Having a consistent flow of income from your music is crucial to creating a long-term sustainable career. Here are some tips to help you get there.
Streaming is the largest source of income for most artists, making up almost a third of their income! However, it’s not the only way to make money from your music.
Record Your Music
Whether you play the guitar, sing, or write music, your passion for your craft can become a source of financial success. If you’re an amateur, this may seem like a daunting task, but it can be accomplished in a number of ways.
The key is to build a following, and you can do that by recording your music. This will help you find performance opportunities, and also allow you to make money by selling merch at shows and online.
Streaming royalties are another source of revenue. They’re paid in fractions of a penny per stream, but they can quickly add up to a significant income for musicians.
Build a Following
Whether you are an independent artist or part of a big band, you need a following to make money as a musician. Creating a strong following takes time and patience.
Build a community in your hometown and play local shows. It is a great way to meet new people, engage with them, and give back.
Social media is a powerful tool for promoting music and building a strong following. Start by reaching out to your close circle and sharing links to your latest music releases.
Promote Your Music
Every artist wants to make money from their music. Unfortunately, it can be a difficult and time-consuming process.
Despite that, you can earn a good living as a musician. Here are some ways to get started.
Selling merch alongside your music is another way to earn extra cash. You can sell t-shirts, stickers, and more directly from your website or at merch stalls at shows.
You can also earn cash by teaching music to other people, either in person or online. You can offer one-on-one lessons to students and teach them how to play your instrument.
Make Your Brand Visible
Music is a product and it needs marketing just like any other product. Traditionally, major record companies did much of the promotional work for musicians and bands, but it is now up to the artists themselves to market their own content.
Branding your music is crucial and should be done with a clear vision of who you are as an artist. Your logo, cover art, messaging, social media presence, and other branding elements tell your story.
Perform
Performing live and touring is traditionally one of the most lucrative ways to make money as a musician. You can perform at small bars, restaurants, coffeehouses, clubs, music festivals, and private events like weddings or corporate parties.
Streaming music payouts are also a popular way to earn revenue online. Even if you only get a few pennies per stream, it can add up to a significant income over time.
If you want to earn more money as a musician, try setting up a merch stall at your next live show. CDs and vinyl are seeing a resurgence in sales.
