Written by Monica Smith
sMusicians, Are You Doing These 8 Things to Monetise Your Career?
With the music scene becoming increasingly crowded thanks to the accessibility of the internet, finding ways to set yourself apart from the competition can be tough. That’s why we're sharing the following eight ideas to help you monetise your career and stand out from the crowd. You may even find a few new lucrative streams of income that can help your career grow.
1. Crowdfund Your Next Release
Now's the perfect time to get into the studio and record your next album. Set up a crowdfunding campaign to finance the project. Budget enough for studio time, mixing and mastering, plus living expenses while you create your masterpiece.
2. Sell and Stream Your Music
You probably already have your music available to stream or purchase somewhere online. But if you aren't on every platform, you may be leaving money on the table. In addition to the streaming services, such as Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube, make sure you're collecting royalties from digital radio services, such as Pandora and SiriusXM, and don't forget about old-fashioned physical media. CD Baby allows your fans to order your music on CD, DVD, USB drive, and even custom-pressed vinyl.
You can utilize social media sites like Facebook and Instagram to promote your music. With this free tool, it's easy to create an infographic to help spread the word about your craft!
3. Create a DIY Music Course
Creating an e-book for developing a video series on YouTube can teach aspiring musicians your best tips and tricks. Unlike a live class, a course such as this allows students to work at their own pace and requires no additional work on your part. There are many free platforms available that allow you to create e-books or videos that you can freely share with the people who are looking for this type of content.
4. Create a Monthly Subscription Service
Your die-hard fans are looking for a way to connect with you on a deeper level. Join sites like Patreon and create an exclusive community just for them! You can offer patrons-only songs, Q-and-A sessions, and behind-the-scenes videos.
5. Create an Online Merch Store
The days of ordering shirts in advance and carrying inventory are over. Online eCommerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce are excellent places to set up your online store. Not only are these platforms easy to use, but they’ll also help you reach a much wider audience — all without having to change your regular business hours. Best of all, your fans promote you to their friends and family whenever they rock your gear.
6. Work for Commission
If you're up for the challenge, offer your services on a site such as Fiverr. You can write jingles for commercials or personalized songs for people's birthdays. These one-off projects help keep your creative juices flowing.
7. Perform Outdoors
Earn some cash and experience the thrill of performing in front of a live audience again — safely. Perform at your local farmer's market, craft festival, or restaurant patio, or just spend the afternoon busking in a busy part of town.
8. Try Something New
If you've always wanted to try your hand at a non-music-related career, now's the time. Companies in just about every sector are looking to hire new talent. If you have the right attitude, you can often get hired with minimal experience and be paid to train. Choose a field that leaves time for music when you have downtime.
Start Small
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities on this list. Try a couple of these ideas, whether it’s setting up an eCommerce store or performing at some outdoor venues to find new sources of income. And if you need a professional hand in elevating your music career, work with the experts at Scarlet River PR.