Making money can be challenging and tough for independent, unsigned and upcoming music artists. The reason is that they get to fund and manage their music careers themselves. Unlike other music artists who are either signed to a record label, an entertainment company or a management company.
Music artists who are signed to record labels do not feel the pain and stress which the independent music artists go through; their videos and studio sessions are funded by record labels, they get shows and fane through the influence of their record labels and also, they are provided with wardrobe allowance by their record labels.
Unfortunately, the case is different for independent artists, they have to fend for themselves, they fund their career themselves and they compose and market their music within little or no assistance. In this article, you would get to know about the best means of making money as an independent music artiste. Through this guide, you would find about the newest ways of generating revenue from your music, keep reading!!!
- Show Performances: Paid performance at major shows is one of the popular ways of making money as an independent music artiste. However, getting profitable music shows don’t come easily, you will have to work for it by developing your craft and working on your music. If your music is good and buzzing on the streets like Davido if, you would get offers and invites from show promoters to headline a major show. Popular Nigerian music artistes like Davido, Tiwa Savage and Olamide charge 6 million and above for a single show performance.
- Selling Your Brand: Another good way of making money without the influence of a record label for you as an independent music artiste to sell your brand. You can start off by selling branded T-shirts, snapbacks, snickers, trousers, jackets and fashionable items with your name or your song on the material. If the item is considered worthwhile, you would be able to generate enough sales for your music.
- Callertunes: You can make money off your songs by setting up a caller tune with any telecommunication company. For instance, Nigerian telecom companies such as Glo, MTN, 9mobile, and Airtel all have caller tunes and it makes money for them. You can hire the services of a Bulk SMS website or a telecom provider to set your song as a caller tune on its platform.
- Endorsement Deals: Getting endorsement deals is a profitable method in which independent music artists make money for themselves. Different companies such as Pepsi, Samsung mobile, Infinix, MTN, Glo and many other offer endorsement deals are usually presented to established music artists to promote their brand and spread more words about their products.
- Music Sales & Royalties: Finally, according to a recently published article on intogeek, you can make money from your music through sales on digital music platforms such as YouTube, Apple Music, Tidal, Google Play, Spotify, Shazam, Spinlet, Itunes and many others. If you have enough streams on your music projects, you are likely to make sales. You can also earn royalties from your music if it is used by a 3rd party for advertisement or commercial purposes.
