As independent contractors, the pay artists and musicians can command is predicated on demand for their products/services.
If the pay is too low or stagnant, artists and musicians need to figure out what they're doing *wrong* and/or what they can do to increase revenue.
It's really no different from running any other kind of business. That's the main problem for many artists and musicians. They do not see themselves as a business.
For some strange reason, too many people overestimate their worth in believing that with a modicum of talent, somebody should pay for it. Yeah....no.🤣😎