Best Practices for EDM (PsyTrance) Monetization

[EfreetiSultan]

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.

Yes. You don't believe me or what's the problem here, why are you accusing me of spreading nonsense? You calling me a liar?

[Scrubbing Monkeys]

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.

Do people buy music anymore?

[HAL76]

PsyTrance EDM
- Online courses
- Synth Patches
- Sample sets
- Consulting and Coaching
- Selling online platform user interaction packages

[Freaqpeak]

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.

You make "any money" from music if you make really good music and then do all the hard work and do all the gigs. No matter the genre really.

Producers and artists make money out of playing at festivals and parties in the summer and a few other events during the rest of the year - when not producing new tracks.
But you can live from it, if you are up to the task.... It's all in the gigs, which is true for pretty much all genres that aren't mainstream major record label-backed or music of any genre that happens to go viral.

People that enjoys sub genres like psytrance don't care so much about social media or hype. Good music is just good music - and then you get gigs.

I know many people, including close friends, that been living from their music production, in psytrance specifically, for some years on and off. It's hard work and you never know from each month how much you will earn. But it is doable if that is your dream.

Many hard working artists in the genre tend to release new albums in the winter/spring, and that's for the reasons above. They can't produce when touring in the summer... but need new music every year if they want to have an income (new music = new gigs next summer).

[BazJacuzzi]

Most reliable way of monetizing music production is selling your gear.

[audiojunkie]

Most reliable way of monetizing music production is selling your gear.

Truth!

[kritikon]

Nah, I'm not selling mine...lease it out on subscription. It's the modern way. There must be fools out there that want real gear on the never never, surely?

[Synthman2000]

Reincarnate as Astrix or Electric Universe.

[morphex]

PsyTrance EDM
- Online courses
- Synth Patches
- Sample sets
- Consulting and Coaching
- Selling online platform user interaction packages

The previous replies may seem harsh, but there’s a lot of collective, real-world experience here. These really are about the only options for ‘possibly’ generating income if someone doesn’t have a fan base and are completely unknown to the community.

People who are being very blunt and up-front with you are not trying to destroy your dreams. We all love music or we wouldn’t be here. That’s why they’re giving you the truth straight-up. It would be a d*ck move to lie and give you a false sense of hope.

It’s for your benefit, so that you have a clear idea of what is currently practical in the scene. Then it’s up to you to decide how dedicated you are to making your vision a reality. Upcoming artists tend to be very idealistic until reality smacks them across the face. I went through it.

It can be a big hit to the ego when you want something so bad, right down to your core, and then you discover that the ‘business’ side isn’t anything like you imagined. Or you discover that your skills aren’t quite up to par with industry standards.

However, I’m a bit of a dystopian utopian, and I’m not going to end this on a bad note (pun intended). I haven’t heard any of your music yet, and for all I know, you might be the next Simon Posford or Merv Pepler (if you know... you know).

If you have real talent, drive, and discipline, you can work your way up through the ranks. It’s going to be a grind. But if you’re hungry for it, it CAN be done. Upload quality tracks with a signature sound of your own. Network, network, network.

Like other people’s tracks and comment on SoundCloud and other platforms. Be friendly and be yourself, but communicate with artists that inspire you to make better music. Enter remix contests, and send your music to labels that cater to your particular sound. You have to make connections.

Most importantly, have fun along the way. Give it everything you’re willing to give, so that you don’t have regrets when you’re an old fart. I wish you all the best. Good luck!

[BazJacuzzi]

PsyTrance EDM
- Online courses
- Synth Patches
- Sample sets
- Consulting and Coaching
- Selling online platform user interaction packages

The previous replies may seem harsh, but there’s a lot of collective, real-world experience here. These really are about the only options for ‘possibly’ generating income if someone doesn’t have a fan base and are completely unknown to the community.

People who are being very blunt and up-front with you are not trying to destroy your dreams. We all love music or we wouldn’t be here. That’s why they’re giving you the truth straight-up. It would be a d*ck move to lie and give you a false sense of hope.

It’s for your benefit, so that you have a clear idea of what is currently practical in the scene. Then it’s up to you to decide how dedicated you are to making your vision a reality. Upcoming artists tend to be very idealistic until reality smacks them across the face. I went through it.

It can be a big hit to the ego when you want something so bad, right down to your core, and then you discover that the ‘business’ side isn’t anything like you imagined. Or you discover that your skills aren’t quite up to par with industry standards.

However, I’m a bit of a dystopian utopian, and I’m not going to end this on a bad note (pun intended). I haven’t heard any of your music yet, and for all I know, you might be the next Simon Posford or Merv Pepler (if you know... you know).

If you have real talent, drive, and discipline, you can work your way up through the ranks. It’s going to be a grind. But if you’re hungry for it, it CAN be done. Upload quality tracks with a signature sound of your own. Network, network, network.

Like other people’s tracks and comment on SoundCloud and other platforms. Be friendly and be yourself, but communicate with artists that inspire you to make better music. Enter remix contests, and send your music to labels that cater to your particular sound. You have to make connections.

Most importantly, have fun along the way. Give it everything you’re willing to give, so that you don’t have regrets when you’re an old fart. I wish you all the best. Good luck!

Absolutely. If you're not doing it for love, give up now.

[Synthman2000]

I saw a notable artist in this genre speaking about this a while back.

You need to be in deep and living it to be noticed was the suggestion, and of course making some very accomplished tunes. Being seen in the right places (which could actually be quite expensive, that's the hard truth of that)

Beyond that suggestion......

Being enthused and authentic. To be successful I would say is very difficult. You will absolutely need to be able to be a good artist production wise, probably a little bit focused into 1 sub genre (until later on anyway), need to be a decent DJ as well (helps promote yourself and any label / releases you many find yourself connected to. Which keeps label happier. Be willing to travel significantly.) Be willing to do collabs which can be enjoyable or difficult. Often people in this scene are related to it in other ways, decor, clothing, sound systems, organizers, selling natural products, stall holders at festivals, into alternative therapy, Yoga, Martial arts etc. etc.

Or you can find your own unique route in, authenticity will get you a long way.

It's quite a peculiar scene in some regards. Some notable labels do not even accept demos ! That says something, depending on how you interpret it. It is also very friendly and relatively less non judgemental.

Open minded in many ways to people who see themselves as uncomfortable fitting in normal society, for many reasons we need not discuss. It is also enigmatic, it is small and big at the same time. Often small at a local level and big globally, at least the huge events lead you to believe so. It has a very wide and disparate range of people involved, which in many ways adds to appeal.

It is also just 1 thing.

Work out what your strengths are and be authentic. It is difficult as I would never say go - all in - to someone, or say go in half hearted, you will need to discover your angle yourself. Time is precious and there are many positive ways to enjoy your life that are greatly less ambiguous, so figure that in.

Time to mature all round as an artist, persistence and authenticity and luck meeting the right people.

Meeting the right people in person is going to be very important. In juxtaposition to the sense of freedom, you are going to need to be hard working, organized, cool and clear headed for it all and be able to take any disappointments face on and simply go through them.

Much of this applies to success in any musical genre.

And 1 big tip, protect your hearing properly, right now, from this day onwards.

[mjolnir]

I have the feeling that a lot of production groups were already people rich with money, and that the music is only an afterthought after they buy whatever they want and need for a paid-for party lifestyle. The music is part of the illusion it seems. Also, I think that's why certain genres have such high sound quality but simultaneously such low musical quailty--rich people just bought it all to go with their party ambitions.

And then they charge people at the door to attend the party.
See what I mean?

[Synthman2000]

I have the feeling that a lot of production groups were already people rich with money, and that the music is only an afterthought after they buy whatever they want and need for a paid-for party lifestyle. The music is part of the illusion it seems. Also, I think that's why certain genres have such high sound quality but simultaneously such low musical quailty--rich people just bought it all to go with their party ambitions.

And then they charge people at the door to attend the party.
See what I mean?

I think there is a degree of truth here for some individuals at least.This scene evolved from a younger generation some with wealthy parents, otherwise they would not have been able to afford to come to those tropical shores in the early 70's and continue onwards the hippie way of life, from which this stems. Check out some documentaries on the busses to India from Europe in the 70's. The accents, I noted, tend not to be not from deprived areas.

Some would say that some of the psychedelic bands of the late 60s and 70s have been made up of wealthy public school boys, or in assisted by their parents riches and so on. And you only need to know where some artists live to know they are not short of cash money.

For some individuals this is the case, no doubt about it. Although as this scene has burgeoned it has attracted other people globally. It is hard to see that all artists are all rich people. The "Trustafarian" saying springs to mind.

Also I do not agree with your musical quality suggestion there are subjectively plenty of basic types of music that people can look down on if they want to. I like all music for what it brings to life, some repetitive, some melodic some not, some simple some difficult to play. The world of music is as broad as the world itself.

What was clear was that money did not seem to give satisfaction. Sure, lots of money obviously makes life practically easier and every person needs money in the world we live in.

If you have a lot of money you are still a human being with all the many problems that brings.

I admit to having a similar thought as yourself because if you see yourself "outside" of society even if your underground scene is built on top of society, which is much closer than being an outsider etc. you need that money blanket as a freedom to do what you want. That is seen as a traditionally privileged position.

If you look into any counter culture if we can call it that you can pick it apart quite easily, even the good parts if you are truly jaded and wish to.

It does not devalue the overall contribution to the cultural world though. I think we need to be careful about over criticism as we can all end up living very homegenous, restricted, mono cultural lives, lacking in diversity and interest if not cautious.

Better to sense how an individual is in real life, rich or poor, middle or working class. As humans we like to box things up in our mind, categorize, nice and simple and label them, and then often be wrong.

Rich people exist, some make music and some drive around in Lamboughini's in Dubai, St. Tropez or sit on a Superyaught.

Just for the record I am absolutely working class and I am not fazed by other's riches. That's their problem.

[mjolnir]

Synthman2000,

you have thought more deeply on this topic than me.
i get what you're saying.

although i came off kinda harsh, i do believe there is still an honorable place in music culture for rich people. some of them really really do take the music seriously and are sometimes generous with tutorials and educational sharing and stuff. sometimes it's the rich people to test things out first, because they can afford to buy it first, but it's their love of music which allows them to teach many of the rest of us about the pros and cons of the gear and politely complain back to the manufacturers about the design flaws.

and some of my favorite bands for sure were probably psychedelic hippy kids of sorts.
you seem spot on about the possibility of similar types being affluent.

i apologize if i seem too harsh on this topic either way.
i'm dirt poor right now, but i came from middle class.

[enroe]

... I do believe there is still an honorable place in music culture for rich people. ... Sometimes it's the rich people to test things out first, because they can afford to buy it first, but it's their love of music which allows them to teach many of the rest of us about the pros and cons of the gear and politely complain back to the manufacturers about the design flaws.
...

Mmmh ... not quite!

Testing and trying out the latest and hottest synths, VST
instruments, VST effects and sound libraries costs money and
time. But it is also very distracting, defocuses and can even
lead to GAS syndrome (=Gear Acquisition Syndrome). GAS
should not be underestimated, because anyone who has
succumbed to this syndrome will no longer make ANY music
themselves.

Back to the topic: Since there is so much freeware - of everything:
instruments, effects, libraries - money or "being rich" is no longer
a criterion at all. It is used more as an excuse: "Yes, if I could buy
synthesizer XY, then I could write a hit like that too." That is of
course nonsense and nothing more than an excuse.

My thesis is: You can write and produce absolutely great
professional songs - using only freeware! But the most difficult
hurdle remains: You have to compose and produce something
very original and very emotional.

However, you are right about one thing: the rich have an
advantage that should not be underestimated - and that is
probably the decisive advantage: they have more time!

You don't have to worry about the next rent payment, you don't
have to remember to optimize your tax return, you don't have to
work a 9-5 job that doesn't really leave any time for creativity
and free reflection.

A lot of time for creativity and letting thoughts and melodies float
freely is a prerequisite for something really new and creative to
emerge. And rich people have a lot more of this time.