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DroppLiiT
The Ultimate Music Business Platform
Only 11% of artists can support themselves solely through music!
Join our community and the movement to create a healthier, more equitable music industry!
For decades, music artists have been taken advantage of. Many of the artists here have had to fight to have a say over their own music catalogs or master recordings. They’ve been stuck in unfair contracts that tie their hands creatively and financially. Some of them have even gone through really tough personal battles, including struggles with mental health, as they navigated the pressures of the industry.
The music industry has a long history of inequitable practices that continue to impact artists today. From the early days of the recording industry, musicians have often been subject to exploitative contracts that strip them of ownership rights, resulting in limited financial returns and restricted creative control. This problem is compounded for artists from marginalized backgrounds, who often lack access to resources and industry knowledge needed to protect themselves. Even today, many artists sign contracts that prevent them from owning their master recordings, leaving them with little control over their music catalogs and future earnings. They rely heavily on streaming platforms where low per-stream payouts make it challenging to earn a sustainable income, while the lion's share of streaming revenue benefits major labels. Additionally, newer platforms like TikTok, which use music as a foundation for their content, don’t share ad revenue with the rightsholders, further limiting income potential for artists whose music drives these platforms' success. These issues aren’t just financial. When artists face creative restrictions or inadequate compensation, it often leads to frustration, mental health challenges, and even burnout. Major artists like Prince, Taylor Swift, and Anita Baker have openly fought for ownership of their work, but many up-and-coming musicians lack the means to advocate for themselves. The industry’s structural flaws create a cycle where artists are undervalued and underpaid, lacking the resources to build sustainable careers on their terms.
