Most professional musicians in the UK earn far less than the national average wage, recent figures reveal – with most sitting below the official poverty line.

The music licensing agency PPL says nearly all musicians make less than £16,000 a year – compared to the 2010 average salary of £25,500 across all types of employment.

And most members of the Performing Rights Society are paid less than ВЈ5000 a year from royalty payments.

According to the Musicians Union, only 13% of full-time musicians can expect to earn more than the £16k figure – a salary similar to that of a junior office administrator.

And while around 4% are generating a very comfortable income, the vast majority of entertainers are forced to either live on low wages or take other jobs.

The MU also reports that around 30,000 people in the UK manage to make a sustainable living from their music.

The UK government defines low income as 60% or less of the average – which in current figures is £15,300.

Authorities believe around a fifth of the UK lives on or below that poverty line.