By Olamide Lapite
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Most independent artists have a rough patch on their way to career success. And with the current economic climate, making more money has become necessary, which is where this article comes in. If you’re an independent artist and would like to make some extra cash, this article is for you as it discusses tips on how to do that. Let’s dive.
1. Sell parts of your process:
You don’t have to wait till you have a completed track before you sell your music. There are different aspects of the song-making process that can be commercialized. Airbit and Beatstars are examples of platforms that allow music creatives to sell beats and samples for some good money. In addition to the above, freelance platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr also allow music creatives to offer music-related services for money. Opening an account on these platforms is free; you will get paid legitimately. You can set the amount you would like to earn and bid for jobs that you feel are fair for you.
2. Work as a Voiceover artist:
While you’re waiting for your big hit singers, you can put your voice to work as a voiceover artist. Being a voiceover artist gives you the unique opportunity to work on different kinds of projects while improving your vocal skills and earning money. You can help filmmakers to voice characters or work with an advertising company to promote products and businesses. Similar to the point above, it is a sync deal. A sync deal is a type of contract that allows an artist’s song to be used in movies and games. This license to use your songs comes at a rate that is popularly known as a flat fee. The rate is to be negotiated by the artist and the movie production team.
3. Merchandise:
Selling merchandise is ideal for indie artists with a decent amount of fans. You can make some money for yourself by selling items that represent you and your music brand. It doesn’t have to be really expensive things. For instance, you can print your name on shirts and mugs and sell them at your local store. You can partner with local stores and manufacturing companies in your city to put your name and face in merchandise. With this partnership, you can become more popular while getting paid as an influencer. A win-win situation for you.
4. Music Coaching:
Another way to make money from music as an independent artist is to teach what you do. You’ll be surprised at the number of people who have a passion for music and are willing to learn about it. Some schools and academies are looking to hire music coaches from time to time. You can start by making your availability known to hiring institutions. Another advantage of teaching music is that you get to improve your skills as you teach others. After all, the best way to learn anything is by teaching it.
5. Write about music:
If you are a musician and a great writer, then you can get paid for writing about what you love. There are two ways to go about this: you can start a blog by yourself or write for local publications or prominent magazines. Depending on your experience and the magazine/platform you write for, music writers earn up to $1 per word. In addition to these, you can write ebooks on music and sell them on Amazon. As a writer, you can discuss industry events, review other artists’ songs and albums, and much more.
The possibilities of making money as an independent artist are limitless. Don’t box yourself in and think you can’t make money without having songs out or selling out shows. Start from where you are with what you have, and climb your way up at a steady pace.