Recently, I reached 600,000—Spotify listeners per month. Getting to where it is today was quite a difficult task. In the eight years, I was a musician, I didn’t make enough to pay my living expenses. I have never shared this information with anyone. Over 100 songs were written during that time. Most of these songs have since been lost to the vastness of the internet. I spent hours searching for ways to make money. Depression was a constant battle.
After many years of struggle, one song finally became a hit and changed my life. Music royalties are the primary source of my income. It’s a life I am very grateful for, as it’s not possible for everyone.
Today I will share ten essential tips for making a musician successful. Instead of focusing on marketing and revenue-generating tips, I will emphasize tips that promote a healthy mindset. These tips were helpful to me as I was a singer-songwriter. This blog post will help you be more successful in the music business. These tips will help you, regardless of whether you are a singer, songwriter, or producer.
You shouldn’t try to put all your eggs into one basket
You must make more money through your music than you spend on it to make a living as a musician. You, like most people, will have bills to pay for rent, food, and other expenses. You will also need to pay for music-related expenses such as distribution fees, software subscriptions, and marketing fees.
To make money, you’ll have to spend money. This is a common saying, and it’s true up to a point. You can’t always predict how much you will earn from a project. Sometimes you need to invest money upfront in order to get a musical project off the ground.
I advise you to avoid spending large amounts of money on one project. A music video for one song that costs $10,000 is not wise if you are just starting out as an artist. You can find cheaper options that are more dependent on your time and effort, so your money can be used to create more music or pay your living expenses.
Don’t work hard, work SMART
Many musicians are self-employed. They’re responsible for making their own money and not being told what to do. Musicians must spend lots of time searching for work and coming up with new ideas to make their income.
It’s important to distinguish between working hard and being smart. It might seem that hard work will eventually bring you the riches you desire. This is not true because success is not always guaranteed. It’s hard work to market a song that isn’t popular enough to be heard. But it’s not easy work. Although working hard may make you feel good about yourself, ask yourself if your time could have been used more efficiently.
Focus on income-generating activities and analyze your income sources. Try a shotgun approach if you are just starting as a musician. See what sticks first, whether it is performing/turning, writing music, or making YouTube videos. You can then cut out any activities or projects you are not interested in.
Be gentle with yourself
Let’s face facts: Not everyone who wants to become a musician is able to. It’s easy for people to feel discouraged in the entertainment industry, which is among the most competitive.
It is important to avoid negative thoughts and keep a positive attitude when you are trying to be a musician. You can’t go around believing that you will fail every time. Fear of failure will likely lead to you becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Instead of trying to predict the future, focus on setting reasonable daily goals. Do not compare yourself to other artists who have been more successful than you. Each musician is unique and each has their own path. Recognize your achievements, as only you can know how important they truly are.
Make new friends, especially with other musicians
Do not be afraid to look for opportunities to network with other musicians. It’s a great way for musicians to meet new collaborators and find new opportunities. It’s a great way for musicians to support one another and build relationships. You can search for music industry events in your area to see if there are any that you can attend.
Don’t be afraid of “talking” to other musicians via social media. Researching the projects they are involved in and the people they work with could help you find new opportunities.
I wrote a song called “No Friends” about the joys and challenges of being an introvert. Sometimes, I feel alone and wish I had a support group for musicians. It’s something I am working on.
Listen to and research music
I avoided listening to music for a long time because I didn’t want to be subconsciously inspired by other people’s music. This strategy didn’t work because I was rarely inspired to write music. Music has, in fact, almost always been inspired by songs that have come before it.
Listening to music from other artists can help you see the subtleties in certain styles of songwriting or the intricate details of a certain type of production. To find elements that you can incorporate into your music, create a playlist with your favorite songs. Your Spotify playlist could be repurposed as a Spotify artist playlist, so your fans can hear and learn from some of your musical inspirations.
Be consistent with your music releases
Be consistent with your music releases if you are an independent artist. Consistency shows your fans and potential new fans that your music is serious and you are willing to share your musical journey with them. People love to see artists grow and change over time. If you don’t release for many years, they won’t be as invested in your story.
Each person will have a different definition of consistency. It’s currently one song per month for me. It could be one song per month for you or another person. It might be three to four songs per year.
It is normal to be busy. You can set a realistic release goal that you are able to commit to and stick to it.
Learn and be open to learning new ideas
The CDBaby podcast has been a great podcast to listen to. Every episode brings me new ideas and tips. It’s a great podcast and I highly recommend it.
If you have the time, don’t be afraid of learning more about music marketing and the music business. To learn more from musicians in your area, search for meetups. You should also search for music classes at your local community college. Follow your favorite musicians on social media for any advice.