I recently watched an incredible Deep Dive interview (of course by Ali Abdaal) and he asked YouTubers Colin and Samir how musicians can make money from YouTube.
That was such a specific and niche question but I think the response actually can apply to us all whether or not you make “content”.
“If you want to make money….figure out another way to make money!”
A bit direct right? Maybe not the answer we’re looking for but there’s so much to unpack there!
I’m a firm believer that in 2024, your music isn’t going to make you stand out from the crowd. It’s about YOU:
Who you are
How you present yourself
What you offer to people (audience or client)
(In addition to writing great music!!)
And content is a fantastic way to do that! I’m not saying to drop everything and become a “content creator”- simply share all the things that make you…you.
Share the process, share the wins, and yes even the losses. People connect with people!
Now how does all of this relate to making money?
First, you need to decide if making music is a hobby or if you really want to make money from it.
There’s no right or wrong answer here either! But if it’s a hobby, then you might need to be perfectly okay with putting your music out there without expecting a single penny in return!
If you do want to make money from your music passion then it’s a good idea to be open minded!
Whether you like the term or not, you are a creator (content being the means of how you share.)
As you grow and build connections with people over time, you’ll slowly be able increase the number of income streams:
🎬 Paid client work
🎧 Streams on Spotify, Apple, etc.
💸 Donations & tips
📺 Ad Revenue on YouTube
🎛️ Affiliations with brands you love
Yes, making money as a music creator is possible! No you don’t have to be John Powell or Ludwig Göransson
But notice that I said over time!
That’s why we can’t just give one stream of income a shot and give up if it doesn’t work right away. As time goes on and you start to connect with people, you’ll notice that the income stream that yielded such little results at first is actually one piece of a larger puzzle! 🧩
Colin and Samir say that the best thing for you to do when you’re feeling lost and just starting out is to not go all in on just one thing!
Your music might be great! But it likely won’t make you stand out.
Instead, actively engage with and learn from the people you want to connect with! The more you understand what makes you unique; the more you understand your strengths- the more you’ll find opportunities that support your passion for music AND your career!
And if you’re feeling a bit stuck in your career or you don’t even know where to start, try booking a 1-hour strategy session with me! Maybe we can chat about your current struggles, projects you’re working on, or goals you have for you music career!
Want to check out the interview? Jump to 31:07 in the timestamps!