- Lack of documentation: Early blues artists often did not have written contracts with record companies, which made it difficult for the companies to track their sales and calculate royalties.
- Discrimination: Many early blues artists were African-American, and they faced discrimination from the music industry. This made it difficult for them to get their music recorded and distributed, and it also made it less likely that they would be paid royalties.
- Poverty: Many early blues artists were poor, and they did not have the financial resources to travel to record companies or to hire lawyers to represent them. This made it difficult for them to collect royalties even when they were due.
As a result of these factors, many early blues artists never received the royalties that they were owed. This contributed to the poverty and obscurity of many of these artists.