For many, life and income as a musician can be extremely unpredictable. One day you might have a successful career, and the next, you’ll be on a whim trying to find gigs or struggling to make ends meet. With this in mind, it’s important to find ways to generate income even when you’re not performing. This way, you can focus on your music and enjoy the freedom that comes with it – without worrying about whether your next paycheck will go through.
Passive income is any revenue you create once and repeatedly earn for the same work. It could be royalties, ad placements, course sales, affiliate commissions, and more.
Why is passive income important for a musician?
There are many reasons, but one of the biggest is that it helps you escape the paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle. If you have a passive income, you don’t need to worry as much about making ends meet. In addition, developing this passive income will free up your time so that you can focus on your music and other activities.
Another reason passive income benefits musicians are that it allows them to save money and start an emergency fund. Passive income can also help them escape the scarcity mindset and allow them more freedom.
If you want to build financial stability, it is crucial to develop multiple revenue streams. This is because many things can go wrong in your career, and you need a backup plan.
Sell Your Music Online
Selling your music online is one of the best ways to generate passive income as a musician. It’s a great way to build your brand, increase revenue, and gain more exposure to your music.
The key is to create a strategy to engage your audience and make your music available where they’re most likely to be. You’ll want to use a mix of platforms and services to sell your music while also focusing on your website and mailing list to maximize your revenues.
To earn even more money from fans, you can also sell physical products on your site, like CDs, vinyl, and merch. You can also bundle products together so fans can get a full package at a discount.
Licensing Your Music
Music licensing is one of the most profitable ways to earn passive income as a musician. It can make you hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by placing your music in movies, television shows, advertisements, video games, and other visual media.
This can be particularly beneficial for songwriters, composers, and producers who need more money to promote their music. It also allows them to build relationships with various music licensors that can help their career grow over time.
Music licensing is tricky and competitive, but it can be an important source of income for musicians. But first, it is crucial to understand your rights and how to make the most of them.
Streaming Platforms
Streaming platforms pay musicians royalties every time a song is played or downloaded. These royalties can be lucrative and add to a considerable income over time.
Choosing the right streaming platform is important. You want to find a quality service that will allow you to upload your music in high-quality audio.
One option is Soundcloud, a music creator’s online app, which has rapidly grown. It offers a free and paid version of its service and has recently started paying attention to indie artists.
Another streaming option is TIDAL, which pays 10% of a monthly subscription directly to artists. It also offers a high-quality 320 kps audio experience.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a great option if you have an online audience and want to earn money while sleeping. The basic concept is to promote products and services you have tested or used yourself and earn a commission when someone buys the product through your link.
You can use affiliate marketing on various platforms, including your blog, social media, and YouTube channel. However, one of the most effective ways to promote products and services is to create a dedicated website.
Before you take on a new affiliate program, ensure that it aligns with your brand and that the company is reliable. This will ensure that you retain the trust of your audience and avoid losing them in the future.
Patreon
Patreon is a platform that allows artists to earn passive income by requesting monthly pledges from fans. In addition, artists can offer patrons access to behind-the-scenes content, early peeks at new artwork, and more in exchange for their support.
The amount of money you can make on Patreon depends on your following, the type of content you create, and how much you charge. But many successful artists have built a substantial income through this platform.
You’ll need to set up a creator page on Patreon. They have starter kits to help you get started, and you can add your profile picture, cover image, and links to your social media accounts.