Late-night TV music slots have shrunk sharply.

CBS ended "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" this year.

That closed its music program.

James Corden's "Late Late Show" was never replaced.

He left in 2023.

NBC's "Late Night With Seth Meyers" has cut live music.

ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" now books performances only twice a week.

Only "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" still has live acts every time.

The loss hits independent artists hardest.

William Cashion is the bassist for Future Islands.

He said their 2014 "Late Show with David Letterman" performance was a huge turning point.

Festivals had rejected them before.

Then they suddenly wanted the band.

The band got much more attention.

Publicist Chloë Walsh said fewer slots mean developing artists compete with big names.

There are fewer chances for them.

Some artists now find success online.

Gigi Perez started her career with the TikTok hit "Sailor Song."

Malcolm Todd got a Columbia Records deal after viral clips.

Beach Bunny's "Prom Queen" went viral on TikTok.

That led to TV performances.

Beach Bunny singer Lili Trifilio said short-form content has replaced much of the album cycle.

But she added that self-made clips do not hold the same value as late-night spots.

New online shows are stepping in.

Julian Shapiro-Barnum launched the YouTube show "Outside Tonight."

It features live performances outdoors and leans independent.

Beach Bunny performed on its first episode.

Trifilio said she hopes it inspires others to revive late-night music.

Walsh noted that late-night spots mainly help touring, not sales.

Promoters and radio directors take notice.

Still, she said, for many artists, especially international ones, getting on "Jimmy Kimmel" remains the goal.

It makes the whole effort worth it.