How to Make Money with Your Music
Yes, you can get paid for your music. It’s not going to be easy, of course. But if you have the passion, the skills, and the hustle, you can turn your love of music into a part or even full time career. The first way to make money in the music business is by gigging. Playing shows and concerts either as a group or solo artist in exchange for money. It can be difficult to break into your local music scene, but there are ways to do it.
The first option is browsing Craigslist. You would be surprised by how many local bands and venues actually use the site as an open call looking to fill positions in their bands. While it may not be a dream job, it is an excellent way to get your toes wet in the music industry and make those oh so very important connections.
Networking is a huge aspect of gigging. The more people you know and impress, the more in demand your skills will be. Facebook groups is another excellent online resource to start expanding your network of musicians. Don’t forget that CDs and branded gear sell incredibly well as concerts.
Another way to make money with your music is by selling your services and skills on the internet. Awesome sites like Fiverr and AirGigs allow you to build a portfolio and sell your skills to people looking for them.
Consistency is key for sites like this. It can be really discouraging at the beginning to only get one or two jobs a month. But keep pushing and delivering quality products and the algorithms that manage these sites will notice and they will reward you with more work. You just need to be patient.
Another way to make money with your music online is to post it to royalty-free sites such as Audio Jungle, ArtList, or Epidemic Sound. Generally, these sites will take a portion of the sale as commission, but if you upload enough quality content that people want to buy, it can be a great way to make money with your music.
Just be sure to read and understand the agreements, rights, and licenses and what that means for you and the songs you decide to upload on these platforms.
If you are serious about making money with your music, you can combine all of these ideas together into a part-time or even a full-time job and live quite well. It’s really all up to you and how badly you want it. Put in the work and hustle as much as you can and you, too, can be a successful musician.
