Charlotte Music Census Shows Financial Struggles as Action Plan Set for Release

The 2025 Charlotte Music census revealed that almost 60% of local music professionals depend on non-music jobs to pay bills. Over 1,000 people who work in the music business responded.

Music Everywhere CLT ran the census last fall. Charlotte Center City Partners backs this nonprofit. They partnered with Charlotte Is Creative and the Arts & Science Council. Sound Music Cities carried out the survey, just as they've done in Nashville, Columbus, and Cleveland.

Musicians make around $29,000 per year from music. That's far below the $99,000 average household income. Music accounts for only 30% of what respondents earn.

Those surveyed bring in roughly $31 million each year from music-related work, but they spend about $4.7 million on expenses tied to their craft. Rising costs squeeze local artists. Finding affordable rehearsal and studio space has become a real problem.

Respondents voiced concerns about industry regulations. They want better promotion of local music. Making money from recorded music has gotten harder, Rick Thurmond of Music Everywhere CLT, according to Axios.

Live shows bring in most of the money for local musicians, which mirrors what happens across the industry, Thurmond says. ASC and Charlotte Is Creative offer grants that help musicians pay for rehearsal and studio space.

Thurmond says the goal centers on helping local creatives find new ways to make money and build careers that last. Music Everywhere will release an action plan in the coming weeks based on what the report found.

Confluence will return this fall. This annual music industry conference and showcase festival brings together professionals and performers. Dates will be announced later this year.

The full report is available at charlottemusiccensus.org.