy means that 80-85% of virtual ticket sales will go directly to the musicians, however, they will also waive fees on tickets until March 31, 2021 so that all ticket earnings will go only to the artists involved.

Over the last few months livestream service has been a great success for the company and more importantly for its artists. However, Bandcamp First Fridays has been so triumphant that it was announced today that artists received a total of 40 million (USD) in revenue, exclusively on the few Fridays held so far. Bandcamp continues to urge fans to support local artists, saying in a statement that fans can support the artists they love and how artists can give fans new, creative ways to provide support. It may sound simple, but the best way to help artists is with your direct financial support, and we hope you’ll join us on Fridays.

Throughout the Summer and Fall, in the eye of the Covid-19 storm, many music venues throughout the UK have permanently closed, artists have struggled greatly without the support of government assistance and furlough, but Bandcamp has been one of the few shining beacons of help and hope in the industry. There is no question that out of all the streaming services, Bandcamp has had the most meaningful impact on its musicians’ ability to stay afloat during these trying times.

Last month (October 2020) a large gathering of musicians staged a protest outside of parliament over the lack of help and funding from the government as they had previously had let the entertainment and creative industries go under the carpet and forgot about them. It wasn’t helped by comments made by Rishi Sunak telling musicians and other creatives to retrain rather than help them more like other industries and schemes like the furlough scheme.

It was reported earlier in the week here at mxdwn UK that the government will continue the SEISS for the creative industries and although that was great for a lot of self-employed and freelancers to hear it still hasn’t helped to properly fund them through lockdown and the pandemic. It also isn’t helped by the fact that the earliest that people can apply to claim the SEISS is at the end of November on the 30th meaning that they will go almost the whole of the second lockdown without any help.

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The extension of #furlough and #SEISS is fantastic news for many of our members, and we’re delighted that the Chancellor @RishiSunakMP listened to our campaign and lobbying calls. Now it’s time to close the gaps in support that 38% musicians and 3 million #ExcludedUK fall through. Take action now! Write to your MP Find out how at the link in bio. [Image description: carousel of four photographs from the Let Music Live demo in Parlimant Square on Tuesday 6 October 2020. Photo 1: rows of musicians in red masks hold their positions during a two minute silence Photo 2: a young percussionist holds still with his timpani mallets in the air during the two minute silence Photo 3: rows of musicians in red masks hold their positions during a two minute silence Photo 4: a woman in a black face mask and black clothes looking to camera. Behind her are musicians and videographers. She is holding a home made sign that says: arts and culture contribute ten point eight billion a year to the economy #WeAreViable #LetMusicLive Photo 5: Chair of the Musicians’ Union Executive Committee and horn player Dave Lee tunes up. A man in a black suit and mask is photobombing over Dave’s shoulder. In the background hundreds of musicians in socially distant rows get ready for the performance] #MusicDeservesBetter #LetTheMusicPlay #ExcludedUK #ForgottenFreelancers #ForgottedLTD #WeMakeEvents #WeAreViable #DIYMusician #FreelanceMusician #Covid19UK #CoronavirusUK #OrchestralMusician #FreelanceLife #Activist #TradeUnion #KeepMusicLive #BehindEveryMusician

A post shared by Musicians’ Union (@wearethemu) on Nov 6, 2020 at 2:26am PST

As it stands the musicians union and other creative industries unions are initially happy with the government’s U-turn on wanting to help the creative industries. However, it hasn’t hit the mark that is the difference between survival and certain individual’s potential hitting hard times. With some potentially having to use food banks others are concern with being able to pay bills and supporting families.

Many MPs have spoken about the neglect shown to the creative arts throughout both lockdowns and the pandemic. As reported on the BBC “Labour MP Chris Elmore told the House of Commons there were “growing numbers of freelancers, musicians, performance artists who are excluded” from support.” Despite the help that has been given there is a stark difference between and the furlough scheme and SEISS.

Where the furlough scheme helps businesses pay 80% of workers wages the SEISS works differently and base it on the average of what a self-employed freelancer makes in a given time frame and gives a percentage. Bear in mind that a lot of self-employed and freelancers work more than one job even taking on more than one in one day to make ends meet.

It has also been reported by The Equity performers’ union that around 40% of its members have been deemed ineligible for the SEISS. It is obvious that no one can truly be prepared for a pandemic however, it gets to a point where freelancers and the self-employed have been neglected and lead some to really lose faith in the government and even think that it is deliberate (given the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s comments)