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Musician's multiple streams of income. Top 10 ways to make money on your music

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Posted: Mar 21, 2023

Category: The Musician Business

make money social media merch live performances licensing online presence sponsorship gear crowdfunding sync placements teach kristen ford

**Guest post by Kristen Ford, Nashville based indie rock act with a passion for music business and a book on DIY touring in the works. 

 

 

 

1. Live Performances

Book your tour now with http://www.indieonthemove.com (promo code Kristenford for a subscription discount!)


Door/tickets

Tips- venmo paypal cashapp tips online or in person (qr code)

Merch sales

VIP experiences

Live performance royalties

Sponsorships/branded partnerships



2. Online Sales/Consignment/Out the trunk sales

Sell your music everywhere with distrokid. 7% off right here https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/577172

Music on cd, digital download, vinyl, cassette, bandcamp, apple music downloads

Purchase your vinyl with https://www.physicalmusicproducts.com/ ask about their 100 records for $1500 plus $750 towards your next pressing deal!

Shirts hats sweaters koozies posters

For apparel: https://www.jakprints.com/

Commission (write a song, record a dedication, online or in person house show)

Ko-fi, paypal.me, patreon tips or other monthly continued support (vip fan club etc)

Commission sales at record shops, pop ups, festivals, etsy, poshmark

+Tips And Tricks For Selling Merch



3. Sync/Licensing placements

Tv, movie, commercials

Selling a commissioned song (songfinch.com)

Instrumental versions of songs part of sync library, hip hop tracks, soundbetter.com

+How to publish a song: a guide to music publishing and licensing



4. Private Events/Colleges

Playing for a private party, wedding, corporate event

Background music fancy hotels, corporate

College performances either booked w NACA or directly w student activities dept.

+$200K in Gigs From 1 App?



5. Streaming income

Quarterly payments from distrokid, cdbaby, etc (spotify, pandora etc)

Soundexchange payments from youtube and other digital means

Royalties (register w ASCAP BMI SESAC etc)



6. Endorsements

Free/discounted gear, cross promotion on their platforms (web, social)

Branded partnerships, payment to hang logos on your merch table, wrap a vehicle on tour

Branded social media posts, email blasts

+How To Find Music Sponsors To Further Your Career



7. Crowdfund

Raise a set amount of money for recording, tour support, promotion, gear upgrades, photos, videos, or a rainy day band fund as you reach for the stars

Patreon, post content monthly which is exclusive, or content you will add to the public eventually but give to patrons first.

Bandcamp album presales, or a run of merch presales

A VIP fan club (bandzoogle offers a special part of your website and crowdfund options)

+Crowdfunding: Am I A Douche Bag For Doing It?



8. Social Media influencer

Affiliate marketing income from referrals

Paid posts

Partnerships (promtional trades w another artist, company or brand)

Youtube 1,000 followers to monetize googleads, can sell merch on youtube page, advertisers on posts



9. Lessons

Private lessons online or in person

Trade lessons for another needed service, practice space, etc.

+6 creative ways to grow your fan subscriber community



10. Reselling Gear

Find underpriced gear on facebook marketplace, pawn shops, studio or church closing down, or big box stores clearance items

Be able to check the value (reverb, ebay, guitar center used) and flip the item. Then add value to what you’re purchasing such as Goo gone away stickers, polish up dust, slap a new set of strings on a gunked up guitar.

Be able to create nice looking and accurate listings. List these items on reverb or marketplace. Shipping takes time, materials and money. Be aware you have a profit margin which will clear these!



BONUS: Accounting

Tax write offs- website, marketing, insurance, office/rehearsal space, album investments, show clothing, anyone you have paid to make band stuff (graphic design, mixing, photos, coaching)

Milage/per day per diems in cities on tour

Depriciation of music equipment

Filing W2, 1099s, Royalty statements


For more music business tips or coaching reach out to me at kristenfordmusic.com


Thanks and rock on!

kfo

 

 

Related Blog Posts:

+Return to live: an update from Kristen Ford

+Pandemic Teachings: The Importance of Supplemental Income as a Musician

+How Music Makes Money

 

 

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