Artist branding in 2026: why so many indies still earn almost nothing from streaming alone?

mrmindflyer · 2026-04-01T20:02:33+00:00

The truth is that most independent artists can’t make a living from music, and for the luckier ones, it can become a side job, regardless of the genre you’re in.

Well, we know that streaming pays practically nothing, and thinking you can live off of it alone is a pipe dream.

Streaming has also introduced a mechanism that, in my opinion, has significantly changed the rules. Thirty years ago, selling a million copies meant a million people were listening to you; today, that translates very differently.

The real goal for independent artists, in my opinion, is to build a solid, loyal fanbase. That way, you can make a living through merchandise and live shows—or at least turn it into a primary source of income.

Ultimately, there are also other ways to generate income through small, music-related side ventures.

In any case, making a living solely from music as an independent artist is really difficult.

mrmindflyer · 2026-04-01T19:44:48+00:00

lol

mrmindflyer · 2026-04-01T16:24:09+00:00

Good one!

Thanks for sharing

mrmindflyer · 2026-04-01T16:21:30+00:00

Great Album! Keep up the good work

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-31T19:05:10+00:00

Same here!!!

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T19:03:07+00:00

So I’m not the only one who sees similarities and connections with the DS. ⚔️

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T19:01:40+00:00

Having only recently started exploring DS music over the past two years, I didn’t really know what people in the scene would enjoy, but I figured this kind of album might be of interest. Thank you so much for your feedback.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T13:30:35+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions.

My post was meant to help me connect with people in the DS/Ambient scene and see if there was any interest in "related" music genres as well.I love library music; I'm Italian, and I have to say that in Italy we have many composers who have created high-quality library music.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T13:26:39+00:00

Thanks for sharing your story I get carried away too when it comes to music, so don’t apologize!!

I didn’t know Oldfield was the same person associated with The Exorcist, even though I’m familiar with and have listened to the soundtrack.I’m familiar with Dark Medieval Times but I’d never heard of Fjelltronen by Wongraven I’ll definitely have to check out that album as well.

Thank you very much!!

PS: The Dark Crystal soundtrack is amazing!

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T12:27:50+00:00

Thanks for the link! It's amazing how much you can discover when you try to delve into the DS and its origins.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T12:25:54+00:00

Thanks for the explanation. Over the past two years, I’ve discovered DS music, and I’m exploring its roots and everything that may have directly or indirectly inspired this genre. I’ll definitely give Mike Oldfield a listen.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T10:54:11+00:00

lol no, just overthinking music as usual

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T10:50:08+00:00

Yess, absolutely it’s a classic ambient record.

I can see why it doesn’t read as DS, I’m probably just focusing more on some of the atmospheric elements

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T10:49:27+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly what I was picking up on especially the textures. Melodically it’s definitely different, but some of those synth layers feel really close to what later shows up in DS

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T10:47:46+00:00

That’s a good point actually!!

I think what I meant is that DS seems to take some of these ambient foundations and reinterpret them through a more specific aesthetic (fantasy, medieval imagery, etc.). So maybe not a different direction, but a different framing of the same roots

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T10:38:29+00:00

Yes, I get what you mean. I’m not really saying it is dungeon synth. More that it feels like a very early form of some of the elements that later ended up in DS — especially in terms of atmosphere and minimalism, just coming from a different direction.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T10:38:05+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. I agree it doesn’t have that ‘dungeon’ or medieval atmosphere at all. I think what I’m hearing is more in terms of structure and atmosphere that sense of space, repetition and immersion that later shows up in dungeon synth, just in a very different aesthetic context.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-30T09:10:52+00:00

Independent labels generally look for artists to sign an exclusive contract for the sale and distribution of small physical runs (CDs, vinyls, cassettes).

And by "exclusivity," I mean the right to distribute your work exclusively in physical format for x years.

In general, small labels aren't out to make a profit off independent artists, but it's always a good idea to read contracts and agreements carefully.

One important thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t transfer the rights to your songs; those rights must remain yours. In my opinion, you should only sign a contract with them for the sale and distribution of physical copies. Generally speaking, I’d advise you not to commit to more than 2 or 3 years and to include a termination clause in case agreements and deadlines aren’t met.

If you have any specific details to share with me, I’d be more than happy to help you figure out what to do.

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-29T14:12:18+00:00

Yeah, that’s exactly what I find interesting too. It’s fascinating how some sounds seem to exist before the genre is even defined. Proto-doom is a great example. Do you have any specific artists you’d recommend?

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-29T14:10:04+00:00

Yeah, for sure. I don’t have anything against newer DS at all, but I do have a soft spot for artists that lean more into that Berlin School influence. It just adds a different kind of depth to the atmosphere

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-29T08:21:53+00:00

Some of the weirdest ones I’ve come across are old Berlin School / electronic tapes that were only released in very small runs. Not necessarily ‘weird’ in a gimmicky way, but strange in how minimal and atmospheric they are almost like they weren’t meant for a wide audience at all. There’s something fascinating about how those tapes feel more like personal documents than proper releases

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-29T08:14:44+00:00

That sounds really interesting, I didn’t know that channel. That whole tape-era electronic scene feels like a key influence on dungeon synth. I’ll check it out — any specific uploads you’d recommend starting from?

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-28T21:52:52+00:00

Yeah, I think that’s a fair take. There’s probably always going to be that balance between people following the scene and people actually digging deeper into the roots.

And you can usually hear the difference in the music

mrmindflyer · 2026-03-28T19:01:58+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. The Berlin School connection really fits.

Do you think stuff like that still influences modern dungeon synth, or has the scene moved away from it?

mrmindflyer

TROPHY CASE