How do musicians make money? 8 ways to make your music work for you

It’s no secret that some of the world’s richest people are musicians. But until you join the ranks of artists like Katy Perry or Shawn Mendes, you won’t be living off royalties and ticket sales. You’ll need a side hustle (or several) to keep the bills paid.

But don’t worry – you don’t have to put your music career on the back burner to earn a living. You can keep performing and creating music while taking advantage of the many income opportunities the music industry has to offer. And along the way, you’ll learn to promote yourself and make connections that could open doors for your career.

Some of today's biggest music celebrities struggled to make ends meet before learning how to make money as an artist. You could get discovered tomorrow, but in the meantime, let’s talk about what you can do today to get your career off the ground.

How do musicians make money?

The cardinal rule for making money from music is to establish multiple revenue streams. Between live shows, use your downtime to sell merch or work at your local record shop. Until you catch your big break, you’re a freelance musician, so mix things up to get as many sources of income as you can.

How to make money with music

Want to know how music artists make money? Is the music industry as cutthroat as pop culture makes it sound? The short answer is yes – but it’s far from impossible. Here are some of the ways musicians like you keep a roof over their heads:

1. Merchandise sales: Set up an e-commerce site to sell band merch like branded mugs and totes. You’ll reap the profits from your sales, and you’ll get some free marketing too – your fans will be repping your band when they walk around in your T-shirt. Platforms like Instagram have a one-link limit for bios, so use a Linktree URL to direct fans to your website, merch site, music and video pages, and other social accounts with just one click.
2. Royalties from music streaming applications: If you haven’t yet learned how to make money from streaming platforms, teaming up with a distributor is a great place to start. They can get your music on major applications like Apple Music or Spotify, and both platforms have preferred distributor lists that can point you in the right direction. Distribution platforms act as middlemen between independent artists and streaming services. They take care of uploading your music – and more importantly, they make sure you get paid.
3. Tours and live performances: Reach out to local or indie venues about playing gigs, or post your skills as a songwriter, guitarist, drummer, or backup singer on job sites. You may score a solo show or get a job touring with a band that needs a helping hand. Be sure to have a brand kit ready before starting these conversations so you can show them what you’ve got. Your kit should include your social media handles, links to your music, and a description of your work as an artist.
4. Teaching: Have virtuoso-level piano skills or an operatic voice? Why not teach some classes? Post on your local job boards and tack some fliers up around the neighborhood. Teaching is a rewarding gig – you get to spend your day making music while spreading your passion and knowledge to people who want to learn.
5. Work for an ensemble, organization, or school: Choirs and symphonies of all levels need musicians and directors. Work part-time directing a local school’s chorus, or playing your instrument in your town’s symphony. You may even be able to nail down full-time work teaching music in an academic setting.
6. Affiliate marketing: Social media monetization is a great way to put more money in your pocket. Try signing up for an affiliate marketing program. As an affiliate, you hook your followers up with discount codes for brands you’re into. Any clicks or sales that come in through your social media accounts will earn you a kickback.
7. Brand partnerships: Once you start building up a social media following, you can partner with brands on sponsored content. Companies that sell products your niche following would be into will partner up with you to pitch their goods and services on social media. If you’re into hard rock, for example, a brand that makes amps might see potential in your guitar-loving fan base. And unlike affiliate marketing, brand partnerships pay you upfront.
8. Virtual tip jar: The new tipping features offered by apps like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram will let you busk without the hassle of dragging your equipment out to the street corner or subway station. While you’re jamming on a live stream, your fans can drop money in your virtual tip jar to show you just how much they love your music.

What does success look like?

Music isn’t all about the Benjamins. Success will look different for everyone – it could be teaching a high-school student to play Mozart or headlining a local music festival. Or it could be putting out an indie hit or racking up followers on the internet.

You don’t have to be a mega-star to earn money with music. Maybe you won’t make millions, but earning a liveable salary teaching music or touring is still a marker of success. Some people have a full-time day job they don’t want to give up, and they’ll consider themselves successful if they can make a little extra money selling original songs or playing part-time gigs. Decide what success looks like for you, and set your goals accordingly.

3 last-minute tips for making money as a musician

Whatever revenue streams you pursue, you can boost your success by following these quick tips:

1. Create a website so fans, record label execs, and radio station directors can explore your content at their leisure.
2. Network with other musicians and industry professionals. You never know when a band will need a backup singer in a pinch.
3. Set realistic goals so you’re not disappointed when you can’t quit your day job at first. Read up on how much you can expect to earn from royalty or affiliate marketing income streams, and be sure you’re going in with reasonable expectations.