Best Practices for EDM (PsyTrance) Monetization

[P5ioniX]

Hi Everyone

I've been dabbling in PsyTrance production for a while now and I am on the verge of finishing some tracks that I think are ready for release.
I have no fan base & I'm interested in promotion & monetization.
I want to make sure I approach this in the most productive way possible.

What are the latest strategies or platforms you recommend for monetizing & promoting EDM tracks?
Whether it's streaming services, licensing, direct sales, or other creative methods, I'd love to hear what has worked for you or what you've seen work for others in the current music landscape.

[BertKoor]

Sorry to break the news, but money is the worst motivation. The last thing to think about, realistically. Your chance of earning anything in this business is close to zero. If there were a sure way to earn money with music, then that would be hard to keep secret for long. Better join a lawn tennis club and see whether you eventually can win Wimbledon. There are less people trying that, so there is a higher chance of success.

Most stories I heard about people that managed to earn a buck did so because they had (or made) connections with the right people. It has been like that for decades. "The internet" did not significantly change that.

[4damind]

Monetisation will be difficult, especially with Psytrance. As far as I know, the people all earn their money at the many events where they are booked. So you have to get in touch with the people and labels, get on the relevant playlists and then maybe get booked at the events.

Many people use advertising for promotion. Google Ads, Facebook Ads. There are also some YouTube videos that deal with exactly this.
With EDM, it can be interesting to licence tracks to the well-known labels in this genre, e.g. Anjunabeats. But in my own experience, they are very picky! It's not enough to have a perfect production, the song also has to fit the style of the label.

I wouldn't look at monetisation etc. first, but do everything to produce outstanding and interesting songs. Sometimes there are completely different opportunities, e.g. licensing for film and TV, advertising...

[EfreetiSultan]

Even the absolute biggest psytrance artists barely earn enough to pay rent. Let that sink in.
There's extremely few exceptions, like infected mushroom who became pop a few decades ago.
If you're new on the scene you simply won't make any money. Just let it go.
The only way to make any money at all will be through live show bookings and good luck with that. Even the biggest names already don't earn much with bookings.

Take up a new hobby would be my suggestion, if you're looking to make money

[P5ioniX]

Thank you for the replies !!

It IS a hobby regardless of the money ...

I'm just reviewing my options & looking for fiscal opportunities with the skills I possess

[swilow11]

Best way to make money as a psytrance artist is to make heaps of great music, play lots of gigs but mainly get a real job

There's very little money at all in this genre or even music in general these days. Consider someone like Benn Jordan (the Flashbulb) who has maybe 300k streams a month on Spotify, plus sells through every other platform out there and according to him, does not really make much more than a decent living. He's never going to be rich and yet his music is heard by way more than nearly every psy artist out there. I hate to be harsh but your goal is simply unrealistic.

That said, I'd love to hear your tunes. I make psy myself...

[swilow11]

Otoh, you could make some pocket money on presets and sample packs, especially for niche genres like darkpsy which isn't as widely catered to by current preset makers. But even there, you're probably going to end up spending more time than you'll recoup financially.

[dionenoid]

Hi Everyone

I've been dabbling in PsyTrance production for a while now and I am on the verge of finishing some tracks that I think are ready for release.
I have no fan base & I'm interested in promotion & monetization.
I want to make sure I approach this in the most productive way possible.

What are the latest strategies or platforms you recommend for monetizing & promoting EDM tracks?
Whether it's streaming services, licensing, direct sales, or other creative methods, I'd love to hear what has worked for you or what you've seen work for others in the current music landscape.

Send your tracks to a label. If your music is good enough than they will help you with the next steps. If your music ain't good enough then you know you must get better. And most labels will give some constructive feedback if your tracks don't totally suck

[EfreetiSultan]

Hi Everyone

I've been dabbling in PsyTrance production for a while now and I am on the verge of finishing some tracks that I think are ready for release.
I have no fan base & I'm interested in promotion & monetization.
I want to make sure I approach this in the most productive way possible.

What are the latest strategies or platforms you recommend for monetizing & promoting EDM tracks?
Whether it's streaming services, licensing, direct sales, or other creative methods, I'd love to hear what has worked for you or what you've seen work for others in the current music landscape.

Send your tracks to a label. If your music is good enough than they will help you with the next steps. If your music ain't good enough then you know you must get better. And most labels will give some constructive feedback if your tracks don't totally suck

People barely buy music from Bandcamp or similar services. And if you're a newbie it's likely you'll sell maybe 10 bucks worth per month. If you're lucky. Many labels don't even bother with streaming they just put it on Bandcamp or beatport and similar. If it's an album you'll get maybe 2 bucks per sale. And if you're not popular then you'll earn a few cups of coffee a month.
Even the most popular artists Barely earn a living and that is including live shows.

Sending random psytrance music to random labels in 2024 is just dumb. Better put it out yourself using something like distrokid.

[4damind]

Yes, I see it similarly.
As a hobby musician without any fans, I don't see any possibility at all. Even the release on Distrokid is unlikely to generate any income.

Big events also bring in big money. At Tomorrow Land and similar big psytrance events, DJs earn between 50,000 and 70,000 dollars for a set. People like Garrix also earn 100,000. There is a small chance, but then you have to turn your hobby into a profession and invest significantly more time and, above all, produce a lot of (great) tracks.

[tehlord]

I'm just reviewing my options & looking for fiscal opportunities with the skills I possess

There is none, there is NO money in your position. No experience, no following, no history.

There may be some opportunity in the next 5-10 years IF you're actually very good, and you're lucky enought to develop a huge following relative to an extremely niche genre.

The reality is though, that you're unlikely to ever see any money from your efforts until you have enough of a following that people will pay to see you live.

[EfreetiSultan]

I mastered an album for a psytrance producer. His label put it on Bandcamp and beatport. He's an unknown. He probably sold 5 albums total. Not worth it. Just make music for fun and put it out free on everywhere. If you get popular then, you can think about trying to make money.

[jamcat]

If you want to make any money at all with music, you have to create something people want to buy, and that means first and foremost a real song with lyrics, a catchy vocal, and a hook.

[dionenoid]

People barely buy music from Bandcamp or similar services. And if you're a newbie it's likely you'll sell maybe 10 bucks worth per month. If you're lucky. Many labels don't even bother with streaming they just put it on Bandcamp or beatport and similar. If it's an album you'll get maybe 2 bucks per sale. And if you're not popular then you'll earn a few cups of coffee a month.
Even the most popular artists Barely earn a living and that is including live shows.

Sending random psytrance music to random labels in 2024 is just dumb. Better put it out yourself using something like distrokid.

Labels that don't bother with streaming while that's exactly where most money is made these days.

Keep up your nonsense man.

[audiojunkie]

Hi Everyone

I've been dabbling in PsyTrance production for a while now and I am on the verge of finishing some tracks that I think are ready for release.
I have no fan base & I'm interested in promotion & monetization.
I want to make sure I approach this in the most productive way possible.

What are the latest strategies or platforms you recommend for monetizing & promoting EDM tracks?
Whether it's streaming services, licensing, direct sales, or other creative methods, I'd love to hear what has worked for you or what you've seen work for others in the current music landscape.

You want to do music and make money? You can only pick one. Get a job and do music for yourself for enjoyment.