This might make you cynical or not... but I read that there was this person that became successful by performing fella shoe several times on various music biz people.
Got one simple question, How do I make money with my songs?
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- KVRAF
- 7001 posts since 20 Mar, 2012 from Babbleon
ah böwakawa poussé poussé
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- KVRAF
- 7872 posts since 21 Dec, 2002 from MD USA
this
my music: http://www.alexcooperusa.com
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am." Muhammad Ali
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am." Muhammad Ali
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- addled muppet weed
- 111301 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
be very careful.
given "the law of equivalent exchange" that gold you acquire might just weigh the same as your heart...
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- addled muppet weed
- 111301 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
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- KVRAF
- 7872 posts since 21 Dec, 2002 from MD USA
OP why didn't you post any of your music though? If people like your music enough they will buy it.
my music: http://www.alexcooperusa.com
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am." Muhammad Ali
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am." Muhammad Ali
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- addled muppet weed
- 111301 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
yes.ATS wrote: Fri Nov 02, 2018 10:30 pm OP why didn't you post any of your music though? If people like your music enough they will buy it.
you have to build up a following at least.
these days getting likes on fb or youtube gets the attention of labels if that's your desire. youtube can also be monetised.
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
The simplest answer I can come up with is, you're going to have to do a lot more in music than create songs and post them somewhere to make money.
People that make money have other strategies going; production, doing things, doing jobs which support some music in some medium that is making money. Frankly if you aren't popular from years of being an entity in music with your songs and your presence, your charisma, all the socialization making you something on the order of a pastime for people to pay for (like they're paying for their Netflix and their phone subscription), forget about 'do I make money with my songs'. There's too much competition and people widely expect they can find the download of the object for free pretty easily; with the exception of the few who feel they should support artists, and very special other exceptions.
On Youtube, the people that monetize have an enormous amount of views and a high number of subscribers, and it's largely talk that these numbers gravitate to. If you do not have money behind you to promote you, and engines for otherwise manipulating the system, it doesn't happen. Unless you're talking about pennies rather than dollars.
People that make money have other strategies going; production, doing things, doing jobs which support some music in some medium that is making money. Frankly if you aren't popular from years of being an entity in music with your songs and your presence, your charisma, all the socialization making you something on the order of a pastime for people to pay for (like they're paying for their Netflix and their phone subscription), forget about 'do I make money with my songs'. There's too much competition and people widely expect they can find the download of the object for free pretty easily; with the exception of the few who feel they should support artists, and very special other exceptions.
On Youtube, the people that monetize have an enormous amount of views and a high number of subscribers, and it's largely talk that these numbers gravitate to. If you do not have money behind you to promote you, and engines for otherwise manipulating the system, it doesn't happen. Unless you're talking about pennies rather than dollars.
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- addled muppet weed
- 111301 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
jancivil wrote: Sat Nov 03, 2018 5:42 pm
On Youtube, the people that monetize have an enormous amount of views and a high number of subscribers,
indeed, i didn't mean it to sound like i thought it was an easy task.
far from it, even earning just a few pennies takes a fair few hits as far as i know.
i think (ive heard it mentioned by content creators, whether its true, ive never checked) that you cant even register to be monetised without a certain number of subs. so its not like you post a track and you start earning.
which is why i said build a following, how he does that, i don't know. given about 100 people ever probably! have heard my stuff (solo) im not the best person to talk about building audiences
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
I've had far more people hear me and hear about me than that, by name (and for a long time [not solo]), and I make almost no money off of tracks. I've seen one or two buys this YEAR. And I don't spend money to hear music at all, myself. So I'm not kvetching at all, it's just how the world is today. People don't have income to match the costs of things, and it grows worse practically every day. So disposable income goes to very established entertainment venues.
I don't even think I could make Patreon work for me; I would have to make videos where I talk about shit. Go into a lot of stuff, talk about theory, talk about sound design (and then really spam the world), where *I* don't even want to hear me talk, so I don't really find it worth pursuing on speculation.
I don't even think I could make Patreon work for me; I would have to make videos where I talk about shit. Go into a lot of stuff, talk about theory, talk about sound design (and then really spam the world), where *I* don't even want to hear me talk, so I don't really find it worth pursuing on speculation.
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
Building an audience means getting out there live or something which feels live; and it means working with people. It means crafting an image, a persona, something for people to identify with and buy the t-shirt and the paraphernalia. The jacket, the gang colors, fly your flag: "Look at me, I'm hip."
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- addled muppet weed
- 111301 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
jancivil wrote: Sat Nov 03, 2018 7:46 pm
I don't even think I could make Patreon work for me; I would have to make videos where I talk about shit. Go into a lot of stuff, talk about theory, talk about sound design (and then really spam the world), where *I* don't even want to hear me talk, so I don't really find it worth pursuing on speculation.
im the same with that, i like the idea of putting stuff on youtube "performance" vids maybe. and as i was asked to explain my work flow, i may do a couple of videos with, subtitles rather than my voice. no one wants to hear my husky mumbling monotone crackle of a voice
and the idea of becoming one of those "youtubers" needing clicks or my lights get turned off, no thanks. theres some good stuff on there, but theres a hell of a lot of drama between channels. which i can only assume is marketing of some sort.
having to put out a thumbnail with me looking cartoon shocked
to get clicks -
- KVRAF
- 4314 posts since 31 Oct, 2004
I'm in the process of learning how to generate money with my music production. I'm currently in the trial and errors phase, and so far I've learned that there's still money to be made with music as I've already generated money out of it, mostly via Bandcamp.
Depending on the genre you produce, the way to generate an income will vary. For instance, if you're producing a heavy metal sub-genre, you'll most likely make money with t-shirts and posters. If you have a big enough following, vinyl could be an option but it's a long term strategy. If you're into synthwave, beautifully crafted cassettes with cool designs will most likely sell (along with good music). If you're doing conservative downtempo, music licensing migth be the way to go. Etc.
I know an artist who produces experimental ambient techno, he makes a living out of it mostly via Patreon (Q&A, live performance on Twitch, exclusives albums) and Bandcamp (selling limited edition homemade CDrs). He's not rich by any mean, but he's doing something he loves and make ends meet with it.
Another guy I know makes a living mostly via music licensing. For him, that's where the money is because his style fits this industry really well.
For me, limited edition cassettes and CDrs work well. Licensing not so much. I don't do streaming but my digital sales (mp3s) are quite low. However, this could change when I'll distribute my music on all streaming platforms. I'll use either Distrokid or Routenote for this.
So basically, what you have to do is learn the spending habits of the audience that listen to your genre. You also have to be logical, I once had a friend who mostly produced experimental non-commercial music. He didn't make much money out of it and he used to complain about this. Well guess what? If you make non-commercial music you won't make money by definition.
I'm not mentioning the names of the artists I'm refering to and the name of my own music projects on purpose. The last thing the industry needs is lazy business copycats. Make the effort to find the needs of your own niche and eventually you'll find what works for you.
If you need more ideas/clues on how to do it, I've found this article to be very interesting:
https://djmag.com/content/how-survive-i ... label-2018
Thinking outside the box is key, the last thing you want to do is to do things as we were still in the 90s (or reject anything that is new).
Depending on the genre you produce, the way to generate an income will vary. For instance, if you're producing a heavy metal sub-genre, you'll most likely make money with t-shirts and posters. If you have a big enough following, vinyl could be an option but it's a long term strategy. If you're into synthwave, beautifully crafted cassettes with cool designs will most likely sell (along with good music). If you're doing conservative downtempo, music licensing migth be the way to go. Etc.
I know an artist who produces experimental ambient techno, he makes a living out of it mostly via Patreon (Q&A, live performance on Twitch, exclusives albums) and Bandcamp (selling limited edition homemade CDrs). He's not rich by any mean, but he's doing something he loves and make ends meet with it.
Another guy I know makes a living mostly via music licensing. For him, that's where the money is because his style fits this industry really well.
For me, limited edition cassettes and CDrs work well. Licensing not so much. I don't do streaming but my digital sales (mp3s) are quite low. However, this could change when I'll distribute my music on all streaming platforms. I'll use either Distrokid or Routenote for this.
So basically, what you have to do is learn the spending habits of the audience that listen to your genre. You also have to be logical, I once had a friend who mostly produced experimental non-commercial music. He didn't make much money out of it and he used to complain about this. Well guess what? If you make non-commercial music you won't make money by definition.
I'm not mentioning the names of the artists I'm refering to and the name of my own music projects on purpose. The last thing the industry needs is lazy business copycats. Make the effort to find the needs of your own niche and eventually you'll find what works for you.
If you need more ideas/clues on how to do it, I've found this article to be very interesting:
https://djmag.com/content/how-survive-i ... label-2018
Thinking outside the box is key, the last thing you want to do is to do things as we were still in the 90s (or reject anything that is new).
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- KVRAF
- 1791 posts since 17 Sep, 2002
(i'm probably on your foe list so you won't see this, but...)jancivil wrote: Sat Nov 03, 2018 7:46 pm I don't even think I could make Patreon work for me; I would have to make videos where I talk about shit. Go into a lot of stuff, talk about theory, talk about sound design (and then really spam the world), where *I* don't even want to hear me talk, so I don't really find it worth pursuing on speculation.
That's a shame, you're much more knowledgeable about theory than 99% of the successful music theory streamers.
Now get you and vurt co-hosting a channel and I'd be all over that Patreon.