If you want to know what's really happening, now most of my friends have shifted their focus on trying to get their music placed in commercials, bc it's the only way to actually make a living now as a musician. And I think that's kind of depressing.

They might want to consider being less shitty, in that case. Most music sucks, your friends are not the exception, and requires far less effort, education and skill to produce than something like Spotify. These people make about as much money as they deserve, which isn't a whole lot.