The Exposure Scam: Why Artists Should Stop Working for Free

If someone offers to pay you in exposure, tell them no. In fact, tell them to set up their overpriced drinks, light shows, and visuals—without any music or art—and see how well that works.

For too long, artists have been fed the lie that struggling is just part of the job. That we should be grateful for any opportunity, even if it means working for free. But here’s the truth:

There is no music festival without music.

An art gallery is meaningless without art.

A film doesn’t exist without the filmmaker.

The people offering you exposure aren’t broke. They’re running businesses, turning profits, and somehow, the only ones expected to work for free are the artists who make it all possible.

If they can afford the venue, the lights, and the marketing, they can afford to pay you. Stop selling yourself short.

Have you ever been offered exposure instead of real payment? Share your thoughts in the comments.


#independentartist #independentartist #MusicIndustry #art #streamingplatforms #corporategreed #musicbusiness #digitalart #creativity #filmmaking #artist #spotify #youtubealgorithm #tiktokartists
#aimusic #artificialintelligence #ai #aifuture #musicindustry #musicmarketing #musicianmindset #musicians #musicindustry #musicproducer #musicproduction #musicianlife #musiciansofinstagram #musiciansofinstagram #musiciansoftoday #musiciansunite #musiclife #musicproducer #dj #artists #artist #spotify #spotifypodcast #applemusic #youtubemusic #mindset #reality #realityofmylife #musiccareer #darkside #darksideofmusic #musictalk #musictalkshow #musictalks #musicpodcast #musicpodcasts #money #economics #musicbusiness #musicbusiness101 #musicchallenges #algorithm #algorithms


FuzzCulture Why Society Hates Artists (And Always Has)