May 21, 2024
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David is a musician who's built a career as a professional composer, music teacher, writer, and artist coach. With 20+ years of...
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Start a BlogLike many people, you may have been creating, playing, and listening to music your whole life. Maybe you’ve even thought of turning your love for music into a job. But how do musicians make money anyway?
It may seem too good to be true in today’s world, where it feels like full-time artists are few and far between and dream jobs are always just out of reach—but thankfully, that’s not the case. We’ll outline the most realistic ways to make money as a musician or music lover.
Streaming is one of the best ways to make money online as a musician. In fact, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that streaming was the largest revenue stream of the music industry in 2022, reaching a record high of 84%. 1
But how do artists make money from music streaming? To earn royalties, you need to upload your music to a streaming platform, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, or Amazon Music.
Many streaming platforms don’t currently allow artists to upload their music on their own—instead, you’ll have to get a music distributor to do this for you. This may seem like a drawback, but it’s actually a blessing. This way, it’ll be much easier to get your music out across a range of platforms where it can earn you money.
Music distributors have different pricing models and contract types. They may charge one-time fees, subscription fees, or keep a portion of your streaming revenue. The most cost-effective option for you will depend on how much music you plan to release on streaming platforms.
In any case, some music distributors are incredibly affordable. For example, David Andrew Wiebe, a professional in the music industry, pointed to options like CD Baby (only $9.99 for the lifetime distribution of a single or an album across 150+ global platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music) and DistroKid ($22.99 yearly subscription fee to upload as much music as you want).
When thinking about which streaming platforms to focus on, Wiebe advised looking beyond big names. “There are plenty of visible marketers pushing the idea that Spotify is a godsend for musicians, but Spotify is the worst paying of all streaming services,” he said. “Yes, it may be a necessary evil for marketing purposes, but most musicians will be better served building other streams of revenue.”
Streaming platforms generally don’t advertise their royalty rates. But to give you an idea of your earning potential from music streaming, most platforms only pay a fraction of a cent to mere pennies for each stream. As an example, Apple Music claimed that their average rate per play was $0.01 in 2021. 2
In some cases, you won’t earn anything until you reach a certain play threshold. For instance, Spotify’s new royalty policy starting early 2024 requires you to reach 1,000+ streams per year to qualify for any royalties at all.
All this shows you won’t be able to get rich from streams unless your music is a rare hit. Nevertheless, royalties can still accumulate over time, and you may gain exposure on those platforms.
If you have even just a few fans out there, then it’s worth creating and selling merchandise. With the rapid growth of the print-on-demand industry, it’s possible to get sell wearables (like band T-shirts, hats, and hoodies) and branded products with minimal upfront costs.
In addition to these branded products, don’t overlook the value of good-old-fashioned CDs of your music, which Wiebe says a niche group of people actively seek out. “People often come looking for them at live shows,” he said. While this target population may be small, their demand is strong.
If your goal is to make it big in the music industry, then selling CDs is a good move since you’ll earn money and gain exposure at the same time. Wiebe’s advice is to bring your CDs with you to any place where you’re going to be making an appearance and show them to everyone.
“Place your CDs in their hands (this can help your CDs sell all on their own). Drop your discs off at independent, college, and community radio stations. Drop them off at local businesses, especially if you know people who work at the stores. Drop them off at local instrument stores and lesson studios. Opportunities could be waiting for you at every corner, but you’ve got to put yourself out there,” he said.
Busking, or street performance, involves playing music in a public space and waiting for passersby to give you money. Busking is by far the fastest way to earn money with music. Theoretically, you could have a hold of physical cash within minutes of deciding to start busking.
With the rise of contactless payment, it’s worth putting your PayPal, Venmo, and/or Cash App QR codes on your busking sign. Before you take your talents to the streets, remember to check if your city has any regulations for busking.
While it won’t be lucrative for everyone, it’s definitely possible to make good money from busking. You’ll also build confidence and get your name out there. Many household names actually started out busking, including Ed Sheeran, Tracy Chapman, and Passenger!
For best results, pick a busy location with a lot of foot traffic, such as tourist destinations or local farmer’s markets. When you perform, place your instrument’s case or a tip jar in front of you for people to drop change inside it. Consider also setting up a sign with your name, social media accounts, and ways to tip you.
Wiebe recommends avoiding “shady” neighborhoods. “Your money can get stolen,” he said. “It has happened to me.” As long as you follow these basic rules, it’s pretty easy to make money busking. “Follow the rules, play a good mix of covers and originals, and most importantly, have fun,” Wiebe added.
Playing gigs is one of the most enjoyable ways to make money as an artist. When you’re just starting out, you’ll have to put in the work to actively find gigs instead of sitting back and waiting for someone to book you.
Start local by researching local establishments that hire musicians. These could include bars, cafes, wedding venues, and much more. “Find a database of every place you can possibly play within a distance of 300 to 400 miles,” Wiebe suggested. “If you can’t find one, make your own. Include churches, community centers, coffeehouses, theatres, casinos, bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, and anything else you can think of.”
Try to pinpoint the venues that most match your musical style. Once you’ve come up with a list of potential options, systematically work your way down the list, contacting each one by phone, by email, or in person to see what performance opportunities they have.
To expand your search, try signing up for online platforms and gig sites like the ones below:
For many of these sites, you’ll need to create an artist profile and upload an electronic press kit (EPK), which is a kind of digital resume for musicians. You’ll then either bid for gigs, submit applications, or get contacted by people who think you’re a good fit for a particular show.
A sync placement, or synchronization placement, is when your music is used in visual media, such as a movie, video game, or TV show. Anyone who wants to use your music for their project has to pay for the following two licenses:
How much much musicians make from a single sync placement varies from project to project, but anecdotal reports online suggest it’s possible to earn $5,000–$10,000 per placement. Various factors come into play when negotiating fees, including the type of visual media and how your music is being used.
Music supervisors typically find music for a specific project and then reach out to the artist or the sync licensing agency that represents them. By getting sync licenses for your own music, you’re essentially acting as your own sync agent.
On that note, you can also start your own musical sync agent side hustle where you’ll help other musicians get their compositions selected for TV shows, movies, commercials, and more.
Just beware that there’s a lot of competition over sync placements. Your chances will be much better if you have an inside connection or you’re signed with a record label that can pitch tracks for you. Nevertheless, Wiebe says sync placements are the best money-making option for dedicated musicians.
A music supervisor is responsible for finding the right songs for films, TV shows, commercials, or video games and securing the necessary music licenses. In some cases, a music supervisor may hire a composer to write new songs for a project altogether.
You don’t need a music degree to become a music supervisor, but you should have sufficient music knowledge to be able to spot the right songs and work with composers. Knowing the ins and outs of how music licensing works is also crucial to this job.
Although most music supervisors work as freelancers, some are employed by production companies. Consider doing an internship with a music publisher or label to jumpstart your career.
A good way to network and get job opportunities is to join the Guild of Music Supervisors, which is a nonprofit organization that offers resources to music supervisors and professionals who work in related fields.
If you have extensive knowledge about the music industry or a particular musical instrument, genre, or other niche, you could publish a print book or ebook to make money by selling your music expertise.
One way to become a published book author is to get a contract with a publisher. However, high levels of competition make this tricky to achieve, unless you’re a famous musician.
The other route is self-publishing, which is more flexible and open to anyone. This is exactly what Wiebe did, and at the time he published his first book, it became his best-selling product and event went on to become an Amazon and Kobo bestseller.
Here’s Wiebe’s advice for self-publishing your own book on music:
Self-publishing a book is a good way to make money as a musician if you’re not set on making music. It’s also a great source of passive income for musicians.
In addition to doing live concerts, many musicians also offer online shows on live streaming platforms. Just like with in-person performances, you sell tickets for live stream events to your fans—the main difference is that you have to send them a link to tune in.
Just be aware that live streaming is a lot less certain to earn you money than many of the other options on this list. In fact, Wiebe told us that for every musician who succeeds with live streaming, there are “hundreds of thousands of incredibly gifted musicians streaming every single day to audiences of one or none.”
If you want to succeed at live streaming, Wiebe says you’ve got to play the long game. Even just getting comfortable in front of a camera can take a long time, not to mention planning your shows. “If your product is misaligned with your potential audience on any level, it probably won’t find resonance,” Wiebe said. You’ll need to experiment with various show formats to create the type of content people will want to watch.
Here are some of the best live stream platforms for musicians:
Some live streaming platforms let eligible account holders earn tips, which can come in various forms. For instance, plenty of people make money on TikTok by accepting LIVE Gifts from fans. You just have to be at least 18 years old and live in a covered region. 4
To optimize your efficiency with a music live streaming side hustle, Wiebe recommends using a multi-streaming tool like StreamYard, which allows you to simultaneously live stream to several platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Twitch. This way, you’ll easily reach a larger audience.
Social media platforms are a great place for musicians to promote their music, connect with their fans, and attract new listeners. Even better, there are several ways to generate money on these platforms:
Good social media platforms for musicians include Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and Tumblr. But any social media account that gains traction among the public has monetization potential.
With that said, Wiebe warns against focusing too much on monetizing your social media accounts. “Social media is where people gather to be social. Selling can sometimes come across as inauthentic, incongruent, or pushy,” he said.
Instead, focus on getting people onto your website and later onto your mailing list, and then nurture that audience. “If they’re on your list, there’s a much better chance they’ll be interested in what you’re selling,” Wiebe added.
Some artists are great performers but simply don’t have a knack for writing good songs. If you have a gift for songwriting and making music, and you’re willing to let someone else perform your work, this is one way you can shine.
Undeniably, it’s pretty tough to get your music to major artists if you’re new to the industry. The trick, according to Wiebe, is finding the right niche. “Even less established songwriters can find an open door if they go looking in the right niches,” he told us. “I had one completely unknown student with brain complications writing for major country artists.”
A good place to start is by making music for smaller artists and gradually building up your reputation. Meanwhile, continue to network and hone your songwriting skills by practicing and taking in feedback whenever possible. Making connections in the industry and being skilled at your craft are key to landing consistent gigs.
One way to monetize music is to sell pieces you’ve written. Unless you’re writing for artists, you generally won’t sell full songs. However, there are other types of music you can sell online to companies and even musicians:
Think about what you have to offer and do some research online on your target audience and the best places to sell music you’ve created. For instance, aside from your own website, BeatStars, Traktrain, and Airbit are some good places to sell beats online.
Music teachers are always in demand. As long as you have something valuable to pass on, there’s someone out there who’s willing to pay to learn from you.
You may have never considered teaching as an option if you don’t have any teaching credentials, but the good news is that you can become a music teacher without a degree. While you won’t be able to teach music in a school, you can still give one-on-one or group lessons. You can offer private lessons in person or teach music online.
Teaching music is a great first step into a music career, and it was Wiebe’s first ever music-related job. He was hired as a guitar instructor in the early 2000s. At the time, he’d only been playing the guitar for about 1.5–2 years. “My guitar teacher recommended me for the position. I was paid $7 per lesson or $14 per hour,” he said.
Unlike standard music teaching, selling online music courses lets you generate a passive income. It also allows you to establish a larger and broader client base. Students who like to learn at their own pace may prefer this teaching method over in-person lessons.
One option is to sell your courses on your own website. This allows you to keep all the revenue from your courses, although it takes work to attract students. Alternatively, you can sell courses on an online learning platform, such as Skillshare, Udemy, or Soundslice. These sites have a built-in user base you can tap into.
To ensure optimal video and audio quality, you could consider buying or renting out professional recording equipment. However, Wiebe says quality isn’t the most important factor to consider when it comes to selling music courses. “A pre-recorded Zoom webinar can work just as well,” he said. “The selling process is far more important than the content.”
To make your course marketable, think about format. For instance, in addition to selling single courses that stand alone, you can also create a series of courses and sell them as a package. Other potential products to sell include sheet music and gift certificates for your courses.
One piece of advice that Wiebe has for optimizing your efficiency is to repurpose video content you already have. This could be from another music side hustle or project you’ve done. Making use of the material you already have at hand will minimize the amount of work you need to do and help you earn easy money with music.
“Live stream a web class and field questions that come your way. Leave the web class up for a week while turning it into a course. Remove access to your web class, and lock it behind a paygate,” Wiebe suggested. “This is the best way to share your material, get feedback and questions, and monetize your knowledge without putting a lot of extra work into creating and promoting a course from scratch.”
Although scarce in number and in size, there are music grants on offer in the US for different types of projects. This is one promising way to get paid to make music.
Do research on them and make a list of the ones you qualify for. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, begin putting together relevant materials for your application.
In addition to basic information like your artist bio and project proposal, you’ll likely have to present a thorough marketing plan. Start preparing your application early so you don’t miss the deadline!
Selling music online is easy with online marketplaces, e-commerce websites, and digital music stores. From here, fans will be able to instantly purchase and download your music, and you’ll get money in return.
Here are a few of the most popular sites for selling songs and albums online:
Getting your tracks on multiple platforms and online stores will help you maximize your earning potential.
Some online platforms offer music streaming and downloading, whereas others specialize in just one way of accessing music. Selling music downloads and releasing your music on streaming platforms are both ways to get your music out there and earn from your musical creations, but it’s important to understand how these options differ and overlap so you execute them effectively.
These music side hustles can easily go hand in hand, but they can also sabotage each other. “If all of your music is available everywhere, some simply won’t buy it,” Wiebe told us. If you’re thinking about selling digital downloads, you should be conscientious about what music you make available for streaming.
Wiebe recommends experimenting with Bandcamp first. Try putting your singles up on streaming sites and then sending your audience to purchase your albums on Bandcamp.
Session musicians are hired on a short-term basis to back up a main artist in a recording session or live performance. While they typically aren’t permanent band members, they may be invited to go on tour with an artist or band.
To find session gigs, market yourself online and reach out to local independent artists, producers, and recording studios. Being able to play more than one instrument can give you a leg up in landing gigs.
Once you get your first one or two session gigs, focus on building a good reputation so you can land more opportunities in the future. “Plenty of people will want to work with you if you’re easy to work with,” Wiebe said. “Be a good hang, have a good attitude, deliver what you’ve been asked to deliver, and you should do well as a session player.”
Many musicians make money by doing live cover shows for big events. Working as a function band, party band, wedding singer, wedding band, or other event musician may not sound like the most glamorous side gig if you’re a songwriter or creator who wants to make music, but if your goal is to earn money, it’s an option you definitely shouldn’t overlook.
To give you an idea of just how much you could earn, one survey of wedding couples found that they spent around $4,500 on average for their wedding bands, with some paying out $10,000 or more. Granted, some of this money goes toward travel expenses and may be split between numerous band members, but it goes to show the high earning potential of this side gig for musicians.
Playing cover gigs can be a fun and lucrative way to build experience performing, and it doesn’t mean you’re not talented. “Even the top artists in the world sometimes play bat mitzvahs and coffeehouses. You can make very good money playing weddings and similar gigs, so make the most of these opportunities,” Wiebe said.
In addition to the sites mentioned for finding live performance gigs, the platforms below are popular options people turn to when looking for musicians to play at various events:
As an event musician, you could play at birthday parties, formal events, funerals, bat mitzvahs—you name it. The key is being flexible. People will likely request that you play certain songs or cover other artists.
The main responsibility of a music transcriber is to listen to live performances or recordings of songs and write down what they hear. They may write down different types of musical notations and even lyrics, depending on the client’s requests.
As a music transcriber, you should possess the following skills and knowledge:
You’ll need transcription software, such as Transcribe!, ScoreCloud, or AnthemScore. These tools slow down the music, giving you time to break it down and transcribe it.
From music publishers and amateur musicians to orchestras and cover bands, plenty of people in the music industry are looking to hire freelance music transcribers. Do research on the notation style preferences of your target client and hone your skills for that specific style.
A crucial part of editing podcasts is sound design. If you’re proficient in music production, you can try your hand at a podcast post-production editing gig.
Cutting out redundant words and pauses, creating a memorable intro and outro, and adding suitable music and sound effects are some of the key tasks involved in podcast editing. You’ll also be responsible for mixing and mastering the podcast audio to achieve optimal sound quality.
To succeed, Wiebe says you need to learn to work fast. “Learn all the keyboard shortcuts inside your DAW (especially ‘slice’ and ‘crossfade’). Take advantage of audio sweetening tools like Auphonic instead of manually adding automation, EQ, compression, limiting, etc.”
If you’re unsure where to start, consider watching YouTube tutorials or taking online courses in podcast editing. Establishing the necessary skill set is an important preliminary step before you apply for jobs.
There are plenty of ways to make money on YouTube with music. One option is to post videos of covers or original songs on your YouTube channel. Many famous musicians have launched their careers this way, and it can help you grow your fan base.
You can also post music or lyric videos and use ads to earn money through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), but you’ll need to get the necessary music licenses. Popular songs that are most likely to attract viewers are typically copyrighted, so you’ll need to reach out to the copyright owner (usually the artist or their publisher) and ask for permission to use the song.
Wiebe recommends developing a strategy and sticking to it for 100 videos. If it doesn’t work, go back to the drawing board and repeat this process until you find an approach that does work. “The worst thing is to be putting huge amounts of effort into content that no one appreciates,” Wiebe added. Being flexible and adapting your strategy will help you avoid this outcome.
If you’ve built up a large following on YouTube, you can also earn additional money through paid sponsorships and affiliate links. However, you should still consider the hurdles involved in getting music licensing before you commit to this side hustle.
Did you know you can get paid to write reviews? This includes music reviews. Many music promotion platforms, such as SoundCampaign and Playlist Push, will pay you to review music from independent artists. But there is a catch: You need to already be a fairly established independent curator on a streaming platform.
For instance, to be able to review music on SoundCampaign, you must have at least one playlist with 20+ songs, 1,000+ organic followers, and a proven track record of helping new artists and songs gain exposure. 6
Depending on your experience, you can earn up to $14 with SoundCampaign and up to $15 with Playlist Push per song review. 6 7
Blogging about various music topics is a great music side hustle option if you’re knowledgeable about music and enjoy writing. There are a few different ways to make money blogging. For example, you could add affiliate links to your blog posts, put ads on your site, writing sponsored posts, or sell your own products or services related to music.
Learn about search engine optimization (SEO) best practices and apply them to your blog. Doing so will help your blog rank for higher positions on Google, which has the dual benefit of increasing your earning potential and guiding relevant users to your site.
Most importantly, be willing to stick to it for the long haul. “Find your voice and show up daily to write,” Wiebe suggested. Stick with the process and be patient. He says it can take 6–12 months for you to see results from the effort you put into your blog and have your site appear in search results.
What you write about will heavily influence the success of your blog. Wiebe recommends choosing a “tightly defined niche” that may not be getting enough attention. “Look at what’s out there and what’s not being covered that you might be interested in covering. Avoid the temptation to go broad, because that will limit your chances of success,” he added.
Here are some general music blog ideas to start with:
You don’t need to be a music professional to write about many of these topics, but you should have a good understanding of them so you can publish quality content. People will only revisit your site if they find your content interesting and informative.
Becoming a music manager is a good job option if you have excellent interpersonal skills and you know all the ins and outs of the music industry. Aspiring music managers often get a degree in business management and intern at a record label or music management company. Many also establish their own management company.
Here are the core responsibilities you’d have as a music manager:
As is the case in most professions, a music manager’s salary depends on their experience and location. According to Indeed, the average base salary for music managers in September 2023 was $38,969 per year (around $20 per hour). 8 You can make even more through commissions.
However, Wiebe points out that these salary estimates may be misleading. “Unless they are working for a specific company (I don’t know how many jobs are out there), they are only ever going to earn a percentage of an artist or band’s revenue,” he said. This means that if you want to make a living wage, you need to work with acts with significant pull.
Recording studios play a crucial role in the music industry. Musicians need a professional studio to produce high-quality music, and you can provide that space for them.
If you don’t have the funds to open a professional studio, you can always open a budget home studio first and then expand it into a professional studio once you’ve generated enough profit.
Depending on your location, you could charge around $30 per hour for a budget home studio or upwards of $100 per hour for a well-equipped studio with good acoustics. To set a fair rate, do research on how much different types of recording studios in your area are charging.
You can even earn extra money by offering music production services, although you may not always have a steady flow of clients, so it’s worth setting up other music side hustles to fill the lulls in business. “Take advantage of those slower periods to grow your web presence, make and sell beats, create merchandise, offer social media marketing or other services, and so on,” Wiebe suggested.
Starting your own blog isn’t the only way you can get paid to write about music. You could also earn lots of money from freelance writing gigs for print or online publications that produce music-related content.
In fact, content writing is the highest-paying music side hustle that Wiebe has ever had. “I had one content writing contract that consistently earned me $3,000 to $5,000 per month for several years (sometimes more if I had guest posting duties),” he said.
Wiebe started by writing for one particular online publication and then expanding to write for a network of connected music industry websites. He wrote guides (e.g., about music promotion, live performance, organization and productivity, and competition), “10 best” articles for music related products and services, music reviews, and how-to guides.
His writing experience landed him a job as a blogger and digital marketer, where he formed a lot of professional connections. One of the people in his network hired him as a contractor initially but later ended up asking him to work as a staff writer.
If content writing is a gig you’re interested in, you can start by searching for freelance writing jobs with the keyword “music” or setting up a freelance writer account on a platform like Freelancer or Upwork. Alternatively, find a music publication or website you like and email to ask if they’re looking for writers.
If you have old instruments or music gear lying around collecting dust, you might as well sell or rent them to make some extra money. Be sure to properly clean or repair each instrument before putting it on the market.
If you decide to sell your instruments online, Wiebe says classified sites are best. “Look for the most used classified sites in your locality, and take advantage of those to sell your instruments,” he said. Other platforms worth checking out include eBay and Reverb. Whichever site you use, be sure to upload a clear photo of each item so that potential buyers can see its current condition.
Some brick-and-mortar second-hand instrument stores may also be willing to buy your instruments or music gear. Additionally, musical instruments are one of several little-known items you can pawn—although pawn shop dealers aren’t likely to give you a fair deal, even if it is the quickest way to sell your instruments.
If you don’t want to sell, you’ll be pleased to learn that musical instruments and musical equipment are among the many things you can rent out. There are several online rental platforms you can use to rent your musical gear, such as FriendWithA, RentMyInstrument, and BuyOrBorrow Music.
A lot of people play an instrument, but not all of them know how to fix a broken one. If you know how to repair instruments and music gear, you can make a small business out of your expertise if you live in an area with sufficient demand.
Introduce yourself to local musicians and use word-of-mouth to advertise your services. In addition, promote your services on social media and hand out flyers. It’s also worth setting up a website for your repair services so people can find you online.
Even with the rising popularity of music streaming, hardcore fans and collectors are still willing to buy physical copies of music. If you have a music collection you’re willing to part with, then selling your old records could be an easy way to make some extra money.
You can price your CDs, vinyl records, and cassette tapes anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on their condition and rarity. Have a professional take a look at your collection if you’re unsure how much it’s worth.
If you love listening to music or interacting with musicians, then why not become an event planner? The connection to music may not be obvious, but with an event planning career, you can specialize in planning concerts, music festivals, and other music events.
Wiebe told us that organizing events is the best money-making option for music lovers who don’t play an instrument. You’ll get to make money listening to music and engage with musical professionals without the need for any musical ability.
Whichever music money-making approach you decide to try, remember that balance is key. A good strategy is to choose a couple of side hustles that will balance each other out—like one passive income side hustle, one steady but lower-paying gig, and one jobs that’s higher paying but maybe less reliable. Most importantly, make sure you’re having fun.
June 15, 2023
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