The Harsh Truth About Being a Musician in 2025 | Shirley Manson Was Right

On October 14th, Shirley Manson of Garbage went viral after speaking out about the financial struggles of modern musicians — and she was absolutely right. In this video, I break down why the music industry is broken, using real data comparing musician pay from the 1990s vs. today (UK & US), how streaming platforms like Spotify have devalued music, and what it really costs to survive as a working musician in 2025. From AI replacing artists to unpaid gigs, touring struggles, and the illusion of success on social media, we’ll uncover the uncomfortable truth that no one talks about. This is not a “victim rant.” It’s an honest, research-based breakdown of the real economics of being a musician today, including:

• Why we are so secretive about it
• A comparison of pay between 1990 and today for both US and UK
• The causes of the decline

👉 Whether you’re a musician, fan, or industry professional, this video will give you a clear picture of why it’s harder than ever to make a living from music — and what we can do to change it.

00:00 – Intro: Why Shirley Manson Went Viral

03:39 – Why Musicians Don't Talk About Money

10:20 – How Much Money Do Musicians Actually Make?

12:27 – 1990 VS 2025

19:24 – US vs UK musicians

26:43 – Gender Pay Gap

29:20 – Causes: General trend vs musicians

32:08 – Effect of streaming

33:04 – You are disposable

35:03 – Lack of union actions

39:22 – A passion-based job

40:59 – Conclusion