3 ideas on how to make money from music, without selling it!

[legend4ry]

Here is an article I have been working on for a while - I finished it tonight for my blog, so thought i'd post it here too.


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Why do we commerically release music


In the blunt of things, producers pitch music to labels so they can get more exposure which should end up in more gigs, releases and eventually money.

This doesn't make you greedy or not passionate, most musicians dream is to the tour the world and play their music to others who appreciate it and as human beings we need money to survive and have the luxuries we all desire, this is all known but hardly spoke about.

But do you have to release music to achieve those things? I don't think you do in this day n age. Heres a list of ways you could be paid for making music, without actually releasing it under a fixed price tag, without the slow process of releasing it under a label, without contracts and being messed around by a middle man.

These ideas are all self-driven, tried and tested either by me or just widely known for working.




1] Give it out free via your own website and charge events, other labels and producers to advertise on your site, this can be as cheap as 5$ a month! If you can build up a big enough traffic from month to month you'll be able to get people willing to pay you, so your traffic glances at what they want to advertise. Advertising is one of the biggest ways to make money these days, with things like freeium magazines and OnDemand TV all paid by advertising. You can give a service without making the consumer pay for it and still earn money.



2] Put it out on established NetLabels (labels who release music for free) and promote yourself as a DJ more than producer. With labels like EchoDub being one of the pioneering labels in the 2nd wave of Dubstep ( 2008 and onwards) and Dub Techno they started off as a label which put out music for free to gain a fan base before venturing into commerical releases but this can also work with being a DJ. A DJ who is a established producer is highly attractive to promoters within bass-music as pirate/internet radio is the most popular way to hear new music and if your music is getting support by DJs on the air waves, people will pay to come see you play out. I have known people who had to start DJing because promoters were offering them payed bookings without even knowing if they could DJ.

3] Pay-What-You-Like releases; websites like Bandcamp are brilliant ideas - allowing owners of the page you use systems like "Pay-what-you-like" you're essentially giving away your music for free but unlike idea #1 - you are giving people the option to self-evaluate how much money your music is worth to them, not only is this great feedback for any producer it is a welcoming idea to a consumer.


Just some food for thought.

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See blog post here ; http://filed-bass.blogspot.com/2011/08/ ... music.html

[Toric]

Here is an article I have been working on for a while - I finished it tonight for my blog, so thought i'd post it here too.


---------------------------------------------

Why do we commerically release music


In the blunt of things, producers pitch music to labels so they can get more exposure which should end up in more gigs, releases and eventually money.

This doesn't make you greedy or not passionate, most musicians dream is to the tour the world and play their music to others who appreciate it and as human beings we need money to survive and have the luxuries we all desire, this is all known but hardly spoke about.

But do you have to release music to achieve those things? I don't think you do in this day n age. Heres a list of ways you could be paid for making music, without actually releasing it under a fixed price tag, without the slow process of releasing it under a label, without contracts and being messed around by a middle man.

These ideas are all self-driven, tried and tested either by me or just widely known for working.




1] Give it out free via your own website and charge events, other labels and producers to advertise on your site, this can be as cheap as 5$ a month! If you can build up a big enough traffic from month to month you'll be able to get people willing to pay you, so your traffic glances at what they want to advertise. Advertising is one of the biggest ways to make money these days, with things like freeium magazines and OnDemand TV all paid by advertising. You can give a service without making the consumer pay for it and still earn money.



2] Put it out on established NetLabels (labels who release music for free) and promote yourself as a DJ more than producer. With labels like EchoDub being one of the pioneering labels in the 2nd wave of Dubstep ( 2008 and onwards) and Dub Techno they started off as a label which put out music for free to gain a fan base before venturing into commerical releases but this can also work with being a DJ. A DJ who is a established producer is highly attractive to promoters within bass-music as pirate/internet radio is the most popular way to hear new music and if your music is getting support by DJs on the air waves, people will pay to come see you play out. I have known people who had to start DJing because promoters were offering them payed bookings without even knowing if they could DJ.

3] Pay-What-You-Like releases; websites like Bandcamp are brilliant ideas - allowing owners of the page you use systems like "Pay-what-you-like" you're essentially giving away your music for free but unlike idea #1 - you are giving people the option to self-evaluate how much money your music is worth to them, not only is this great feedback for any producer it is a welcoming idea to a consumer.


Just some food for thought.

-----------------------------

See blog post here ; http://filed-bass.blogspot.com/2011/08/ ... music.html

Seems like we have similar ideas.

It's a shame you dislike like us.

Good article though.

A+ work.

-T

[legend4ry]

"US" ? D:

[Inanimate]

Very interesting. I've never considered myself as a DJ, nor a producer to be honest, but reading that, I assume a lot, or all, of the money comes from live performances.

[jrisreal]

Yeah, ledge, toric is a group of 2 people. And I don't see why there is so much disrespect for toric. They're pretty cool to me.

Respect to both of you guys from toric. And you too, ledgend4ry.

[legend4ry]

I dunno what ive done to show disrespect? :O

[jrisreal]

I dunno what ive done to show disrespect? :O

not saying you, but in general on the forum, the usual response to anything toric says is disrespectful.

[hifi]

bandcamp is a great idea. and i think every edm producer should learn how to mix it's becoming more essential.

[FuzionDubstep]

the website idea is good the other two are more ideas that would be good but aren't very realistic

but I agree people release music not really for the money but just to get more exposure I mean if you get a good release in the beatport top 100 that's where promoters look for fresh artists and and all the big producers look for new tracks to play out.. but then again free tracks have pro's so its a matter of what you want at that time

[legend4ry]

how are they not very realistic?

Ive been booked (and payed 90% of the time) at least once a month off the back of my 2 free EP's.

[FuzionDubstep]

how are they not very realistic?

Ive been booked (and payed 90% of the time) at least once a month off the back of my 2 free EP's.

I mean the 'pay what you like' option.. I see a few producers do it but seriously no-one is going to pay are they?
so unless your tracks going on a big promotional site then you might as well just either release it or give it away free

[Teknicyde]

how are they not very realistic?

Ive been booked (and payed 90% of the time) at least once a month off the back of my 2 free EP's.

Your in a very prolific area though too man, London has alot more promoters looking for dubstep then... anywhere else I can think of really.

In other areas, scenes become alot more niche, with a few select promoters dominating the market... This leaves bookings at slim pickings, and you see pretty repetitive DJ lists with the exceptions of booked-in headliners... In areas where EDM is less prolific, promoters arent always able to concern themselves with providing an outlet for producers, they have alot on their hands already so much as getting the popular stuff DJed out and booked. When all promoters have to work with is one solid night a week, they have to concern themselves with giving people a place to hear whats popular now.. there arent as many timeslots dedicated to breaking new talent, more assuring that people get to hear they're favorite popular tunes on a decent system.

Awesome article, alot of food for thought, something Ive taken away from it is that in fact, the traditional 'label' model is changing shape. Not looking forward to more mickey mouse labels, but I welcome a wave of new echodub's and art collectives endorsing new and engaging means of distribution.

I had a look over the blog the other day and didnt see one, you should do a little rambling on the new forms of distribution and marketing coming up with the internet.

[legend4ry]

I only know the London/UK scene so its going to be different for each person. Don't think for a second London doesn't have the same 10 artists playing every weekend though, Dubstep here is bloody shite - trust! Theres about 3-4 big club nights (apart from fwd/dmz) which seem to rotate line-ups with a few artists switched up mid-flyer its disgusting.

Its all about the little underground nights and the one-off events and has been since around 08. (well, unless you DJ robotic fart noises for an hour/can handle hearing robotic fart noises all night)

I am going to do some marketing posts once I have a bit more experience with it (and saving some things for the blog for when it gets a bit bigger, its not even a week old!)

[DFRNT]

Nice work - I agree with you on all the points, and intend on writing my own take on similar things in future for SittingOvation.

If you'd like to guest-post this on SittingOvation, fire me an email or a PM and we can look at fleshing it out and adding it.

[__________]

Sell weed at raves

[baddis98]

this is a pretty one-sided point of view, focusing only on the financial/promotional aspect for upcoming producers.
but music should be more than just a file on the hd and i'm very thankful that there are labels, that sell music on physical formats with real artwork and have the possibilities to support upcoming artists and big projects like the production of an album...

[Teknicyde]

this is a pretty one-sided point of view, focusing only on the financial/promotional aspect for upcoming producers.

The thread is called 'how to make money from music', what do you want from the poor guy?

Lege clearly put alot of thought into this, and having had conversations with him before about our thoughts on vinyl, Im sure he's not downplaying the importance of physical media, simply proposing ways to make success from music when you find yourself in a situation that physical media isnt available, be it for cultural or personal reasons.

[Mad_EP]

how are they not very realistic?

Ive been booked (and payed 90% of the time) at least once a month off the back of my 2 free EP's.

I mean the 'pay what you like' option.. I see a few producers do it but seriously no-one is going to pay are they?
so unless your tracks going on a big promotional site then you might as well just either release it or give it away free

It's funny - you'd be surprised how many people are still willing to pay "something" rather than full price if they have the option to do so.

Just make the minimum £1/$1 for the whole release. £1 isn't going to stop anyone really.. and if it does, they really had no intention of paying anyway. I remember when Echodub had their "every release for £1 each" deal. I was inclined to buy a few of em anyway at normal prices, but for £1 each, I went and bought the whole catalog. Everybody made out - I spent more than I intended, so the label and artists did ok. I got more music than I had planned, so I was happy. I loved it so much I did a special Echodub feature on my Sub.FM show - and hopefully some people who didn't know about the label now do, and are helping support their great roster.

Also - it should be known, that while making £1 per release doesn't sound like much, it is as much (if not more) than I have ever made per unit for a physical release. And it isn't just because I am on indie labels - there really isn't anyone on a major label making more than £1 per unit either. I know guys who have platinum records, who never made more than that per unit. In fact, they said that if they ever made that per unit, they were over the moon.

[FSTZ]

I see a few producers do it but seriously no-one is going to pay are they?

I get the echodub emails.. the latest one was good and I actually paid for a track.

support and be supported

[Sexual_Chocolate]

Sell weed at raves

but in all seriousness this is a good read... a few interesting ideas in there that i will have to check out at some point

Big ups Legend4ry!