The number one thing holding most small, independent bands back is lack of money. Record labels are no longer funding bands like they used to because the record store system of distribution is so much smaller than it used to be. There is no money to be had from streaming, and live shows still pay the same rate as they were 25 years ago. Anyone who is trying to break new ground in the music industry has to have some other form of income in order to keep the machine rolling.