84% of independent artists in the UK are unable to afford the costs of touring, according to a new survey published by UK-based online music distribution company Ditto Music.

Of the 1,500 independent artists asked, the findings showed that 62.2% have turned down touring opportunities on the basis of financial reasons alone and that only 16% view touring as financially feasible.

87.5% of respondents aged between 25-34 described the idea of touring as “completely unaffordable” while 70.6% of artists overall said they often fund their music careers through personal savings.

You can see the full findings from Ditto Music here.

The research follows a 2024 survey from Pirate Studios that found 72% of artists made zero profit from touring. Speaking to 1,700 bands, solo artists and DJs, the results revealed that less than half broke even and a quarter operated at a loss. 

The Pirate Studios study joins a spate of other studies highlighting the financial challenges faced by artists. Despite dance music now being valued at $11.8 billion, April’s IMS Business Report showed 40% of artists felt gigs were paying less and bookings were harder to secure than 12 months earlier.

In 2023, the first UK Musicians’ Census was published, comprising responses from almost 6,000 professionals. The largest survey of its kind ever conducted in the country, it revealed that the average annual income for an artist was now just £20,700, and almost half were bringing in less than £14,000 per year.