Duncan Daniels is an independent, self-funded artist who pours his heart and resources into creating music for the world. In 2024, Spotify Wrapped revealed that his music garnered nearly 2 million streams. Yet, those streams translated to less than $5,000—barely enough to sustain a person for a year, let alone cover the costs of creating music. For context, his latest album, which many of you loved, cost at least five times that to produce. Meanwhile, Spotify’s CEO is worth $9 billion. This imbalance raises an important question: How did we reach a point where artists—the creators of the very art we cherish—are left with the smallest slice of the pie? The devaluation of music isn’t just an industry issue; it’s a cultural crisis. Supporting independent artists like Duncan is more than just listening—it’s about valuing the art that shapes our lives.