A recent study from Canada paints a grim picture for working musicians. Researchers found that artists are increasingly hostile toward the tech industry, particularly generative AI, which they argue devalues their craft and makes it tougher to build an audience. The report suggests that these digital pressures are stacking on top of older ones, creating a multi-front squeeze.
Streaming services remain a core complaint, with musicians saying the current payout model does not sustain careers. At the same time, the rise of AI-generated music is seen as a new threat, flooding platforms with content that competes for attention. The study also points to venue closures as a third factor, shrinking the live performance spaces that many artists rely on for steady income.
Together, these forces leave many Canadian musicians feeling that their work is being devalued from both the digital and physical sides of the industry. The researchers frame the findings as evidence of a broader shift in how music is produced, distributed, and consumed—one that many artists say they are being left to absorb on their own.