Let’s speak straight: On your music to be a profession, you could earn cash.
Some acts make their dwelling on the street. Others keep within the studio recording music for TV reveals. In fact, megastars like Taylor Swift appear to make a fortune in nearly all the methods.
Constructing an expert life as an artist, band, or producer requires that you simply both maximize your income in a single or two areas, diversify your earnings throughout a variety of income streams, or some mixture of each approaches.
Extra methods to earn cash out of your music
It doesn’t matter what you see in information headlines, there are numerous income alternatives for musicians right this moment. The truth is, there are extra methods than ever to earn cash, which affords trendy creators the power to pair their distinctive skills with specific types of monetization.
From music distribution and licensing offers, to crowdfunding and merch gross sales, you’ll wish to perceive your choices in the case of incomes potential.
As a result of understanding what to strive, the place to focus, when to pivot, and easy methods to gather your royalties can imply the distinction between your music being a side-hustle and a thriving enterprise.
Important revenue for artists in 2025
Although there are a lot of dozens of the way to earn cash out of your musical skills, I’m making a distinction on this article between “artist income” and different music-related professions — similar to music schooling, being a paid session participant, a church pianist, a ballet accompanist, an orchestra member, operating sound at a membership, and so on.
In case you’re an artist whose profession is constructed upon authentic music, these are the ten types of income it is best to prioritize:
1. Digital Music Income
That is cash you earn for streaming and downloads if you launch your music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The income is paid to the label (otherwise you, in case you personal your personal recordings) for the utilization of the observe.
Although downloads aren’t as standard as they as soon as have been, the per-unit worth can nonetheless make MP3s or WAVs a profitable format to promote through iTunes, Bandcamp, ReverbNation, and even your personal web site.
2. Bodily Gross sales
That is cash you earn if you promote bodily copies of your music on vinyl, CD, tape, and even sheet music.
Although we’re a long time into the digital music century, bodily media will nonetheless enchantment to lots of your prime followers. Sure, even CDs.
3. Merch Gross sales
“Merch” is a fast means of claiming “stuff on the market that displays your creative model.” It may very well be t-shirts, sweatshirts, flasks, posters, hats, socks, books, something!
You may promote merch at gigs, in your webstore, or through integrations with platforms like Instagram and Spotify.
4. Dwell Performances
That is revenue earned out of your live shows, gigs, excursions, and festivals. It may very well be within the type of ticket gross sales, door charges, bar percentages, and even grant cash.
In fact dwell occasions additionally offer you a approach to promote merch and bodily albums!
5. Licensing and Sync Offers
That is cash you earn if you license your music to be used in films, TV reveals, commercials, and video video games.
Sync licensing may be profitable, but it surely’s an space of the music trade that requires numerous dedication in case you anticipate to attain frequent placements.
6. Publishing Royalties
These are songwriter royalties earned from the publishing rights to your authentic music, together with mechanical royalties (from gross sales and streams) and efficiency royalties (from public performances and radio play).
Need assistance accumulating your songwriter royalties?
7. Crowdfunding, Memberships, and Fan Help
That is cash you generate via crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, fan help platforms like Patreon, or through your personal membership membership.
The fan contributions may be project-based, or in help of your general music profession, however the level is to present your viewers extra direct and rapid entry to your artistry in trade for… cash!
(Don’t overlook the digital tip jar in case you’re doing livestreams).
8. YouTube Income
This consists of earnings past no matter streaming and publishing cash you’re incomes from exercise on YouTube Music.
It consists of be a share of advert income generated if you music is utilized in different creators’ movies on YouTube, tracked and paid through the YouTube Content material ID program. Or accomplice program income in case your channel reaches sure benchmarks.
Different video platforms similar to Twitch have related monetization applications for profitable creators and streamers.
9. Sponsorships and Endorsements
That is cash (or different types of help, similar to free gear or reductions) given to you by manufacturers that match along with your creative identification and viewers.
In case you have a devoted following on social, you could possibly additionally take into account being an “influencer” and doing paid product placements.
10. Immersive experiences and new tech
Loads of artists have discovered income alternatives by stretching past conventional merch and VIP experiences.
For example, Emma McGann constructed an interactive Discord sport. Artists like Holly Herndon and Grimes have made voice-simulators obtainable in order that different musicians can create new tracks utilizing their voices. And plenty of crypto-native artists have discovered success promoting music NFTs.
The thought right here is: Assume exterior the same old bag of income tips.
How a lot you earn in any one in all these classes relies upon, after all, on the scale and dedication of your fanbase.
Success in most of those areas additionally requires that you simply actively market your music and make gross sales provides.
However hopefully this text provides you a way of chance on your music to generate cash.
And bear in mind, as you progress ahead in your profession, ReverbNation is right here to assist along with your music distribution, promotion, and publishing administration wants.
