Like everyone else in the music biz, a few will make lots of money (Taylor Swift, Carole King, Paul Simon, Barry Mann, McCartney, etc.) some will make decent money, and the majority will make either not enough to live on, or barely enough to live on.
It's what happens when you are an artist. The same goes for painters, novelists, dancers, and so on.
It's supply and demand plus marketing.
There are zillions of songwriters out there. Some of the songs we've never heard are stunningly excellent.
Others could be mediocre (or great) but were in the right place, at the right time and with the right connections.
Making a living in the arts has always been tough for the majority of artists. But it's a good life, because if you can eke out a living doing what you would do for free, you are truly lucky and blessed.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫