Wondering how to support local musicians when you can’t make every gig? Buy direct, join mailing lists and chip in small amounts. Streams pay very little, so your money and attention do more elsewhere.
For the wider picture, explore the local music and arts scene section of this site.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Lowest per-stream payout cited by Popular Science | As little as $0.0011 per stream |
| Indie per-stream estimate cited by Musosoup | Roughly $0.003 to $0.005 per stream |
| Bandcamp cut on digital sales | 15% |
| Bandcamp cut on digital sales after $5,000 in sales | 10% |
These figures come from Popular Science and Musosoup. Platform rates and fees can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Why streams alone rarely pay a local act
Popular Science’s March 2022 guide says artists may receive as little as $0.0011 per stream, depending on the platform and whether the listener pays. A Musosoup blog post cites estimates of roughly $0.003 to $0.005 per stream for indie artists. It adds that payouts depend on territory, subscription mix and rights splits.
The picture is bleaker for small acts. A January 2021 Good Times report explains that Spotify does not actually pay musicians per stream at all. It also relays a Rolling Stone finding that the top 1% of artists on Spotify make up 90% of the platform’s streams, which leaves a local band with a thin slice.
That does not make streaming pointless. The Musosoup piece notes that streaming remains valuable for discovery. Treat it as the place where you find a band, then move your support somewhere that pays better.
Buy direct: tickets, merch and downloads
Music manager Corey Crossfield told Popular Science that artists make the largest portion of their income from merch or live shows. If you can’t get to the gig, the merch table or online shop is the next best thing.
The same guide advises buying merchandise from the artist’s official website or the merch table at a show. Those shops are usually run by the artist’s team or label, so the money passes through fewer hands before the band sees it.
A few habits make direct buying easier:
- Ask the band which item they would rather you buy, such as a shirt, a record or a download.
- Buy from the band’s own page or from the table, not from a reseller.
- Pick up a physical copy or a gift for a friend once you know you like the music.
- Pre-order when a band asks, because pre-orders show demand.
Is Bandcamp a good way to back a local band?
Often, yes. Musosoup reports that Bandcamp takes 15% on digital sales, falling to 10% after $5,000 in sales, and it gives a telling comparison: one fan buying a $10 album can generate more income than thousands of plays on a streaming platform. You can read that in the Musosoup post.
Michael Sherman, a label co-founder quoted by Popular Science, says Bandcamp is a great way to get money directly into artists’ pockets. His reasoning is that there are very few intermediaries in that system.
In 2020, Bandcamp also ran a series of fee-free days. The Good Times report says the company held nine Bandcamp Days that year, each lasting 24 hours, waiving its standard 15% cut on music and 10% on merch. It reports that musicians were paid $40 million across those days. That is a snapshot from the report’s January 2021 date, so check Bandcamp itself for any current schedule.
Share your email and follow the right channels
Social feeds are unreliable. Crossfield says in the Popular Science guide that if you follow an artist on social media, you will only catch a fraction of what they post because of algorithms.
The better route is a mailing list. The guide says that going to the artist’s official website and signing up for their mailing list may be the best option, because it does not rely on a platform to pass your details along. It also saves the band promotion costs, since they can tell you about a show directly.
- Find out which channel the band uses most, whether that is a website, a social account or a newsletter.
- Sign up for the mailing list on their own site.
- Reply or message them when a release or show lands. Direct contact helps them know who is listening.
Give money directly, even in small amounts
You don’t need deep pockets to act as a patron. Popular Science notes that platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter, as well as features like Spotify’s tip jars, allow you to give as much or as little as you want directly to artists. Sometimes you get something back, such as exclusive songs, and sometimes you don’t.
The guide adds one caution: artists’ presence on these platforms is not widespread yet. If your favourite local act isn’t on one, ask them how they would prefer to be supported rather than assuming.
Physical releases are a related case. The Musosoup article warns that manufacturing, storage and shipping can become expensive quickly. It says physical runs make most sense when there is already evidence of demand, such as pre-orders, touring, strong mailing-list response or previous sales behaviour. Your early order is part of that evidence.
Free ways to help that add up
Not every kind of support costs money. These steps take minutes, though the sources above don’t measure their effect, so treat them as common-sense extras:
- Tell friends about a band and bring one along to the next show.
- Share a release with a personal note, not just a repost.
- Stay for the whole set, including the opening act.
- Write down the names of acts you like so you can find them again.
Knowing where your local sound came from can deepen the habit, and the history of local music scenes is a good place to start. Musicians also often work alongside visual artists and makers, so these community art project ideas may spark a way to support the wider creative community.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth streaming a local band’s music?
Show answer
Yes for discovery, but not for income. The Musosoup post says streaming remains valuable for discovery, while indie earnings are estimated at roughly $0.003 to $0.005 per stream. Pair listening with a purchase when you can.
What is the best way to help if I can’t get to shows?
Show answer
Buy merch from the artist’s official site, sign up for their mailing list, or give through a patron platform. Popular Science lists all three as direct routes.
Should I buy merch online or at the show?
Show answer
Either works if it comes from the artist’s team. The Popular Science guide advises using the official website or the merch table at a show.
Does Bandcamp send more money to the artist than streaming?
Show answer
Generally it leaves a larger share with the artist. Musosoup reports a 15% cut on digital sales, falling to 10% after $5,000 in sales. Fees can change, so check Bandcamp’s own terms.
