Since he’s started singing his own works, he has already worked with top tier Grammy nominated producers like Blue Hamilton, Dylan Rush, Lee Rouse, Aaron Pace & Oh Sammy has recorded with The Nashville Philharmonic and Cremaine Booker.

His next project he will be working with Anthem Unsung and Maddy Anderson Music with The What Makes Us Fire concert tour.  Oh Sammy’s music speaks to your heart and will take you on the ride you’ve yearned for!

SongMe founder Joshua Hamilton hit it off with Oh Sammy after interviewing him live at his studio over the spring of ‘22. “We just clicked” says Joshua, “Sammy is the genuine article, the real deal, and we are delighted to know him”.  

After getting to know the SongMe™ mobile app very well, Oh Sammy naturally started promoting SongMe on his social media accounts to his followers.

Then things really started to heat up!

“I just love SongMe” Oh Sammy says, “There’s no disconnect between the performer and the audience anymore!”.

SongMe founder Joshua says  “It was clear there was synergy between Oh Sammy and SongMe, it would have been a big mistake not to try to partner with him right away!

He’s well on his way to being a major superstar, he’s the nicest guy in the world, and he loves using the SongMe app! It’s a match made in heaven!”

Joshua continues “Today SongMe officially announces our official partnership with Oh Sammy as a social media spokesperson for our SongMe™ brand and SongMe™ mobile app, and we all are ecstatic about the road ahead! So far we have festivals, studio time, and charity concerts booked and that’s all before the end of ‘22.”

Oh Sammy will represent SongMe in the digital space with presentations on social media, live streams and AMAs. In addition Sammy will use the SongMe app at his concerts so his fans are able to request their favorite Oh Sammy! songs while he’s performing.

Oh Sammy! will represent SongMe at seminars and trade shows in addition to traveling to colleges to help young musicians learn how to earn a good living writing and performing live music using the SongMe app.

“Just wait and see what happens,” says Joshua,

“Sammy is going to start a trend with SongMe that will light the live music industry on fire and there’s no one else we’d rather start a fire with!”

Thanks to Sammy and his family for all they have done already for SongMe. Let's Rock!

Lookout for SongMe exclusive live streams with Oh Sammy! using the SongMe™ mobile app in the coming weeks! And make sure you follow “@Oh._.Sammy” on all social media and streaming sites.

Being an independent artist has become popular nowadays. In the past, for a musician to become popular, they had to sign contracts for record labels to promote and produce their music. There were no streaming services or even social media for new artists to release their music, so artists had to rely on the radio, concerts, and even MTV to spread their music to new fans. Without the resources from record labels and the media, new artists struggled to enter the music industry and advance their careers. 

After the rise of the internet and music streaming, a new wave of independent artists swept the music industry as fans began discovering indie artists and following them through Spotify, Pandora, and social media platforms. Musicians no longer have to rely on major record labels to release their music. Now, they can play and release their music at home or in their studio freely without taking big leaps. 

What is an independent artist? 

According to a blog from Point Blanket Entertainment, an independent artist, also known as an unsigned artist or band, is a “musician or musical group not under a contract with a record label.”

Many independent artists are successful without record labels and some gain as many fans as artists who are signed to record labels. 

Most independent artists start their careers by playing and practicing their music just like musicians who would later sign into record labels. They may have basic equipment and software to create compelling music, or they may have a studio filled with a luxurious and advanced music setup to play the highest quality songs. No matter what their financial or educational backgrounds are, many independent artists begin making music and improving it until they become the biggest hits in the music industry. 

The benefits of being an independent artist 

There are pros and cons to being an independent artist, but independent artists have many benefits that signed musicians do not. 

First, independent artists have full control and rights to their music. According to Icon Music, independent artists have control over “distribution, marketing, artwork, messaging, deadlines, and more.”

Signed artists have little control over promoting and distributing their music as record labels, mostly the major ones, do most of the decisions involving a signed musician’s music. Independent artists, on the other hand, have complete freedom over their music, and since they have full rights to their songs, they can distribute and sell them without the approval of record labels. If you desire full control and freedom as a musician, being an independent artist is for you. 

Second, independent artists can have all of their profits from their music. That’s right! You can keep 100% of the money that you gain from selling your music. Whereas singing with a record label would leave you with lesser royalties as the record label takes a percentage of the signed musician’s profit.

Independent artists receive all the money and pay for the necessary items they need in their music career, including new instruments and music setups. They can even use the money to pay for food and bills if they are doing music as a full-time job. The possibilities are endless for an independent artist. 

Tips on how to become an independent artist 

Now that you know what an independent artist is and what the benefits are, let’s look at some tips on how to become one. 

1. Choose your music genre 

Before you begin writing your songs and playing music, you need to pick a music genre that you like. Most importantly, you need to pick a genre that matches your brand. When you pick a genre based on your style or brand, your target audience will follow you based on the genre and brand of your music. One idea for choosing a genre is to analyze the type of music that you regularly listen to. If the music that you often listen to is rock music, you can choose rock as your genre. If the music that you listen to is electronic, then you better play electronic music. Of course, you can mix genres to differentiate your music from the main genres and stick out more. Chiptune pop anybody? Experiment with some genres and see which ones fit your style and brand. 

2. Choose your target audience  

After picking your genre, it’s time to choose your target audience. This can be overwhelming when you have to consider the demographics of your audience and find ways to reach out to your target audience. 

There are ways to find and reach your target audience. A blog from Groover stated that musicians can find their audience by engaging with their community. By engaging with your community, you are building connections with people with similar music tastes. You can also look at the demographics of your community, including age and nationality. The more connections you have, the more that your brand and music will grow and be recognized by others. 

Another way you can find and reach your target audience is to create social media accounts and post regularly.

Choose social media platforms that best fit you and start uploading your music or even post some progress of your music career. You can even follow your favorite artists and like or share their posts. Make sure that your social media accounts are polished and optimized so that people can search for you, and make sure to be consistent with your posts. You can start by publishing at least 3 posts a week. SongMe is a great place to start building your audience!

3. Choose your equipment 

So, you have your genre and your target audience. The next step is to choose your equipment. Each artist has different needs for instruments and equipment based on necessity and budget. Here are some of the things from Wired that you may need to get started: 

• Computer/Laptop

• Digital recording software 

• Microphone and smartphone microphone

• Audio interference

• Headphones

• Practice amp 

• MIDI keyboard

• Fender Guitar or Bass 

• Drums

4. Improve your music 

Now that you have your equipment, you can begin playing your music. I must warn you though that music takes time to master. You can’t be a professional musician overnight, but with many days and years of practice, you can improve your music and become a better artist. 

You need to pick a time when to practice your music. It can be difficult if you have a busy schedule, but practicing your music should not take you too long. According to an article on Indeed, musicians should practice “at least 45 minutes each day.” This will help you know what you need to improve. You should also challenge yourself and try new music to build your knowledge and confidence in playing music. You can also ask people whom you know, such as your friends, family, and teachers, for feedback on your music so that you can know where you’re at as a musician. 

How to promote your music

Now that you chose your genre, your target audience, and your equipment, and improved as an independent artist, it is time to promote your music. This may be the most exciting and terrifying part of an independent artist’s career. You may be wondering what you should do first and whether you should stay independent or sign with an independent or major record label. Here are some things you should do to promote your music to your fans: 

Build your online presence 

Remember when I said about creating social media accounts for your target audience? You need them for building your online presence as a musician.

Your music can’t just grow legs and meet people. You need to introduce your music to people so they can listen to it and follow you. 

Before you begin posting your music on social media, you need to find which social media platform is right for you. TikTok is a great social media platform for posting music. Because TikTok centers around music and musical trends, most TikTok users find new artists and music on the platform. By implementing the right hashtags and trends, you can see the number of likes, views, favorites, and shares go up as your music becomes viral. For a more in-depth guide on TikTok, check out our other blog post on The Musician’s Guide to TikTok. Or to learn more about how to promote music on TikTok, read this blog from Ditto Music.

Instagram is another popular social media platform for musicians. With Instagram, you can post videos or reels of your music and add photos of yourself and your brand. You can even post updates about your music career and upcoming concerts and tours. To learn more about how to use Instagram for your music, read this guide from Last Minute Musicians about how to promote your music on Instagram.

Other social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, can also help you become popular and grow your music brand. Just make sure to use the right platforms that fit your brand and the demographics of your fans. 

Release your music on streaming services 

Streaming services have helped new and independent artists shine in the music industry as it becomes easier to share music with fans.

To post your songs on streaming services, you need to “sign up to artists services.” Artists services, such as Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, and Amazon Music for Artists, help musicians upload their songs and playlists for listeners and see the statistics of their listeners and followers.

What’s great about artists' services is that you can get paid for the music that you release and set up merchandise for your brand. Explore each artists service and discover the benefits of using streaming services for your music.

Be involved in the media 

Another huge part of promoting your music is being involved in the media. Good press of your music boosts the visibility of your brand and helps you gain new fans. As an independent artist, it can be tricky to get in touch with presses, such as music newspapers and magazines, but once you gain some popularity, you need to be involved in the media to grow in your music career. 

To learn about how to be involved in the media, read this blog on how to get press coverage without a publicist or PR.

How to make money as an independent artist 

You followed the tips of being an independent artist and learned how to promote your music. You may be wondering how you can make money by playing music.

Here are some ways to make money from your music:

Live music and tip jars 

Playing music live is a great way to show off your work, gather fans, and make money. You can receive a lot of money from ticket sales and merchandise, but you can also get extra cash from fans directly through tips. You can create a simple tip jar, and put it in a place that is likely to be seen, like on a stool or chair next to you while you’re performing or on the table with merch sales. This puts it right in your audience's line of sight and makes it easier for them to drop a tip-in while you're playing. We compiled seven easy-to-follow ways to increase your tips at every show and maximize the money you make as a live performing musician which you can read here.

Although physical tip jars can help you get extra cash, not all people carry cash and if your audience skews younger, that’s an even truer statement. There is a ton of compelling data to suggest that your tip jar should be digital at this point. In fact, 58% of consumers plan to stop using cash completely after Covid-19. The vast majority don't want to use cash - regardless of what the expense is. That includes nearly 60% of people who prefer to use debit or credit. If the majority of people would rather tap their card or phone to pay, it only makes sense that you as a musician tap into that for your tips and include a virtual tip jar at your performances.

A virtual tip jar allows your fans to donate money with the touch of a button, no matter where they are in the world. If it's an in-person performance, your fans no longer have to leave their seats or table. And who doesn't like to be lazy? It is also easier to organize than a physical tip jar as all the money is in one place and no cash gets lost while you move out and into the stage. There are several virtual tip jars online, and you may wonder which one to pick. 

What are your options?

I'm sure you know about Venmo and Paypal - and while they are tip solutions, they weren't built for musicians. For an artist, they are too transactional. It's more than just receiving some cash. You need something that builds a relationship.

That's where SongMe comes in. 

SongMe is the perfect virtual tip jar for musicians to receive money from fans. With SongMe you can track how much money you are making in tips and see which songs or performances are generating the most tips.

Great for those who want to nerd out on the data. You can promote your music, interact with fans during your show, and get extra support as well. It's a free online tool/app for musicians, music fans, and venues. The best thing about SongMe is that musicians get 100% of the tips, so you can keep all the money earned. Want to start as an independent artist? Download the SongMe app on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to kickstart your independent artist career! 

Maintaining the rights to your own music is something that music’s biggest stars second guess, and for small-time musicians, it is hard to know the right time to make this choice. 

Choosing to stay independent means staying your own boss, and never having to worry about someone else having control over your music.

Guaranteeing the rights to your own music is important, especially when first starting out as a musician. 

For a musician, one of the biggest decisions that you need to make is whether or not you sign a contract with a record label. 

This choice is complex since both options offer different upsides and downsides.

At SongMe we are here to help you with these kinds of career questions, whether it comes to promoting yourself on our app, or if you are seeking fresh advice!

Choosing to sign a record deal or not can affect a musician financially, as well as creatively. Here are some of the benefits of signing a deal with a record company. 

The benefits of signing a record deal

1. Resources 

One of the hardest things about starting out as a new artist is figuring out what you need to become a career musician.

Signing with a record label ensures that anything you might need to produce or release music is already available.

Whether it be equipment or management, it's hard being new in the music industry, and working with a label can give you a leg up. However, with so many online tools and spaces where musicians can collaborate, like SongMe, where you can gain and share your music, and wisdom. Perhaps access to resources like this is becoming less and less unique to signing with a record label. 

2. Networking 

Building a network of people in the music industry can take years for a new musician, but signing with a record label can help speed up that process.

Record labels have worked with countless artists, producers, writers, directors, and other music industry experts. 

With social media, however, artists can connect with fans without needing a record label to facilitate that relationship. SongMe is a great example of a new approach to networking with fans, and it does not require a record label, only a download in the AppStore!

3. Reputation 

Being an up-and-coming musician can feel intimidating, and creating a space for yourself to grow as an artist can be extremely challenging.

Singing with a record label can give you a certain legitimacy as an artist which can be difficult to build. However, this seems to be becoming less and less crucial, as more and more artists are choosing to remain independent, in order to have more control over their music and their career. 

Some people believe that having a record label is a make or break when it comes to having a career as a musician, but the advent of social media, and apps like SongMe, make it possible for musicians and their fans to connect without the middleman of a record company.

Check out SongMe in the App Store, and see how you can maximize your new network! 

Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out these free NYC concerts, coming up this fall. These events are the perfect way to bring some excitement to your weekend. 

Sept 9: Michael Olatuja and Lagos Pepper Soup at Times Square (Carnegie Hall CityWide)

As part of the Carnegie Hall Citywide concert series, performer-composer Michael Olatuja will be performing selections from his latest album Lagos Pepper Soup accompanied by a full band in Times Square Friday, September 9 starting at 7 PM. This free concert is just one of many being held by Carnegie Hall in collaboration with local community organizations through the end of September. Don’t miss out on a night of funk, jazz, and Afrobeats in the heart of NYC!

September 10th: Mary Lamont Band at Cornelia Avenue and Chester Avenue (in Wolfe's Pond Park), Staten Island

Come see MaryLamont and her band play country classics in Staten Island on September 10th. They will be playing original music, as well as classic country. Head to Staten Island for a night full of dancing, singing, and awesome country vibes. 

Sep 10: Sybarite5 at Governors Island (Rite of Summer Music Festival)

Head on over to NYC’s music festival hotspot, Governors Island, and check out an afternoon performance by Sybarite5 on September 10 at 1 PM or 3 PM at Nolan Park Lawn. Sybarite5’s September 10th performances close out the Rite of Summer Music Festival’s 11th season. The festival aims to increase access to contemporary classical music by providing free outdoor concerts throughout the summer. Sybarite5 will be performing selections from their recent #1 album that is sure to get audiences of all ages excited about traditional and classical music!

September 26th: Skip Marley at at Rumsey Playfield (in Central Park), Manhattan

Skip Marley, jamaican singer songwriter, and grandson of Bob Marley, will be in New York City performing! This concert is free and open to the public as a part of Marley’s ongoing Change Tour. Skip will be joined by DJ Norie, Mannywellz, and Marzz. Check out his amazing set in Central Park. 

Ginormous events like Coachella have become a social media phenomenon, but you don’t need to travel to the desert to hear amazing music.

Big festivals are notorious for huge crowds, short concerts, and big ticket prices, but there are hundreds of small local music festivals taking place across the country, which have incredible perks that you can’t find at a big festival.

Here are some top tips from music lovers, who flock to small festivals for the incredible music as well as the amazing experiences. 

1. Less Travel 

   There are tons of local festivals happening around the world every year. Rather than traveling across the country, check out a small festival near you!

   There are compiled lists of these events, as well as tools that you can use to find festivals near you, and SongMe is also a great place to find where your favorite indie musicians are performing. Less travel means easier transportation, as well as no hotel cost. 

2. More Intimate Crowds

   Giant festivals can sell hundreds of thousands of tickets, which means MASSIVE crowds at concerts.

   Smaller festivals means smaller crowds, and a more exclusive vibe at the performance.

   This means being closer to your favorite artist, and less people blocking your view! 

3. Low Ticket Price 

   Huge commercial festivals can cost you thousands of dollars.

   Going to a smaller, cheaper, festival is one of the best ways to save money on the experience! 

4. Discover New Artists

   Mainstream festivals usually include a mainstream lineup, but going to a small festival means more lesser-known artists to discover.

   Traveling to a huge festival for your favorite pop-star is an extremely expensive and time-consuming experience, while a small event nearby is new and exciting! 

5. Meet New People 

   Big festivals with thousands of people can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you are attending alone. The intimacy of a smaller festival makes it possible to meet new people, and create lifelong friendships. Meet someone new, and have the best weekend ever, at a local indie festival! 

6. Perfect Option for Families! 

   With claustrophobic crowds, high ticket prices, and expensive food, massive festivals are pretty much totally off the table for families.

   Smaller, local events, however, can be a great weekend activity for parents with kids. Delicious local food, and more controlled crowds, make small festivals the perfect summer activity for any group. 

Let us know in the comments what your favorite small festival is and why!

We at SongMe are incredibly passionate about promoting less popular indie musicians and festivals so that we can contribute to their success as best as possible.

Check out our app for local music listings nearby of amazing independent artists who absolutely deserve your attention.

Popular DJs such as David Guerra, Martin Garrix and Calvin Harris have a great reputation for DJing as they play popular music at clubs, parties, music festivals and concerts. 

What’s even better is that today’s technology and social media have pushed DJs to post their music on music platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Pandora and Apple Music.

Now, fans can listen to their favorite music from DJs on their computers and smartphones. 

Although DJs are extremely popular today, their existence goes back to the 1930s. That’s right! DJs have existed for almost 100 years, doing what DJs are doing today: playing recorded music for the audience to enjoy.

Of course, the early DJs did not have the same technology as we do now. Back then, there was no internet or social media for people to listen to music. For people to listen to music, they would buy phonograph records to listen to at home or tune in to radio stations with music playing.  

Despite limited technology, people found ways to share music with the public. As the radio gained popularity in the United States during the 1930s, the first disc jockey arrived and changed the music industry forever. 

Early Roots of DJ-ing: The First Disc Jockeys 

Martin Block

The 1930s was a grand time for radio. Many radio broadcasts were made, and personalities such as radio columnist and journalist Walter Winchell grew in popularity in the U.S. At the time, television was not popular, so the only way people could find entertaining shows was by listening to the radio. 

Recorded music did not exist on radio until 1934 when a man named Martin Block, a native of Los Angeles, broadcasted a show at a New York station, where he played recorded music during the trial of kidnapper Bruno Richard Hauptmann. 

Block was a junior assistant at KFWB in Los Angeles, where he worked with disc jockey Al Jarvis to create a show called Make Believe Ballroom. Afterward, Block moved to New York in 1934 to play recorded music on a show at a radio station named WNEW. Listeners tuned in to WNEW and heard music playing during the Hauptmann trial, thinking that the music was coming from a live dance band in a ballroom.

Block named the show Make Believe Ballroom based on Al Jarvis’ show in Los Angeles. The show became so popular that in 1935, Winchell described Block as the first “disc jockey,” also known as a DJ. 

Jimmy Savile

Later, other DJs began playing music in places, including dance halls. Born in Leeds, England, in 1926, Jimmy Savile played records in local dance halls, including one in Manchester.

He was the first DJ to use twin turntables in 1947 after working in a coal mine during World War II. He then became a broadcaster at Radio Luxembourg and was the first host of Tops of the Pops in 1964. 

Savile was loved by many in the UK until after his death in 2011 when allegations of sexual abuse destroyed his reputation as a DJ, charity donor, and broadcaster.

According to an article from the Guardian, investigators believed that Savile “preyed on around 500 vulnerable victims as young as two years old at institutions including the BBC's broadcasting studios, 14 hospitals and 20 children's hospitals across England.” Savile abused his victims during his DJ and broadcasting career, including in 1955 when he abused a victim in Manchester where he managed the dance hall. 

The public was shocked by the allegations that Savile’s headstone was removed from his grave due to family concerns. Although Savile’s reputation as a DJ was tarnished, other DJs grew popular around his time, beginning in the 1950s. 

The Beginning of Turntables, Disco and Hip-Hop: DJs in the 50s, 60s and 70s 

As classic DJs had come and gone, the 1950s rolled in. Television became a hit, competing with radio for commercial and entertainment purposes.

Famous musicians and singers such as Elvis Presley rocked the nation, and rock and roll, jazz and blues became the dominant genres of music during the period. Although the genres were popular at the time, DJs continued to grow and create new methods for future DJs to use during their careers. 

Bob Casey and Francis Grasso

Bob Casey, a U.S. armed forces DJ in Vietnam and sound engineer, was the “early pioneer on the New York disco scene”. He played music with two turntables at a sock hop in 1958 and became the first DJ to use a double-decked audio system, which is now common in modern DJ audio equipment. 

According to a 1999 interview from DJ History, Casey ran his first dance during his freshman year of high school in 1957. He said that he “wanted to have more music” by transitioning from song to song and talking over the music.

Casey later returned to the U.S. from Vietnam and played at a club in Fire Island, New York, in 1970. He saw famous DJs playing in clubs including Francis Grasso, who was the first DJ to use a technique of mixing records by matching their rhythms, also known as “beatmatching.” 

Grasso had a talent for music at a young age. His DJ career began in 1968 when he played music at Salvation II, a Central Park club in New York City where he filled in for an absent house DJ. After playing with the turntables at the club, Grasso became a DJ who played extended songs that would quickly change to the next song. 

Kool Herc

As the 1950s and 60s passed and the 1970s came, disco and hip-hop began to rise. Black American music became widespread and shaped the hip-hop and rap industry for years to come. One man who introduced hip-hop was none other than DJ Kool Herc, also known as the “Father of hip-hop”. Herc grew up in Jamaica and moved to the Bronx in New York in the early 1970s, where he ran dance parties at his family’s apartment complex. He was inspired by Jamaican “toasting” (a form of rapping or lyrical chanting) and funk and soul music. 

Herc extended songs by playing two records on dual turntables. According to TeachRock, he “cued the other record back to the beginning of the break, turning a snippet of a record into an extended loop.”

Herc called the technique “breakbeat” and during breakbeats, he would have a group of dancers called b-boys and b-girls (short for “break boys” and “break girls”) breakdancing while rapper Coke LA Rock sings. 

DJ Kool Herc inspired new DJs including Grandmaster Flash and Grand Wizard Theodore, who came up with new DJ techniques such as “scratching” and “cutting.” 

Grand Wizard Theodore and Grandmaster Flash 

Grand Wizard Theodore was the first DJ to use the “scratching” technique and the needle drop. Born Theodore Livingston, he lived in the Bronx with his brothers Gene and Claudio, also known as the hip-hop duo L-Brothers. The L-Brothers collaborated with DJ Grandmaster Flash, who was interested in Theodore’s musical talents. 

In 1977, Theodore discovered something truly amazing. He had the record player volume up in his bedroom until his mother barged into his room, scolding him for playing his music too loud. When Theodore stopped the music to listen to his mother, he accidentally moved the record back and forth repeatedly, thus creating the “scratching” technique. 

Theodore’s scratching and needle drop techniques were so influential in DJing that Grandmaster Flash picked them up and used them while playing music, along with his other technique “cutting.” 

After Theodore joined the hip-hop group Grand Wizard Theodore and the Fantastic 5, he and the group released their single “Can I Get a Soul Clap” in 1980 and appeared in the hip-hop film Wild Style in 1983. 

The Age of Hip-Hop and Techno: DJs in the 1980s and 90s. 

Although disco lost its spark in the 1980s, hip-hop and techno became dominant genres of DJing during the decade.

Hip-hop DJs, such as Kool Herc, Grand Wizard Theodore, and Grandmaster Flash, had inspired future DJs to add scratching, cutting and mixing into their works while adapting to new technology.

Afrika Bambaataa from the Bronx shook the hip-hop world by releasing “Planet Rock,” a song that was made by mixing hip-hop and techno-pop futurism. 

Afrika Bambaataa

Lance Taylor, A.K.A. Afrika Bambaataa, was inspired by his mother’s record collection and was a member of the street gang Black Spades. He began his DJ career in 1977 by “organizing block parties and breakdancing competitions around the Bronx.”

Inspired by German band Kraftwerk, Bambaataa released “Planet Rock” in 1982 and entered the spotlight in hip-hop culture. He became popular again when he released his record debut “Zulu Nation Throwdown” and was credited as the “Godfather” and “Amen Ra of Hip Hop Kulture.” 

Bambaataa formed the Universal Zulu Nation with the purpose to attract street gang members to become Afrocentric musicians. He teamed up with artists such as James Brown to create “Unity” and John Lydon with “World Destruction.” 

Frankie Knuckles

Frankie Knuckles was also an influential DJ in the 1980s and even the 90s when hip-hop and techno were still strong. Knuckles created a new genre called Chicago house, which was named after his nightclub Warehouse in Chicago. He learned DJing in New York in the early 1970s with his childhood friend Larry Levan, who was a DJ at Paradise Garage in New York from 1977 to 1987. 

After moving to Chicago in the late 70s, Knuckles played in clubs including the Warehouse and the Power Plant, where he would “extend mixes of soul and R&B records and turn them into dance tracks,” while creating beats from drum machines.

Knuckles would also mix records from famous artists including Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Depeche Mode, and released his singles including “Your Love” in 1986 and “Baby Wants to Ride” in 1987, which were sung by Chicago artist Jamie Principle. In 1991, he released his debut album “Beyond the Mix,” which contains singles such as “The Whistle Song,” “Rainfalls,” and “Workout.”

Not only was Knuckles the “godfather” of house music, but he was also openly gay. His club Warehouse was opened for black gay men, and he released an album titled “Out There: 2001 Mardi Gras Sydney Gay & Lesbian.” He was loved by his fans who were part of the LGBTQ+ community and was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1996. His life was sadly cut short as he died on March 31, 2014, at age 53. 

Into the 21st Century: DJs from 2000s to Now

The rapid development of digital technology has made DJing easier with the invention of the MP3 player and the “Final Scratch” in 1998.

As the internet gained popularity and expanded through the 2000s, vinyl emulation softwares such as Serato Scratch Live and Traktor have made it easier for DJs to mix digital music in vinyls. 

Female DJs also began to rise in the 2000s. At first, many people thought that DJing was a male-dominated industry, but women, especially in Europe, have been mixing music in festivals and clubs. Popular female DJs including tINI, Nicole Moudaber and Peggy Gou have changed the DJ industry by bringing women in to become professional artists.

Nastia is one of the most popular female DJs who toured in many countries around the world, playing in clubs and festivals. Born in Ukraine, she began DJing in 2005 and played mostly techno and house music. She now has thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook and her music is available on SoundCloud. 

Anja Schneider is also a famous DJ. Born in Germany, Schneider plays techno and electronic music in clubs and festivals including Pacha Ibiza and the Amsterdam Dance Event music festival. She is also a radio broadcaster as she appeared on a program on Fritz Radio called “Dance Under the Blue Moon” and held the show “Club Room” on Radio Eins. She is also the founder of record label company Mobilee Records which “has signed dozens of musicians such as Maya Jane Coles, Pan-Pot, Rodriguez Jr., Audiofly, and Kevin Yost.” Her music is available on SoundCloud, Spotify, and YouTube. 

The rapid development of digital technology has made DJing easier. SongMe is here to support new up and coming DJs as well as the seasoned veteran DJs!

We strive to provide technology that helps performers engage with fans in new and innovative ways while helping those same performers increase their income potential and career growth! Check out our app on the google and apple stores to start engaging your fans in a completely new way and to take your career to the next level!

SickKick, one of the artists that we have been covering this week, has been making waves at concerts and festivals this summer. As a guest at Tomorrowland, and with a show almost every night in the month of August, it’s clear that SickKick’s fans are ready to see him at an in-person performance. 

Set to perform at the extremely well-known electronic music festival, Tomorrowland, in Belgium, it seems that SickKick has made it! SickKick is one of many popular artists right now who got their start on TikTok. Specializing in remixes, SickKick has really taken off this summer. With almost 30 million likes and 4.8 million followers on TikTok, it’s clear that SickKick is the next big DJ act. 

It will be interesting to see if he chooses to remove his mask, as he continues to grow in popularity, or if fame will make him even more inclined to perform anonymously. Some of SickKick’s other upcoming shows include a concert in Atlantic City, as well as a show at Webster Hall in New York City. Tickets range in price starting at $25, making it clear that the best time to see this up-and-coming artist is as soon as possible. 

SongMe is a great way to find concerts near you, and a great way to discover new artists. Musicians can post their events on the app, and their venue is immediately available on the map, showing all nearby shows. Once posted, fans can find shows easily on their end, making SongMe the perfect app for live music fans.

Her avant-garde style of pop brought her to the forefront of British pop in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. Since the 90’s however, Bush has released music much more sporadically, keeping her obscured from the public eye.

This past month – July, 2022 – more than four decades after the release of her debut album “The Kick Inside,” Bush is once again topping the charts.

All thanks to the highly anticipated release of the fourth season of Netflix’s hit TV series “Stranger Things”. Bush’s 1986 anthem “Running Up That Hill” was featured in multiple episodes of the newly released season of “Stranger Things,” subsequently causing the track to go viral on TikTok. Currently, the song has been used for 2.6 million TikTok videos – and counting! The song’s newly found position as a cultural zeitgeist has brought Kate Bush back to the forefront of mainstream media and has introduced the singer to a whole new generation of listeners.

Yet, the current Kate Bush renaissance does not mean her impact, icon, and influence have been dead since her stardom in the 1980’s. How has her mainstream reclamation erased her status as a cultural cornerstone for the queer community?

Kate Bush cemented her position as a pioneering ally for the queer community when she performed the song “Wow” from her second studio album “Lionheart” on the BBC in 1979.

The song is clearly about gay love with lyrics such as “He’ll never… Be that movie queen / He’s too busy hitting the Vaseline”. While the song as direct references to sex, it is clear that Bush is not stigmatizing gay sex but rather celebrating queer love. She sings, “We think you are really cool / We’d give you a part, my love”. To have delivered such a message on the BBC – which was rather conservative at the time – broadcast to millions of UK citizens at a time when there existed extreme prejudice against queer people, it was revolutionary. Moreover, Bush was only 20 years old at the time of the performance. Bush’s performance was a call to action for a rejection of the outdated beliefs of older generations and for acceptance of the queer community.

Since then, Kate Bush has maintained her position as an icon in queer culture – especially for queer women. Bush’s 1979 song “Kashka from Baghdad” – also featured on her sophomore album “Lionheart” – tells the story of a woman observing and admiring the relationship of two men. With lyrics like “At night they’re seen / Laughing, loving / They know the way / To be happy,” Bush not only displays acceptance of queer love, but also goes beyond tolerance to embrace queerness and promote the idea of living openly to her generation of queer youth. Songs from her subsequent albums have also featured themes of sexual fluidity and criticism of gender norms. For example, she challenged gender norms by appearing in a red dress in the video for “Wuthering Heights” (1978) while later donning armor-esque chain mail for the “Babooshka” video (1980).

Bush became a voice for a generation of teenagers like herself that were no longer complying to the traditional values surrounding gender and sexuality. Because she is so avant-garde and rule-breaking, she didn’t seem to fit into any typical characterization of pop music in the 1980s. Thus, her image, music, and icon became timeless.

Credit: KateBushMusic on YouTube

Kate Bush’s outsider status, which was created by her observational songs such as “Kashka from Baghdad” and her eccentric public image, prompted members of the queer community to relate to her. The “otherness” that many queer people did – and still do today – relate to positioned Bush as a voice for all outsiders.

The current renaissance of Kate Bush’s early music – ushered in by her featured song in “Stranger Things” – has certain implications for her status as a queer icon. Firstly, some Bush fans have criticized “Stranger Things” for using “Running Up That Hill” since it is considered her most tame and mainstream song. They believe that, in this way, the “Stranger Things” production team is watering Bush down and omitting her connection to queer culture in order to make her more palatable to a mainstream audience. Secondly, “Stranger Things” often features references to 80’s clichés such as Max’s Walkman and the characters’ costumes. Thus, the series’ inclusion of “Running Up That Hill” seems to write Bush’s music off as stuck in the 80’s, or even as a caricature of 80’s culture.

In stranger things, Bush’s hit song saves Max from being killed by Vecna – this season’s antagonist. So, is “Stranger Things” therefore hinting at Bush’s position as a voice for the voiceless, a savior for outsiders?

Whatever you may think, it has become abundantly clear through Bush’s sudden and prevalent resurgence that “Running Up That Hill’s” presence in the series has been a great introduction the her music and icon for today’s generation – particularly for new generations of queer teens.

Credit: express.co.u

You’ve always wanted to be a singer, but where do you start? I've been there, and know it can seem daunting, which is why I've studied how most singers start their careers. Below are my findings.

Most singers begin their careers by performing publicly in local organizations, such as a music program at their school or as part of a church. Additionally, singers supplement this live experience with coaching and training.

For anyone that's dreamed of becoming a singing deity but struggles with the approach, this article is for you. There are three steps you can take today to jumpstart your singing career. Let's dive in.

3 Ways Singers Start Their Careers

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are around 21,000 job openings for singers (and musicians) every year, and this is projected to grow 11% every year, through 2030.

That's definitely a positive for anyone starting their singing career, but just because there's room to get paying position, doesn't mean it will be easy to do so.

It takes complete dedication; a lifetime of training that starts early, experimenting with styles, and countless public performances.

1. Practice and Build Vocal Skills

Some people with a natural ability to sing may take their talents can sometimes be taken for granted. However, for those of us who are not naturally gifted with vocal cords of gold, we have to work a little bit harder to be talented singers.

Within reason, all skill levels of singing can improve with training, even those with innate abilities will see improvement to their already stellar skills.

1a. The Best Singers Still Train Their Voices

Like any craft, singers dedicated to their trade continuously practice and build their skills to retain and improve. Think of a singer that you admire who has been in the business for years, and is respected for their voice.

They say practice makes perfect. And a perfect voice is what they possess. I'm confident they didn't get to where they are without years of practice, and their dedication has paid off in a big way.

For me, Morrissey is someone that comes to mind. He's been at it for decades now, and even when I saw him in 2017, his voice sounded amazing. Like he and his voice hadn't aged a day.

In a documentary about The Smiths, it's confirmed that Morrissey received vocal training as he was entering the trade.

Practicing each day leads to a good work ethic. A good work ethic increases the longevity of your voice, and in turn, your career.

And what might start as a grind will ultimately become a hard-wired behavior.

The singer and jazz musician Louis Armstrong stated, “If I don’t practice for a day, I know it. If I don’t practice for two days, the critics know it. And if I don’t practice for three days, the public knows it.”

It was true then, and even more true today thanks to the speed and accessibility of information.

1b. Exercise Your Voice

Most career vocalists work on their skills by performing different sets of exercises. Each day, do warmups that include breathing, octave jumps, enunciation, and humming exercises.

Then, focus on the skills that you want to perfect.

If you're wondering how much time to put into this, book a half-hour a day to exercise your voice. According to the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, singers practice around a minimum of 30 minutes each day. 

1c. Get A Mentor

Singing is an art that takes plenty of practice and patience to hone. For most professional singers, having a vocal coach is part of the routine to make sure their singing skills are up to par. 

Working with a vocal coach can encompass a lot of things. From fine-tuning techniques to practicing different genres of music, there's always something new to learn. For many singers, working with a vocal coach is an essential part of staying sharp and keeping their voice in top condition.

Vocal coaches can help you differentiate pitches, find the right tone, read music, and correct mistakes. However, it is not necessary to hire a coach.

You can work on these skills independently by recording yourself and critiquing your sound - listening to the playback of your voice and researching music theory and technique, etc.

1d. Pursue Education

For anyone pursuing singing or music as a career, there's a high correlation between education and being employed in the music industry. A bachelor of arts is typically the prerequisite for employment in both fields.

While this data may be skewed more towards employment for educating others in singing, the broader point is that education and training are important elements of succeeding and getting your start as a singer.

If you're thinking about getting a collegiate degree in singing, here's a handy tool that will show you which universities in your region have singing programs, the time it takes to complete that degree, and the number of graduates annually from the program.

1e. Alternative Education

I know university is expensive (even with loan forgiveness in play), so if that's not an option or just not something you want to get into, don't stop educating yourself as a result.

There are endless resources to continue to improve your talent, and some are incredibly valuable. Look into free options, like YouTube or Facebook. Dig into subreddits for singers or aspiring singers, just to name a few.

At a low cost, let's say a maximum of $100, you can explore resources like Udemy, websites dedicated to singing like Yousician, or find online info products from independent coaches. This type of resource acts as a course like you might experience in college but without years of debt.

And across both free and paid options, there is a never-ending amount of apps for mobile or tablet that you can install and practice through.

2. Find Your Style; Match Your Skill and Interest

After you've got some training under your belt, you will most likely have an idea of your strengths and limitations as a singer. Now is the time to start thinking about what type of music you want to sing.

What type of music ignites your passion? What type of music gets you excited? What type of music makes you feel alive?

These are the questions you should be asking yourself as you start thinking about the type of music you want to sing.

2a. Lead With Your Passion

It's important that find a style of music that you're passionate about and one where your voice will shine. Don't let strengths alone drive your choice - if you do, it's a recipe for burnout. And will quickly lead to dreading what was once your passion.

Singers that shine are not only strong in their style, but they also have a deep love for their style. This love fuels their performance and allows them to connect with their audience on a deeper level.

This connection is what sets them apart from other singers and allows them to shine brightly on stage.

And those that despise it, well, you've never heard of them because they never made it as a singer.

2b. Find Your Range - Style and Vocal Range

This isn't a formula - more so an experiment by trial and error. Exploring music - stuff you already like, but even venturing into new genres - is a great way to start the process.

Listen to anything and everything you can get your hands on. Go to your local record shop and talk to the crew there. Ask them what they're listening too - what's something they heard recently that's off the beaten path.

You'll find new, strange, and sometimes wonderful paths to explore.

You might find that your skills are best for operatic conditions and that you actually dig it. Or, you might find that opera is great for your skillset. However, you may dislike opera.

That's fantastic insight.

You might explore operatic ballads in a genre you like, such as rock. Meatloaf, Queen, My Chemical Romance, Roy Orbison, and many other groups have structured legendary careers around combining operatic music in a non-operatic genre.

Most singers begin their voice journey by challenging themselves to learn different songs from other genres and deciphering the limitations of their skills. Studying new styles of music and figuring out your floor and ceiling will add to your music skills more quickly.

2b. Develop a Unique Style

In the most beautiful way possible, exploring the range of your style interests and the limitations of your talent can meld into a style that's uniquely yours.

Think about a singer you like. What is it about his or her singing style that you enjoy? Is it the unique way they annunciate lyrics? The passion and gusto with which they belt? Or maybe it's the way they shift pitch for emphasis?

For me, I'd default to Bowie. Style is a challenge here because he never stopped exploring new styles. But let's think of the Ziggy Stardust era. And try to set aside the visual theatrics of this era.

Bowie's singing style at this time was incredibly rich - full-bodied like a great cup of coffee. The vibrato was heavier than heavy, and holy hell the gusto in his voice - just hearing it you can feel the dedication to every note and lyric.

But then there are also intentionally flat moments in his voice or unpredictably fast movements in pitch. Starman is a great track for reference.

This creates a simultaneous contrast to emphasize the moments of gusto and creates an appreciation for moments where it matters.

Ziggy-era Bowie has all the makings of operatic rock with the fingerprint of unexpected aural range.

I'd also point out that Bowie is someone who never stopped working on his voice even getting a vocal coach in the 1970s - throughout his legendary 40+ year career.

Being able to sing in a unique style is a great asset for developing a personal brand. By having a signature sound, you can make yourself stand out from other singers and attract fans who appreciate your originality.

So if you're looking to create a lasting impression, don't be afraid to experiment with your vocal style and find what makes you truly shine. It immediately makes you more marketable and attractive to fans, venues, and record labels.

2c. Plan For The Future

You've found the genre you like. You've found your range. And you may have discovered a style of your own. So what now? Where do you go from here? It's time to think about your future.

Don't write in stone, because a poor plan is one that can't be altered.

As a singer, think of this plan as more of a North Star to what you value. Use them as guidelines to help you stay on course during your journey. By living and performing according to what you value most, you'll find greater meaning in your work and more fulfillment in your career.

Do you like the technical arrangements of singing? Do you enjoy performing live and seeing the audience react? The outcome of saying yes or no to each question could mean you want to be in a booth, or you only want to perform live, or you want to do both.

Do you want to be a lead singer of a band? Yes? Great, you'll want to find like-minded musicians that love similar styles and create music together. If you don't want the limelight, you can focus on different studio jobs, or become a backup singer.

These are just a few questions you could run through if you don't know where to start. And there are certainly more questions to explore, but this simple exercise can help you reverse-engineer how to get there.

This approach is probably more technical than what most singers do, but deep within their core, singers know their motivations for singing and what they love, but may not be able to clearly articulate them. Writing it out is a way to manifest the dream.

3. Getting Noticed

The hardest part of starting a career is getting noticed and finding opportunities, or at least that is what it might seem like from the outside. There are a ton of other capable singers competing with you, and going through a similar experience.

To cut through the clutter and get noticed quicker, the singers that go on to legend status find their tribe early on, practice in public whenever possible, and go all-in on their style and brand.

3a. Finding Your Tribe

Everyone has a genre of music they either love or hate. And within that genre, there are artists they adore or can't stand. And even within each artist's catalog, there are tracks that fans praise or skip over.

But even for tracks that aren't placed on a pedestal by fans, if an artist is adored by this group, the good will always outweigh the bad - so long as the artist is true to the tribe. And finding your tribe is easier today than ever before.

Whether it be Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok, or SoundCloud, social media has become the best way of getting noticed for a singer trying to get started. There's not a long history for social media comparison, but there are certainly notable figures who have gone this route.

A few examples of singers finding their audiences through social media include Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Olivia Rodrigo. Whether or not you enjoy their music is beside the point. These artists found their tribe online, and the rest was history.

However, regardless of era, the start of popularity and fandom has always started in a tight-knit community - jazz in speakeasies, Chopin playing in a salon in the 19th century, punk in UK clubs during the 1970s, etc.

They all had cult followings as the starting point.

Following this analogy, think of the social platform as your venue. The hashtag or organization technique of the social platform is the common interest of your tribe. And you, the singer, as the electricity that powers the tribe.

Wrap your effort and focus here, because this will inevitably become the hub of your superfans, and they are worth their weight in gold.

When you find others that love the same type of music as you, it becomes easier to connect and build a rapport. Your superfans are the people that will buy your merch, come to your shows, and talk about you when you're not around.

Essentially hyping you up and helping you get noticed far more quickly than any other method at your disposal. They can also give you feedback - the good and the bad on what's working and resonating, and what isn't.

This can only help you in continuing to develop your skills. Practice makes perfect, after all. And the more you hone your craft, the better you'll become.

3b. Perform In Front Of An Audience

If you want to improve your performance skills, you need to get in front of as many people as possible and take every opportunity that comes your way.

That means seeking out open mics, putting yourself on the bill for local shows, and really putting yourself out there. The more experience you have performing, the better you'll become at it.

Thankfully, going live online is the norm, and easy to do. TikTok is perfect for this, and the discovery algorithm lends itself to finding your tribe. The algorithm within the platform plays to your advantage of being discovered still, whereas other platforms, more mature online platforms, have decreased the effectiveness of discoverability.

Facebook and YouTube are also great options, purely from a reach point of view. And there are quite a few resources out there that can help you go live on multiple platforms at the same time.

Digital is one of the most accessible and low-investment ways to reach new audiences, plus you can go live whenever you want, at whatever frequency you like. Which gives you numerous opportunities to continuously improve in front of an audience.

I'm sure that singers of yesteryear would have loved this opportunity.

Going digital isn't the only way. You can go old-fashioned and hit the pavement, or take it back to the speakeasies and cultish following roots by performing in small venues. There's a charm to performing in smaller, more intimate settings that you can't get online.

It allows for a much more personal connection with your audience, not to say online doesn't have a one-to-one value as well, it's just a different kind.

If you're looking for an outlet for your singing talents, you might consider exploring local community organizations with open singing auditions.

These organizations are usually always looking for new talent to help perform at their various events throughout the year. So if you think you have what it takes, go out and explore your local community for opportunities to show off your singing skills.

Competitive singing experiences will help you in the long run. Allowing you to maintain the quality of performing under enormous pressure.

Even if you don't meet the criteria these places are looking for, auditioning and creating demos is a great experience for navigating the music industry.

And it's certainly a rite of passage that all singers have had to take at one point in their careers as a test of their vocal abilities. Showcasing vocal prowess is a challenge that many singers face during their career, so it's best to get battle-tested early.

Your music might be great, but if no one knows about it, or you don't get in front of people to receive feedback, you'll never get anywhere.

3c. Branding and Marketing Yourself

No matter where you are, online or offline, you have to learn how to market your singing career. There are a lot of different channels and strategies you can use to get yourself out there and start generating some buzz.

It can be overwhelming at first, but once you identify the platform that works best for you and your brand, and start putting yourself out there, you'll be on your way to a successful singing career in no time.

Start thinking about yourself and your music as a product - I know that might sound bad, but there needs to be an authentic shift that shows your dedication to your performance identity.

If you're not selling yourself, why should anyone else? The good news is that there are quite a few resources and advice out there on how to brand and market yourself as a musician.

Which is becoming increasingly important in the digital age, where we're all competing for attention against billions of other people and businesses.

Some of the basics include creating a strong social media presence, understanding SEO and using it to your advantage, and using creative marketing strategies to get your music in front of as many people as possible.

Using word of mouth, social media, or any channel you have access to gives you control over when to push your message and promote it, creating an increased chance at career opportunities ahead of others that don’t.

There's a lot to unpack when it comes to branding and marketing, but if you're serious about making it as a singer, you need to understand at least the basics. I would start here if you're looking for a beginning point for branding and marketing your singing career.

Singers use word of mouth, social media pages, and local news outlets to share their performances.

When performers (like you) promote themselves, it demonstrates your dedication to their craft. This tenacity often results in new opportunities arising, both within their field and beyond.

Education and networking are critical elements of self-promotion, and it is important for you to be mindful of the image they present to the public.

By taking control of your own career and marketing yourself effectively, singers can expand their reach and build a successful future in the music industry.

That's How You Pursue A Career in Singing

If you want to be a star, you may have to start small. That means being a backup singer or part of a chorus, either for free or for pocket money.

It's not the glamorous life of being a solo artist, but it's a foot in the door. And who knows? With enough talent and dedication, you could be the one out front belting out the tunes.

But you're not alone.

Countless megastars started in these roles, with a few being Cheryl Crow, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey.

They took a chance on themselves by building up their careers and started in these roles, which led to their success. 

Once you’ve established yourself as a singer and built up a resume of work, you can find yourself on the road to making decent money.

If you think you're up for the challenge, start with the steps outlined above. They will act as guidance on how you should pour the foundation of your singing career, based on how most singers break in.

The difference though, is the steps above provide strategic value in getting there quicker - focusing on gaps that others follow, and the opportunities they are leaving behind.

If you love the idea of singing as a career, and you're up for the challenge, then the next couple of sections will give you a good idea of the financial side of a singing career.

How Much Do Singers Earn Per Year?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, singers (and musicians) in the United States earn $60,000 annually, pre-tax. This works out to roughly $30.5 per hour. However, earnings fluctuate based on the location of the singer and microeconomic conditions.

The US is a large country, with a broad range of incomes and costs of living. This can make it difficult to know how much money you'll need to live comfortably in different parts of the country as a singer.

So before you let that $60k salary inspire or discourage you, you should sort through where you live and want to sing. This may have a tremendously different earning potential than the median salary for singers.

For example, in Atlanta, Georgia, singers make $35 per hour on average, which is pretty close the median hourly rate.

But compare that to average earnings for singers in other cities in the US, like Los Angeles, which is $46 per hour, or Northwestern Illinois at $23.5 per hour.

The only way to truly know what earning potential for singers in the US is to look at the average or median hourly pay by location.

Thankfully, that information is readily available from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics - just plug your zip code or state into the search box, and it will spit out potential pay ranges.

How Do Singers Make Money for Live Performances?

Performing live is one of the joys of a career singer as you can make money as a lead singer or backup vocalist at music gigs. And it's also the most profitable way to earn a living, while also being available to singers just starting their careers.

Ticket sales are probably where your mind first goes when thinking about monetizing live performances. Your demand will ultimately determine how much money your tickets can sell for. And if you're in a band, that will be split up, which is something to consider.

You can structure your ticket prices as either a flat fee or a percentage of the tickets sold.

While you may not be selling tickets to shows right away, ticket sales are the engine to fueling the most profitable way of monetizing a singing career, which is merchandising.

If you have a strong following, you can make serious money from merchandise sales.

Whenever I go to a live performance, I look at the artist’s merchandise. If I purchase a vinyl record, t-shirt, or stickers, I know the money will go directly to the musicians themselves.

Seriously consider going this route from the start, you can stand out, become more memorable, and earn more money earlier on. If you do explore merchandise, consider hiring a graphic designer to make unique designs for your merch.

While you can’t make a living off royalties at the start, and most likely ever, if you file your catalog, you could begin receiving performance royalties.

There's a lot more involved in earning from live performances, and if you want to get all the inside scoop, including three hacks to help you book more gigs and make more money per show, check out an article I recently wrote about how artists in the music industry make money.

The music biz these days is a bit of a double-edged sword for new musicians. While you no longer have to land a record deal to reach an audience and make a living, today's world of self-publishing and streaming creates a lot of competition and noise to beat out. So, if you don’t need a record deal to build a music career, how do new musicians make money with music? 

Performing is the primary way for new artists to earn a music-related income; playing small venues, private events, and broadly gigging. With 70% of independent artists earning less than $10,000 annually, most music industry newcomers supplement their music income with a non-music job.

There's nothing worse than having to sideline your passion for music, only to be forced to work a job to make ends meet. The only remedy is earning enough income from your passion, in order to be able to focus on it full-time. And that's what this article is all about - helping new artists earn more during live performances, so they can afford to focus on their music without financial constraints.

I'll walk you through three new ways to approach performing and provide you with clear steps on how to take action.

3 Live Performance Hacks For New Career Musicians

You most likely know that records no longer sell - they were replaced by streaming, but music streaming requires an insanely high volume of streams to see a livable wage (more on that in a bit.)

So by default, performing live immediately looks far more appealing as a method for earning an income - in fact, it's hands down the best way for a new artist to earn more. Don't take my word for it though, trust and follow the data.

A study of 5,000 musicians showed that the largest source of revenue for musicians came from performing. And it's not only the largest source but the largest by a significant margin.

This study was open-ended in terms of the experience of respondents, there was a wide range from newbies to those about to retire. For the sake of argument though, let's imagine this is a remarkable truth for all experience levels, including neophytes like yourself.

That is, performing is the primary path for new musicians to earn an income from music.

Great, so what now? I know what you're thinking, "This better not be one of those articles that tells me to book more shows and earn more money." It's not that, I pinky swear. Well, sort of.

I'm going to show you how to book more shows and earn more at those shows, BUT in a different way than you would normally go about it. Think of the following more as hacks to higher income as a musician.

1. How To Book More Dates

It's easy to think of venues you want to book - be it in town or even the world - but extremely difficult for a new artist to land them. What's even more difficult though, is the feeling you get from constantly waiting for venues to tell you when they need acts.

Being at the mercy of a venue's calendar, instead of your own is a drag.

You could certainly reverse engineer with venues if that's the direction you want to go, but what you're about to read focuses more on shifting your general approach to booking.

Putting you in the driver's seat, and having you dictate booking dates, rather than venues.

First and foremost, for this to work it requires you to think local and actively reach out. And if that makes you queezy, just think of how much you despise your second job that pays the bills - let that be your fuel.

Ready to proceed? Perfect.

1a. Local Church Festivals, Events, Gamedays

Yes, I said church. Pick your jaw up.

Playing a church festival doesn't mean you have to sing hymnals. I mean sure, if your set is an NC-17 rating, maybe skip the church festival circuit, but if you play at a bar or restaurant, this experience will include a similar crowd.

And maybe cut back on some songs with questionable language or strong innuendo.

Church festivals make for a perfect environment if you currently take live requests - here's what I mean.

In my small hometown, the twin pillars of civilization are football and the Catholic church. And every year, the Catholic church in town has a weekend festival that is the big event for the area, regardless of spiritual affiliations.

It has all the trappings of a carnival - games, rides, and of course funnel cakes. But it also has blackjack tables, beer by the keg, and most importantly, live music...

The doors open at 9 AM (as I said, it's a big deal back home), and wrap up around 11 PM. That's a wide window, especially since it lasts for three days - which means they need a lot of music.

Every year, the festival actively pursues acts to perform - which is great for growing your brand, and since they allow tips, it's prime real estate for artists of any skill level.

This isn't restricted to my hometown either - this happens in nearly every town and city across the country.

Did you know there are over 20,000 catholic churches in the US? I did some research on 15 churches in my current area (not just Catholic) - and every single one had an annual festival with live music, from local bands.

The majority of these churches also held Friday-Sunday events in the summer, with the majority falling within a 12p-10p window. So I feel confident estimating that you, the reader, have a high chance of finding a similar situation in your area.

If this is something you might explore, here's a simple way to figure out the opportunities around you.

• Jump into Google Maps and search "church festival." If you don't get any hits, try searching "churches near me." This will quickly pull up locations within your vicinity.

• Scroll up and down on the results, looking at the comments. Google will most likely pull information from reviews that people have left about festivals at churches, which I find amusing.

• Once you have a confirmed target, click on the site. In some cases, you'll be pulled directly to a page about the festival, but if you aren't, look for a place on the site that says "events" or "calendar."

• From there, locate the contact information. Most of the time, the festival landing page will have at least a contact email or phone number. But at best there will be a form field or button for people wishing to be a part of the next festival. Bingo.

• If you hit a dead end when you get to the site, go to their Facebook page. Most of these organizations use Facebook as a way to recruit bands, and many church festivals even have a separate Facebook page dedicated to the 3-day event.

So, playing at a church wasn't in your vision, I get it. Remove the church part of this example if you like; this tactic works on so many levels for booking locally - gamedays, town festivals, parades, and more.

If you have any sort of minor league team nearby, they will love to hear from you, and are a perfect fit for an up-and-coming artist like yourself.

Minor league baseball or basketball teams have an insanely high amount of games per year. Plus, there is an expectation from fans that these teams not only play a sport in front of them but put on a show during downtimes.

Which means they are constantly hunting for new experiences.

Focus on where you and your neighbors regularly congregate, and odds are good that live music is part of the event. Fourth of July Parade, food festivals, Labor Day parties, local marathons, etc.

1b. Record Stores, Coffee Shops, Music-Centered Environments

Even though digital downloads have been the primary way people buy music for well over a decade, vinyl has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. The phrase "record store day" wasn't even coined until 2008, and it's grown exponentially since then.

Record stores are great for new artists because they first and foremost love music, and I've never been to a record shop that wouldn't do just about anything to help a local group.

That's why you'll find record stores frequently have small in-store performances to help promote an artist or a new album release.

This may not be a paying gig on all occasions, but the audience that goes in and out is comprised of audiophiles, presumably there to spend money, so if you or you and your band play for tips, there's no shame in that game in a record store.

And obviously, if you have a way to further monetize or connect - take advantage of this space and audience. Bring your merch, and bring cards with QR codes to your Instagram or TikTok. Hell, stream it live.

Coffee shops, breweries, and wine bars are other great examples of this - as they are always looking for local acts to perform since music helps set the tone and atmosphere of their businesses and industries.

The theme here is thinking about local places where music is part of the experience.

1c. Businesses Built For The Community

In my current city, I can easily name five businesses that are all about supporting the city and propping its citizens up. This isn't limited to my experience either, it's a human truth to want to be proud of where you are and help make it better, by helping those around you.

You want to seek out the less-than-obvious options - no community centers or government-related organizations. What you're after ultimately is a business that will be having, or regularly has reason to celebrate.

Here's the approach to take to inject your brand into the local business community.

• Head over to your local business-centric news Facebook page. or business publication. Because news, even at a local level, is so connected to their parent company's national news, it's going to be painful if you head to your local news website to find the right target. Oddly enough, local news is no fuss on Facebook.

• Scroll or search for announcements. No ordinary announcement will do, you want to look for headlines about a local business expanding its office space because it's growing, or has started construction on a new office building. And a prime candidates will be businesses that are celebrating milestone anniversaries. Once you find them, time to reach out.

• Contacting smaller organizations: If the business is smaller, you may be able to call or email to get in touch.

• Contacting larger organizations: If it's a larger organization, bite the bullet and head to LinkedIn - you'll want to find a contact in HR, internal public relations, or event management. If you can't find anyone in that capacity, you could seek out someone in their organization that holds the public relations position - since they were most likely responsible for getting the story picked up in the news in the first place. If they aren't responsible for planning the actual event, they will at least know who to put you in touch with.

• What you should say? This isn't as daunting as it might seem, but here's a quick script to start the convo: "Hi, I'm Kelly, and I saw your story in the Boise Cadette. I wanted to reach out and say congratulations. That's a real milestone, and I can appreciate it, as I'm starting my journey of building my business in music. Your achievement is definitely a cause for celebration, and I'm actively seeking out opportunities to perform at live events. I'd love to share some of my music with you, in the event that you all are celebrating this big moment and looking to spice it up with live music."

Milestones for local businesses that are newsworthy are often reasons to celebrate, and nine times out of ten, they are on the hunt for live music.

If it's not clear by now, you have to be proactive in your local community to make performing work hardest for you and your income. While you may be friends with local bands and musicians, you are all competing for the same audience and venues.

So shifting your performing strategy to include the not-so-obvious venues will help you reach your income goals, and quit that other job once and for all.

2. Livestreaming - From Local to Global

Thanks to the pandemic, a swelling of streaming gamers and everything under the sun, and a budding metaverse of virtual concerts, fans have more than warmed up to the idea of attending a livestream. And I won't take you through the nuances of how to live stream, that's been done too many times.

Instead, what I think is most valuable here for a new artist is building the live stream in reverse. So, what do you want to have to happen at the end of your show? Do you want 10,000 people live-streaming? Do you want $300 of tips after an hour-long set?

Well, in the spirit of getting you closer to full-time with your passion for music, I'll focus on the latter, which is a formula of listeners and engagement.

And while this may also seem extremely localized, as you continue your virtual gigs, your reach will move far beyond the confines of your location, because there are no geographical bounds to performing online.

For a new artist, your approach will need to rally around whatever strength you have in the engagement and reach department - and at a local level, here's what that could look like.

2a. Create Engagement Locally

Pick a streaming platform. Once you've landed on your platform of choice for streaming, you'll need to figure out what makes that platform click at a local level. In other words, how does your local community discover local content on that platform?

An appropriate example might be hashtags. Try to understand the trending hashtags at your local level in advance of your show.

What's hot on some platform in San Francisco is going to be different than what's popular in New York, and so on. You'll want to use this method to let the area know when you're playing and hit them with that message at frequency.

There's far more involved in hyping your community for a live-streamed show, but you get the gist.

Now comes the important part. Assuming you've got more of a local audience showing up to your stream, this is where you need to take your local knowledge and use it as ammunition for engaging your audience at the show.

Between songs, opening, closing, or even during songs, this is your time to shine on local knowledge. And I don't mean pointing out landmarks or anything like that.

Ask your audience where they're from - like what part of town level - hopefully, you know a bit about it, and can ask a question that shows you know or even crack a joke. Just something to really bring this to a one-to-one level with your listeners.

After all, that's the power of streaming music live.

The great part of this is there is very little prep needed because you live in an area that you know. And On the off-chance, you ask someone and they reply "Bulgaria" and you can barely find that on a map, let alone keep the convo rolling, I've got you covered there.

If you're completely new to engaging an audience while performing, start here. This includes a practical guide for speaking to your crowd during a performance - with tips throughout your show.

If you're all good in the "what to say" department, but looking to engage your audience more fully while on stage (or video)- then this other article on moving a crowd and building the "feels" will be helpful in your quest.

Alright, you've got the engagement part down - let's look at a way to get more people to the stream because this is where the magic happens.

2b. Partner Locally for Expanded Reach

Ok, so I dropped a hint of this above in the record store snippet, but this is one of the best ways for you to get expanded reach.

The ask here is rather simple - partner with a local business that you think would be a good fit for your music. It could be a bar, it could be a coffee shop, it could even be a clothing store.

As long as they have foot traffic moving through their location and an internet connection - you're in business.

Because a store with foot traffic often means they have online traffic - whether that's the obvious social media platforms, or the often overlooked email subscribers, they have a built-in audience that they can easily communicate with.

And that's where you come in.

You'll be performing at their location - streaming through the web - and in exchange for the performance and venue, you ask that they promote your show to their audience on their platforms, hang a sign in the window, and hand out flyers at the register, etc.

Most likely, you won't be compensated by the business for your time, but that's totally fine, you'll make up for it with tips during the stream (more on that next)

Pro Tip: If you can get the business to do some sort of promotion tied to your performance, such as an exclusive discount code that's revealed during the show, this is going to further cement that you aren't playing to crickets.

Partnering locally doesn't just rely on a business though. Even collaborating with local bands, especially ones with a broader reach than yourself, can be a great way to drive traffic to your stream.

Before you know it, your focus on working with the local community to build an audience online will naturally payoff. Your audience will expand beyond state lines and timezones, and you'll be selling out those arenas you always dreamed about.

3. Earn More Per Show.

You've now got the gigs. You're playing all around your local scene, and you've even managed to get some out-of-towners tuning in.

You're regularly packing the house - whether that's a coffee shop or the annual festival. But there's just one problem - you're still not earning enough to quit that dreaded daytime job.

This is the time to start making sure that every gig is paying you more than ever before. Actually, that time started the moment you did your first gig - be it online or physical.

For a performer getting their start, tips are going to be what makes or breaks your month. There's only one way to go about this, and it starts and ends with your listeners' tipping behaviors.

3a. Go Digital With Your Tips

Thanks to the pandemic and a budding metaverse, fans have more than warmed up to the idea of attending a concert virtually - which is great for your live-streaming ambitions. And you know what pairs perfectly with a virtual concert? A virtual tip jar! 

So yes, SongMe is a virtual tip jar, but it was built by and for live musicians. It's for those who take song requests, who play in local environments, and for those who need an easy way to build demand for their music with no fuss.

As a newcomer to performing, if you don't know already, tips are the lifeblood of financial independence at the start of your music career. But you need to stop thinking of pickle jars and start thinking of digital wallets.

Don't believe me? Check this out...

Here are five facts to convince you to put down the jar and pick up the app... straight from "5 Reasons Audiences Want A Virtual Tip Jar":

1. Nobody has cash on them - Only 16% of Americans always carry cash

2. The younger the person, the less likely they use cash - 60% of millennials sometimes, rarely, or never have cash on them

3. They don't carry cash for tips - Only 10% of people that carry cash will use it for tips

4. They like cards over cash because of convenience - 59% of people prefer cards to 29% of people preferring cash, with 52% citing ease and convenience as their motivation to use a card

5. Covid killed cash - 58% of all adults in the US planned to stop using cash completely after Covid-19

Let's quickly replay this - if you live in the US and play for tips, you can assume your audience doesn't carry cash. If your audience is younger, there's even less of a chance they have a fiver on hand, and even if they do, it's not for you. They prefer to pay with plastic because it's just easier. And in this post-covid world, the majority plan to never use cash ever again.

If that's not a compelling argument to go digital with your tips, then I don't think you'll ever be convinced.

This isn't to say you couldn't still have a physical tip jar (I was just using hyperbole when I said to get rid of your pickle jar.) You'd be best served to keep both. But creating a convenient way for your audience to tip you for the experience you create is a must.

And, if you're streaming the experience, cash tips won't even be an option. If you go the Songme route for your digital tips, a bonus is that your tips and song requests instantly become more manageable and seamless.

Your fans/listeners can request songs from your library. They can assign a tip value to the request, and you can choose to accept the request or not. As soon as you do, the money goes into your wallet and you can quickly start playing the requested "Achy Breaky Heart."

3b. Don't Forget To Ask For Tips

On a separate, but related note (music pun), if you're newish to playing for tips, I know how it feels to talk about tips with an audience. It's like having "the talk" with your parents.

Back to music and tips though.

In your head you'd love to scream at the top of your lungs "You've enjoyed the show - so don't be cheap and throw some cash my way!" but instead, you try to avoid the subject altogether because it feels awkward.

And awkward is the last feeling you want to have while performing.

So your jar sits there looking like the loneliest glass in the bar, and you go the whole night without asking for tips in any manner. And it shows as you count the personal til at closing time...

If that sounds like you, I'd advise you to buy a shovel and bury that feeling deep inside, never to think of it again.

While you wait for your shovel to arrive from Amazon, check out numbers 4 and 5 in this article about earning more money as a musician.

The 4th bullet point is about how to get over the hump of being shy when asking your audience for tips, and the 5th bullet point is for those who faint at thinking of asking for tips, and how they can still talk about tips with an audience without verbalizing it.

Whether you're playing in-person or on the internet, you can utilize a virtual tip jar to pull in extra money (because who carries cash these days? That's right, nobody!) and interact with your audience by accepting song requests. 

Seriously though, if you aren't going digital with tips, and how people support your music, you're leaving money behind.

Let's Do A Quick Recap

For a new entrant, local festivals, and event performances all tend to draw large crowds, which is the best way to plus up your earnings. And even when you get to the point where you're selling tickets to a show, and the price is at a premium, there will always be an audience eager to jump in.

It's the experience of live music that can't be replicated elsewhere. The reality is that fans crave something more than a Spotify playlist.

The experience of going to a local dive bar or a full-fledged concert and screaming your favorite song with a thousand others creates long-lasting memories. Everyone has the entire musical world at their fingertips, but nothing can replace that distinct feeling of live music.

And this is why performances are still the biggest source of income for musicians today, despite all of the digital advances.

Regardless of the stage or where you're at in your career, performing live music is one of the most common and thankfully lucrative spaces for musicians to earn money, especially compared to all the alternative income options available to musicians today.

So, How Do Musicians Get Paid From Gigs?

Typically, new artists will be paid in tips. As experience and demand grow, musicians will either be paid a flat fee for their performance, or they will earn a percentage of the profits made from ticket sales or merchandise sales, or both.

I've rolled through tips ad nauseam above, so I won't make you read through that again.

Regarding entrance fees though, they aren't the norm for anyone at the very beginning of their music career, but as you become more established, playing in front of an audience that actually knows who you are can demand higher ticket prices, and in turn, your cut of that.

Merch should most likely be your second focus for building income at performances. You'll want to have a product to sell that your fans will want to buy, and that won't put you in the poor house to produce. More on that in a minute.

I know the goal is to make this your full-time focus, but it's important to remember that every little bit helps when you're starting out. You could be playing gigs for free or very little just to get your name and music out there. And that has value.

Every booking has a compounding effect on your future work.

Once you've got your name out to the public, you become far more hirable for more gigs and private events. Weddings, school events, parties, or even benefit concerts, just to name a few. Any of these can bolster your brand and income. These opportunities will present themselves as time goes on, but they are by no means the only way to make money as a new artist in a new industry.

3 Additional Ways New Artists Can Earn An Income With Music

Performing live is the breadwinner for artists, but it's not the only way to make an income in music. There are other avenues open to newbies and more experienced artists alike that can help pad your wallet or even become a primary source of income.

While some require quite a bit of activity and attention, others behave more passively; generating income while you sleep, which is always a great feeling.

Let's first have a closer look at the shiny object known as "music streaming royalties," then dig into merchandise and sync royalties.

1. New Artists And Streaming

I bet streaming your music is one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of ways to supplement your music career income. I get it. Making your music available on the platforms where you probably experience music in your daily life is a logical progression.

And if you were looking online for how new musicians earn money today, you'd be served with countless search results that list a dozen or so ideas, with streaming as the first result.

I'm afraid I have bad news though. That's all clickbait, appropriate for the top .001% of artists.

It's completely irrelevant for 99.999% of artists today, but even more for the artist just starting. Don't believe me? Well, among the four largest music streaming services (Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify) the highest-paying platform doles out $.01 per stream, and the worst-paying (Spotify) pays $.033 per stream.

And here's the catch, a stream on Spotify is classified as 30-seconds or longer - so if you don't get a listen tuning in for longer than that, then you don't get paid.

I geeked out about this topic because I was initially curious which streaming service paid the best. What I discovered is that the best streaming payment is still terrible, and certainly not the first place to start a music career.

While each streaming service differs in how much they pay per stream, the vast majority of artists would need one million listens to make $10k a year from the most generous of streaming platforms, Apple Music, which pays out $.01 with every play. (To make the same amount on Spotify? Triple that number.)

When you consider that less than two percent of Spotify artists surpass one thousand dollars worth of earnings over a year, while music streaming services in the US had $12.4 billion in revenue during 2021, it might feel like a lost cause. 

To be successful with streaming, you need high volume. Like higher than high volume. This isn't to say you shouldn't make your music available on Spotify or one of its greedy siblings.

I'm only suggesting that being new to the industry, streaming is not a reliable or lucrative way to bring in income, or get you out of a daytime job, so you can pursue music full-time.

Streaming Royalties and Musicians

I hope I'm not over-assuming here, but since you're new to the scene, you may want to know how streaming technically ends up in the wallets of artists.

Music streaming falls into two categories of music royalties - mechanical royalties and performance royalties. Which are the two most common music royalties, the other two are far less used.

Mechanical royalties used to primarily occur when a CD or vinyl was pressed and sold - paid by the company to a collection group on behalf o the artist/publisher/pantheon of ownership. Today, this same concept is what drives streaming services like Spotify, where every stream has a royalty fee.

Performance royalties have historically occurred when a song is played on a radio station, or at your local restaurant, you know, the music you wish they would turn down so you could hear your table. Yeh, someone is earning a royalty for that.

The entrance of digital streaming completely transformed the role of performance royalties, where music played in a digital environment mimics that of a radio station playing in public. Pandora Radio is the easiest way to understand this.

Mechanical and performance royalties drive the royalties business of music today, but artists rarely see all of the windfalls from this.

That money starts small and gets even smaller as it's usually carved up with a line of others involved in the process of making and publishing that music.

The takeaway here is that royalties are not the purpose of streaming if you are trying to build a music career. Your concern should be primarily on growing the listenership with streaming platforms, not the streaming revenue.

It’s most important to put yourself out there. Making yourself available on these streaming services is a great way to build your fan base and get your music in the ears of new listeners by creating playlists or even connecting with playlist curators.

But it is nice knowing that if you register your music, any time your music is played or distributed, whether it’s streamed online, or played in a bar or restaurant -- you’re not only getting more exposure, but you’re earning a couple of coins in the process.

2. Merchandise Is Great For New Musicians

Selling merchandise is another money-making strategy that artists have used for decades. And it's stronger than ever.

Both historically and today fans love to grab concert swag in the form of t-shirts, stickers, posters, and even perfumes to remind them of an amazing experience.

While that may seem to only apply to well-established acts, new musicians can also benefit from selling merchandise to their fans. You could just as easily set up shop while playing live, place your merch next to your virtual tip jar signage, or physical tip jar.

It acts as an alternative to directly tipping, and you will most likely make more on a merch purchase than a straight-up tip.

As a new artist, your number one goal should be to get your music in as many ears as possible or get your brand in as many hearts and minds as you can muster. And selling merch is a great way to do that.

When you sell someone a physical product, you're also giving them something to remember you by. The best part about merch for artists is that aside from the cost of goods of the physical item, you keep all the proceeds.

This is the primary reason artists of all popularities love to merchandise.

Leveraging merch as an income stream isn't confined to where you physically perform. You should heavily consider either creating a website for your music or using social to promote your band, with the additional purpose of having an online storefront on the platform.

Once you've set that up, you should make your merch available online.

The downside of merch is that it costs money - it's an investment, and it might take a while to get your investment back. What I would recommend since you're just beginning your journey into professional music, is to look into a service like Printify.

With Printify (and there are lots of options here similar to Printify) you don't have to buy any inventory, whether that's t-shirts, mugs, or whatever thousands of items they have on their site.

You simply pick the items, submit a design you want on that item, and then connect your online storefront to the products. And that's all you have to do to set it up. This service is called print-on-demand and there's a lot to like about it:

• You have zero risk: If you don't have the cash or don't want to risk the investment on swag just yet, there's no risk to this. You don't have to buy a single item to participate. The tradeoff is that a service like Printify will take a larger cut of the proceeds from every transaction, compared to if you purchased the item in full. But that's a very small downside for starting up.

• Fulfillment is not your responsibility: If you've ever had to fulfill orders, you will appreciate this. Counting inventory, picking, packing, shipping, customer service - it's a nightmare. And with something like Printify, you don't have to do any of that.

• Workings online and offline: Printify is certainly easier to promote online, but just because you don't hold physical inventory that shouldn't prevent you from still promoting your merch at your shows. You can order a sample of each, get a QR code going that links to your site, and if someone at your physical shows wants to purchase, they can get it just as easily online. Plus, they don't have to lug it around all night.

• Pro Tip: Jump on Fiverr or any sort of graphic design freelancer site to get designs created for your swag. This will help tremendously with sales while doing so on the cheap.

Props to Printify for their article on how to make money with music band merch - definitely check it out. It's got some great tips that can help you save some cash on your merch.

3. Licensing Your Music For TV, Commercials, Etc.

Licensing music, which is a royalty that permits using your work for commercial purposes, takes many forms. And you might think it's unrealistic that you could get your music in a show or film, but this happens far more often than you might think.

Plus, it pays far better than streaming (licensing for TV/Commercials is classified as a sync royalty by the way) and acts as a springboard for exposure to your work.

Artists can license their music to television, movies, video games, and even trailers to bring in some bucks.

There is a negotiation that happens between a content producer, and the publishers and songwriters. A fee is paid upfront, and royalties are paid once the piece has been distributed to the media.

Licensing music is a great way for lesser-known musicians to have their music heard. As an example of this, many filmmakers generally choose music based on what they think fits the scene and the vibe of the movie. This means that they’re not necessarily going to pick the songs at the top of the charts.

The challenge is getting your music in front of the right person. And that's not easy. But there are publishers out there that focus on this, and they take on independent artists. Ditto Music is one of many in this space.

The steps are simple. You get your music into a production music library, and then it can be licensed for a variety of things - games, commercials, movies, etc.

A lot of independent musicians choose this as a source of income because they can make a decent amount of money, and in general, it's a pretty passive source of revenue compared to going on stage.

So, Can New Musicians Actually Make Money?

The bottom line is that new musicians can make money, but you have to be willing to put time and effort into it. You have to invest yourself fully in your craft and have a certain level of patience.

To make it happen more rapidly, have a strategy that looks at performing differently than your peers. Find openings that have less competition and more revenue yield.

And it's not just a numbers game - or in this case, not just the quantity of bookings you can get, squeezing every dollar out of every performance is just as important to the number of bookings.

Being smart and making real money means you need to maximize to the nth degree what you take home after every single performance.

While there are musicians that are consistently at the top of the charts, the vast majority are working towards a steady income but are all thinking about it in the same way. Use that insight to your advantage.

And Even though it can be a stressful career path, it is very rewarding all the same. I mean, you get to entertain so many people, meet new faces, and bring joy. That's incredible. And certainly beats any other job out there.

Every gig might not be the most successful, but the feeling of creating music is a wonderful gift of its own.

So can you make money as a musician? Yes. You may be a part-time musician for a while, but that’s okay. With a little patience, consistency, and focus, you can make a decent income. And while you may not become Stevie Ray Vaughn-level famous right off, it is worth putting in the time and effort to build your dream career as a musician. 

His mask hides his face, concealing his true identity from the world. It became an icon for Sickick, an EDM artist, vocalist and producer who remixes songs from popular artists including Sean Paul, 50 Cent, Cardi B, Post Malone and Madonna. 

Born in Toronto, Canada, Sickick began his music career by posting his music on various social media and video platforms without ever showing his face. He creates his own genre called “SickHop” in which he mixes other genres, including trap, bass, reggaeton, electro and R&B. He released his first video titled “Beyonce - Survivor (SICKICK TRAP VERSION)” on his YouTube channel SickickMusic on December 27, 2013, which currently has 3.6 million views. Afterward, he released other remix videos, including a video titled “Tuesday - ILoveMakonnen ft. Drake (SICKICK VERSION),” which also has 3.6 million views. He also makes original music videos with popular ones being “Mind Games,” “Casanova” and “Lost My Way.” 

The masked artist has 4.5 million followers on Instagram, 4.8 million followers on TikTok and 3.73 million subscribers on YouTube. He promotes his music by using #SpreadtheSickness in hopes that his fans, also known as the Sickick Army, will spread his music. 

Sickick had a rough moment in his life before starting his career. According to a video he posted on Twitter, the artist stated that he lived with depression and anxiety and struggled with getting out of bed. He said that the only thing that helped him was music. Whenever he got anxiety attacks, he would run to his studio and force himself to create a song. Over time, he created a body of work known as Sickick. 

Sickick’s colorful masks represent his fears as crowds and fame once terrified him, and he personalizes them so that each one has his signature logo over his right eye. By gaining confidence, he inspires his fans to face their fears and accomplish their dreams, according to his about page on his Facebook Sickick Music. 

Now, Sickick is becoming more popular on the Internet and in the music industry. On October 31, 2018, he released Chapter 1 of his EP F.E.A.R. (F**k Everything and Run) on YouTube, which gained 1.1 million views. He released Chapter 2 with separate videos, including “Momofuku,” “Purple Grass,” “Room 112,” “Serum” and “Hurt.” He has over 700,000 followers on Spotify with over 4 million monthly listeners. 

One of his biggest releases was his chill trap remix of Madonna’s 1998 “Frozen” which was posted on TikTok on March 30, 2021. His remix went viral, and according to Variety, it created 125,000 TikToks. Madonna then took interest in Sickick’s remix, and she and Sickick released the official remix on December 19, 2021. At one point after its release, the remix was No. 20 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, but it climbed to No. 15. Then, on March 10, 2022, Madonna released an official music video of the remix featuring Nigerian singer Fireboy DML. The video reached 11 million views. The “Frozen” remix also has over 80 million listeners on Spotify. 

Despite growing in popularity, Sickick is surprisingly “underrated” due to a lack of exposure; however, he has toured around the world, creating new fans that love his music. His recent concert was the Sick Summer Tour, which took place in Europe from June 4 to July 16. His next tour Music Saved My Life will begin from August 20 to September 24. 

Just as Sickick’s fans support him and his music, other fans can support small musicians through SongMe. Musicians can post their concerts on the SongMe app and add a time and location for fans to know when and where they are playing. Download the app and build your music career. 

Check out Sickick’s website: https://www.sickickmusic.com/ 

Her fans went crazy, and Wheatus gained an electric new following of ready-to-rock zoomers.

“Teenage Dirtbag” was first released in 1999, and it continues to rank Wheatus’s most played songs on Spotify, with almost 400 million streams. 

In the age of apps like TikTok, discovering new music through covers, remixes, and mashups like this one is becoming more and more common.

When DJ SickKick remixed the popular Kate Bush song “Running Up That Hill” (which is having a MOMENT right now thanks to Stranger Things) he added some new beats to an old classic, and at the top of the charts again.

SickKick’s most popular TikToks have over four million views, and the key to his success seems to be in these kinds of awesome remixes. Keeping his identity concealed and using popular TikTok which he mixes with his own beats and music, he is able to capitalize on virality and channel more fans to his own content. 

Some other popular TikTok mashups include a subtle combination of Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet and the Law and Order SVU theme song–usually used for videos with an unexpected twist or tone.

Or another super popular mashup sound, the ever-catchy “Jiggle Jiggle” sound, which originated from an interview with a British comedian, but has now exploded into a Wendy’s marketing campaign, viral dance, and endless TikTok videos. Overall, these mashups are sometimes purposeful, almost random, and ALWAYS, super catchy. 

It's difficult to predict which sounds will be popular next on TikTok, which helps to explain the constantly fluctuating top sounds being played by its users.

Songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s are constantly resurfacing, on an app populated mainly by people born after the year 2000.

One thing that we DO know, is everybody loves good music! 

Apps like TikTok present a unique opportunity for up-and-coming musicians.

If not for TikTok users, many of today’s most popular artists, like Olivia Rodrigo for instance, might not have achieved superstardom to the extent that they did.

Today there are millions of videos singing along to “Drivers' License,” crying to “Traitor,” and dancing to everything in between. This kind of consumer-generated content is one of the most powerful kinds of advertisement, and music is no different.

SongMe is another great resource for up-and-coming musicians to take advantage of.

Having the ability to post upcoming events and venues, communicate with fans, and receive compensation, all in one centralized application, might be just what you need to take your career to the next level. The SongMe app offers tons of awesome features to make sure that YOU get discovered. 

So, you got the big gig, the excitement fades to dread as the reality of doing something amazing on stage quickly sinks in - pressure city, right? I've been there, which is why a few seasoned performers and I compiled this guide on how to move a crowd on stage.

To move a crowd on stage, musicians need to make the performance about the crowd, not themselves. The best performers engage the entire audience early on, speak directly to superfans, and work the whole "room" throughout.

Plus, they always end the show with a bang - which psychology indicates the ending is what folks will remember most. 

While music is personal, your audience came to have a good time, not be your therapist. So it's worth mentioning again that going all in on making the experience for the audience is the most important thing a performer can do.

If you’re nervous about the crowd at your next gig shoegazing or crosstalking while you’re on stage, fear not. Create a plan following our guide here and you'll have them hanging onto every note. Let’s dig in.

3 Ways to Move a Crowd on Stage (Plus 1 Brain Hack to Getting Rave Reviews)

As mentioned, it’s important to remember that the purpose of live music is for the audience to experience your work uniquely, otherwise, they would just listen to your music at home, and you would be playing in an empty room.

Which is sad - you don't want that.

So, What Does It Mean to Make It About Them and Not You? 

It starts with the attitude you cultivate before you even get on stage. Recognize they came out to see you, but also that you’re a means for them to have a fantastic night.

Your performance is a vehicle for their good times, which requires losing a bit of your ego the moment you get under the bright lights. But if you start with the right attitude, the rest of these things will come easily.

If making it about the audience is the price of entry to a great performance, then the following three (plus a bonus fourth) tips are how you level up moving any crowd.

1. Speak to the Audience Early in the Set

While there is merit in making a big entrance with one of your most energetic songs, going too far into the set without speaking to the audience tells them you don’t really recognize their presence.

It sends a message that you’re on stage to do your own thing and they just happen to be in the room. That's not the vibe you want to start with.

One of the best starts to a show I ever experienced was when Foo Fighters (RIP Taylor Hawkins) played a show in Lexington, KY in 2019.

The show had been previously canceled last minute due to a family emergency - so the anticipation was at a peak with the reschedule.

When Dave Grohl took to the stage, Taylor was playing a kick drum beat and some hi-hats as a backing for the welcome.

Dave said, “Kentucky, we missed you! We’re sorry about last time, and we have some making up to do, so get f*cking comfortable because we’re going to be here for a while.”

The crowd immediately forgot any negativity about the canceled show.

As Dave and the band launched into “Run” off their latest album, the whole arena started jumping. It was an unforgettable night and it started just right. 

That's not the only way to start a set though, there are other tricks to connecting with the audience early in a show.

For instance, dinking and talking is when you play the opening chord of a song repeatedly while telling the audience a little bit about the history and meaning of the song.

Talking about what you and the band were doing before the show is another good one: what time did you get there? Did you go eat somewhere local before the show?

For a full breakdown of the art of conversation while performing, and I do mean full, check out my article on "What Should You Say to an Audience at a Gig."

It goes deep into the acts of a show and is filled with some of the best in the business showing their talents on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts.

No matter what you choose, make sure you talk to the audience early AND throughout the entire show. This is the #1 way to get them engaged early and keep them plugged in for the entirety of your set.

2. Speak directly to your superfans

If you are an established touring band, you likely have some superfans. You know the type: they were at the venue hours before doors so they could score a spot on the rail, they know all your lyrics, and they bring the most energy to show.

You can draft off their vibes, creating a virtuous cycle of hyping each other up to keep the energy high for the whole show. 

Former lead singer Jess Schmitt says that a key to her success is making eye contact with the front row and just asking simple questions, such as:

• "What’s your name?"

• "Who are you here with?"

• "What have you enjoyed about the night so far?"

It doesn’t have to be clever, being sincere works best.

If you're new or this seems a bit awkward to tackle, try creating your own set of superfan questions to ask at every show. Sure, your band is going to know what you’re going to say but no one else will.

And because you’re talking with individuals, their answers will vary every time.

The most important thing is these people will tell everyone they know about their interaction with you, so make it good and they will provide you with tons of positive word of mouth.

Don’t waste that opportunity! 

3. Work the Whole Room

I know it can be hard to see everyone in the audience, and it's incredibly dependent on the lighting setup, but everyone in your crowd wants to connect to your music - even if they aren’t on the rail.

In a practical sense, what does working a room look like?

Think about the room as four quadrants: left front, right front, left back, and right back. If you're new or struggle with working a room, keep it simple and break the room into halves. Try alternating quadrants throughout a song.

Or for beginners, just focus on halves of the room during a song - and if you're feeling super green to this, make the first half of a song about one half in the room, and the other half of a song about the rest of the room.

It's important to note that not everyone wants to deal with the crush at the front, so don’t forget about the fans in the back.

The people in the back get left out a lot - give them some love.

Ok, so working a room is not all science - feelings, and emotion play a large role as well. Just like a song, a good song is part science part feeling.

Working a room through the feeling of sound

Connor Gray Johnson, the guitarist of heavy metal band Stagecoach Inferno, has this advice for working rooms:

“Project yourself to the back of the audience for the more intense parts of the set, and project yourself to the front of the audience for softer spots in the set.”

That’s his general rule for focus, but he gets more specific.

“From there, try and study where the dead parts in the audience are appearing, and throw in mixtures and surprises of where your presence is aiming, and what you’re physically doing to engage. Certain things work in certain spots in the crowd that doesn’t work in others.”

No matter how you choose to "work" your crowd, remember that everyone there deserves to have a good time.

Keep that in mind as you look out at your fans - it's your job to engage them so much that there's no need for side conversations or checking their phone.

BONUS: End with a bang to get great reviews

There's a well-known concept to behavioral economists (yes that's a thing) and motivational psychologists (yes that's also a thing) called the Peak-End Rule.

The name is perfect - people form their opinion on an experience based on two things - the peak moment and the end. Instead of the total experience and all the moments in between.

This has obvious implications for a show - as a performer, you can’t always know what everyone’s favorite song will be so each individual’s “peak” is probably different.

But what you can fully control is how you choose to end the set, and if you make that the peak as well - it's a bit of a double whammy. I suppose that's what an encore is made for.

Ending it with your biggest song is a well-known tactic, but you could also consider a few other methods that are less expected.

• Q&A with the audience

• Throwing out merch or items used that night

• Pyrotechnics or a contrasting light performance

• Covering a popular song

Last year I saw Phoebe Bridgers in Louisville, KY. The show felt concluded so I scurried off to grab a beer - and I thought she was done, since she had already returned for an encore, playing her most popular song.

And what did I hear as I handed over some bills to the beer tent vendor? She started into her cover of Bo Burnham’s “That Funny Feeling.”

I went sprinting back to my seat (spilling most of the beer) because I was so excited to hear her cover a song that so resonated with me at the time.

I’ve been talking about that show for almost a year now and it still gives me chills to think of how she sounded singing such a melancholic but funny song.

Because of the Peak-End Rule, people will judge your show to be better if they left feeling really good.

If you’ve got something special saved for that evening, save it for the end. Your fans will love it, and you’ll love the good reviews.

If you want to move a crowd on stage, you've probably picked up that it's not just a moment in time, and it's not just one picking a spot in the room.

Moving a crowd on stage is complex - comprised of many moments and parts of the room that you engage throughout an entire performance; reaching a crescendo with the Peak-End Rule.

Performing live music has had its challenges in the past few years, but with every hurdle comes an opportunity. The pandemic may have stopped physical live music, but live music didn't die - it grew in different ways via live streaming and virtual concerts.

Virtual concerts are pre-recorded or live shows that occur in simulated environments hosted on blockchain technology. This technology handles the infrastructure that a physical concert would normally operate, such as ticket sales, merch, and capacity of seating.

Don't be confused by the name though, at its core, a virtual concert is still a concert; it's just presented in a different format.

Namely, the artist is presented as an avatar or digital interpretation of themselves instead of a video recording.

If you need a simpler explanation, just think Gorillaz put on a show online.

Gorillaz is one of the earliest popular virtual bands. Damon Albarn is famous for being the lead of Blur as well as a founding member of Gorillaz, but his face doesn't come to mind when you hear the music of the Gorillaz.

Instead, you think of anime-inspired cartoons playing catchy tunes - the crew in the pic below.

This is an oversimplification of a virtual concert - watching an avatar of a band or performer in a virtual experience.

If you think this sounds like a live stream, let's clarify the difference quickly.

Are Virtual Concerts the Same as Live Streams?

A virtual concert is not the same thing as a live-stream concert - both are digital concerts, but a virtual concert is within a metaverse using blockchain technology, whereas a live stream will be a live video feed of online performance. However, virtual concerts can be live or pre-recorded.

That's a 60-second overview of virtual concerts - the big question though is whether should you care about virtual concerts.

You bet! There are many reasons to like this type of event, and it's easy for a musician who already live streams, or performs via the web to enter.

Even as the pandemic loosens its grip on society this past year, virtual concerts (and live streaming) continue to grow in popularity.

And it's not the usual suspects (looking at you Gen Z) driving this growth - diverse audiences and artists are on the bandwagon. Let's have a closer look at why you should care about virtual concerts.

Are Virtual Concerts Popular?

Virtual concerts are attended by millions every year and continue to grow in popularity. Some of the most popular virtual concerts and tours include Ariana Grande with 78 million viewers, Travis Scott with 11.7 viewers, and Lil Nas X with 33 million viewers in 2022.

So yes, virtual concerts are extremely popular - the third most appealing element of the metaverse for all age groups is watching concerts. That's ahead of notable elements like socializing, playing games, etc.

I was shocked by this fact, but within the metaverse, US adults are more interested in watching a virtual concert than live sports or shopping. You might think Gen Z is the group behind this fact, but that's not the case.

What's the Appeal of Virtual Concerts?

For fans, it's simple. We want our favorite artists close-up and personal without having them on stage right next door!

That feeling is what makes music festivals so special - there are no barriers between you & the performer; they can be as creative as they can imagine.

There's a generational story to be told here though. Of course there is, just like everything else. Damn Boomers and Millennials!

Let's look closer at metaverse concert attendance by generation.

What Age Groups Would Attend a Virtual Concert?

Within the US, 29% of millennials would be very interested in attending a virtual concert, which is the largest generational percentage who are most interested. Conversely, Baby Boomers are least interested in attending virtual concerts, with 61% "Not interested at all."

Surprisingly, Gen Z was not the most interested - with 24% of the age group showing high interest in attending a virtual concert. And even more surprising, there is a higher percentage of Gen Z than Millennials that are not interested at all in attending virtual concerts.

Here's a full look at the responses by age group, from Morning Consult's tracking poll.

At the extreme ends of the visual above, 18% of all US adults would be very interested in attending a virtual concert, whereas 41% are not interested at all.

However, if you break the data into interested vs. not interested in attending a virtual concert, the general observation is that 45% of US adults have some interest in a virtual concert, versus 55% of US adults are disinterested in virtual concert attendance.

I'm not sure how you are thinking through this information, but those figures seem far higher than I'd have expected.

I also think there's some power in the knowledge that 41% have zero interest in attending a virtual show. That means given the right approach, you could potentially intrigue 59% of the US population to attend a virtual concert.

Alright, so people are attending concerts. What about the artists - are they making good money from this?

Are Virtual Concerts Profitable For Artists?

From megastars to pub legends, virtual concerts have a lot to offer all types of artists. Since earning potential in the music industry has completely shifted since the advent and growth of digital streaming, there is much to like about virtual concerts.

The primary reason artists appreciate virtual concerts is the revenue potential.

Virtual Concerts are Extremely Lucrative

Travis Scott's Astronomical concert on Fortnite was about 10 minutes long. It generated gross revenue of $20 million including merch sales... for context, during his Astroworld tour, his best night grossed $1.7 million.

10 minutes for $20 million is certainly more lucrative than a full night's performance for $1.7 million. Some projections value live entertainment in the metaverse at $200 billion by 2024, with virtual concerts being the primary source.

So yes, in addition to being extremely popular, virtual concerts are also extremely lucrative.

How Do Artists Make Money From Virtual Concerts?

As mentioned briefly at the top of the article, making money from a virtual concert is similar to how it would be done at a traditional concert. That is ticket sales and merch.

However, the number of potential attendees is much higher for a virtual show. And as we saw with Travis Scott, takes a fraction of the time. So, the math works out quite well for artists in terms of revenue potential.

Let's say an artist charges $10 per ticket to their virtual concert. They could play to 10,000 people per "show" and make $100,000. If they played 4 shows a day, every day for a month - that's $1.2 million.

Now, of course, there are production costs associated with putting on a virtual concert. But those costs are a fraction of what they would be for a traditional concert. So, the math still works out quite well for artists.

It's also important to note that artists make money from more than just ticket sales. They also make money from things like sponsorships, advertisements, and product placement. So, there are even more ways for artists to make money from virtual concerts than traditional concerts.

It's just that instead of a physical venue selling t-shirts, the facility is in the ether and built on blockchain.

Ticket prices for a virtual concert are going to be lower than for a regular concert.

The average ticket price for Animal Concerts is $20 (range of $10-$30). For a traditional concert experience, in Q1 2022 North America, the top 100 tours had an average ticket price of $108.20.

That's a 6X increase in the ticket price!

Additionally, since many of the virtual concerts are taking place in microtransaction environments, such as Fortnite and similar games, the artist will typically release skins or other in-game wearables that players purchase - a 22nd-century version of your Pink Floyd t-shirt, or whatever band shirt you refused to wash in college.

In short, yes - virtual concerts are quite profitable for artists. And as the technology continues to improve and the metaverse continues to grow, we can only expect virtual concerts to become more and more popular.

What Are the Advantages of Virtual Concerts For Artists?

There are more benefits to artists than just revenue when it comes to virtual concerts. Some are certainly financial, but others level the playing field and accessibility for all artists. Here are the top three benefits of virtual concerts, from the perspective of the artist.

1. Higher Show Profitability

For most artists, touring and merch sales are the best ways to earn money today. Mechanical royalties on Spotify aren't paying well, and you need to be incredibly popular to see any significant earnings there.

Music royalties in general aren't a reliable way to earn an income as an upcoming artist. While a virtual concert would be classified as a mechanical and performance royalty, neither are where the money is made for an artist.

Metaverse concerts have an insane profit margin - Animal Concerts for instance has some artists seeing 50% margin from ticket and NFT (think merch here) sales.

2. Far Wider Reach

If you're an up-and-coming artist with a smaller reach, and fans spread across the country, touring can be a challenge, and inefficient. With a virtual concert, the ability to reach a much wider audience than ever before.

No longer are you competing for attention with other bands playing in the same city on the same night.

Your concert can take place in any corner of the globe, and be attended by anyone with an internet connection.

Additionally, you're not restricted to touring only in peak concert-going months. You can perform any time you want, as often as you want. You're no longer at the mercy of venues and their availability.

While some shows can set limits to their attendance, audience size can get as large as your servers will allow.

And even though touring has its advantages and is still an important part of any music career, being able to travel without traveling can be a perk.

If you're a smaller act, this is a great way to be an opener for someone larger as well. It's far easier to be an opening act in the metaverse than it is in person. Plus there may be a higher likelihood of working with the main act you wouldn't outside of the metaverse.

3. Better Fan Engagement

Pre-recording a show can free you up quite a bit. So what should you do with that time? Work for the crowd. This involves live chat for sure. Live streams certainly see this type of engagement happen with high frequency, but you can also take it one step further by moderating a post-show discussion or even just being more present on social media in general.

Some shows will be interactive, with the artist playing a role in what's happening. This could be through Q&A sessions, giving fans choices on what songs to play next, and so on. These types of shows are still in their infancy, but the potential is huge.

And you don't have to have the budget of Travis Scott to make this happen. Even using SongMe to run the system for song requests, or earn tips is a way to support how you engage an audience.

Even more fascinating is that these virtual concert experiences are often interactive. That means the artist can offer unique experiences, such as front row seats or a "meet and greet" type experience after the show where you can virtually chat with the artist in a 1:1 setting - something impossible to do at a traditional concert.

What's the Future of Virtual Concerts?

The rise in the popularity of virtual concerts is only going to continue. They offer a much higher profit margin for artists, wider reach to audiences, and deeper fan engagement than traditional concerts. In many ways, they're the perfect solution for an industry that's been struggling for years.

Alright - hit us with some of your experiences - have you attended a virtual concert? Who did you see? How did you like the experience?

Think of your favorite lead singer - what makes them great? Sure, they probably have amazing pipes, but their stage presence sets them apart from the rest. Even between songs, they can control the crowd. On my never-ending quest to improve, I've decided to study how some of the best performers speak to an audience at a gig - here's what I found.

During a performance, the most engaging topics to talk about on the mic include band stories, origins of a song, creating banter around the city, its people, or the venue, and of course thanking the audience. Being genuine and confident are just as important as what you say.

Reading the room and knowing which levers to pull to create the right mood is a craft though, not a formula. With some experience and a few practical tips, knowing what to say will become second nature. Let's look at what you might say during each stage of your show.

Talking to an Audience Throughout an Entire Gig

It's Friday night, you're performing for the first time at a killer bar in town that's synonymous with live music - it's just you and your piano. How do you open and close the gig? What do you say between songs? There are a lot of variables at play, but thinking about what to say to your audience based on a timeline is the simplest way to create a plan.

How Should You Introduce Yourself or Your Band?

The best musician and band introductions are always short. Meaning one or two sentences. Say your name or your band's name, and maybe what you are going to play, where you're from, or that you're thrilled to be there.

"My name is Josh, and I'm going to play some piano for you tonight" or "We are the Amazing Nates and we like the blues. Hit it."

It can be that simple, especially if your show kicks off with an introduction.

A good rule here is to make introductions especially short at the start of a show, but if you hold introductions until later in the show, you have more flexibility to say more. But altogether, introductions should still be short, regardless of when you do them during a show.

Studying NPR Tiny Desk Introductions

If you've read any of my other posts, you know I love NPR's Tiny Desk.

Sure the performances are fantastic, but I also enjoy seeing how some of the best performers handle an extremely difficult venue.

For the unfamiliar, Tiny Desk is a show hosted by NPR that drops an artist or band at a tiny desk in the NPR office and asks them to perform a short and stripped-down set.

It's a hilariously small cubicle in a quiet environment, so quiet that if NPR branding wasn't all over the walls and bookshelves in the background, you could mistake it for a local library.

The performer is then surrounded by an in-person crowd that are music fanatics and part of the music industry.

Oh, and millions of people listening and watching live.

It's not the most comfortable setting for an artist - and the truth is not everyone does well on Tiny Desk. And understandably so.

Tiny Desk is the perfect environment to study how great performers speak to an audience.

You'll find quite a few NPR Tiny Desk performances throughout this article.

The purpose is to give you some thought-starters on how to engage your audience, show the fluidity of doing so, and how each artist that does it well sticks to their brand and maintains confidence in delivery.

A Few Ways Artists Introduce Themselves On Tiny Desk

Here are a few of my favorite introductions (and performances) from NPR Tiny Desk - pay close attention to what they say and when they introduce themselves.

1. Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers: NPR Tiny Desk

"Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers! We got some songs, here they are, here they are, here they are... Ready? Ready? Ready? Here we go, here we go..."

I never said that the intros were going to win Pulitzer prizes when written down… but Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers intro is special because it captures the band's vibe right off the bat.

The intro is beautifully short and authentic - the name of the band, a funny way of saying they are a band, and then you get the true-to-brand hyperactivity of the lead singer that crescendos into the opening verse.

2. Leon Bridges: NPR Tiny Desk

"So, first one's called 'Coming Home.' Here we go."

Leon's a true artist with a bit of a tortured soul. He has one of the largest vocabularies in metaphors and allusions in songwriting, but you wouldn't know that by his intro.

But it's true to brand for him, so in a way it's fine. His intro simply says the name of the song and gets right into it. It would be disingenuine for him to get hyperactive like Hobo Johnson and Lovemakers's intro on Tiny Desk.

I do think there is some magic to following his underwhelming intro with the beauty of his song and lyrics.

3. Gary Clark Jr: NPR Tiny Desk

"..."

When you can keep the blues alive like Gary Clark Jr, maybe nothing has to be said.

He decides to first speak as he intros the second song, and you can see that he's great in front of a crowd. He gets everyone laughing with him, but he never says his name but does introduce the next song.

I've put this one in here because you don't always need to open with an introduction.

Each artist here has a different way to introduce themselves to an audience, and it's not always to kick the performance off.

When Should You Introduce Yourself to an Audience?

Artists will typically wait until after the first or second song to introduce themselves or their bands. If a fuller band, sometimes incorporating introductions into songs towards the end of a show can be engaging. For intimate settings, leading with an intro can break the ice.

1. Introductions After the First or Second Song

This is usually the best method for just about any venue. It lets your audience get into the right headspace, and also lets you break the ice with your music. Once you've played a song or two, it's a lot easier to follow up with a…

"Hi I'm Ben..."

2. In-Song and Late Show Introductions

This is forever etched in my mind as an old-timey way of introducing a band, but I love it all the same. It's a far more interesting way to introduce the band instead of just saying "We are XYZ..." or "Give it up for Kim on bass!"

Just let Kim and her bass show the crowd what she can do.

Don't lead with this roundup intro though, if you decide to go this route, make sure you have the audience first, and drop it mid to late in the show.

3. Opening With an Introduction

This isn't usually the recommended path - but the setting will play a big role in when and when not to deploy a lead-in introduction. While I only linked to a few NPR Tiny Desk concerts, I would guess that the majority of artists start with their name/band's name and their first song.

A confined setting plays better for an opening intro, but in most cases, I would still opt for a song or two before getting into introductions.

Setting and Style Should be Your Compass

Setting and your style are big components of the introductions too. As long as your introduction fulfills your ability to be confident while also being genuine, then that's going to be the right time for your introductions.

You'll still want to keep intros short and sweet, regardless of the path you choose.

What Should You Say Between Songs?

Staying present is key to speaking between songs; banter with your audience or bandmates, but in a way that your audience feels part of the conversation. If you're not a natural conversationalist on stage, introduce the next song or tell a quick story about its origin.

Remember though - you don't have to fill every space between songs - it's okay to let the last song breathe.

Banter with Audience

This is easier said than done, and you're going to have to be completely honest with yourself. If you're the type of person who can tell a joke and people will listen until the punchline, you should be able to do this.

But if that's not you, no worries, you can still banter.

I've written all about banter in a separate article if you want the juicy details - but the key to success is just treating banter like a convo. Can you participate in a conversation? Great - you can do this.

Maybe I shouldn't have led this section off by asking if you can tell a joke, because that's a misperception about banter.

You don't have to be funny to banter, or at least a comedian to banter with an audience.

Some of the most entertaining performers are not funny but are real with themselves to the point where their awkwardness in trying to create banter is a joke in itself. Or at least appreciated to the point where what they have to say is interesting.

I wrote about how Mac Miller was great at this, but there are tons of artists that lean into this as well, like Idles frontman.

Idles ooze authenticity. I'm certain Joe Talbot (Idles lead singer) would deliver the same energy to the Pope as he would to a mosh pit. Confident and true to themselves, they are a fantastic example of a band that can banter all day.

I'm fascinated with how Joe banters. He doesn't care when it happens - before or during a song. He's sort of funny, but also self-aware enough to know that he's not a comedian, which is funny.

I've earmarked a great example in this performance below, but after you watch it, start the video from the beginning - it's just a fun and powerful performance.

You want to avoid anything that will make you seem insincere, which is easy to do when you're trying too hard to be engaging or funny on stage. If you can find the happy medium and keep things light, go for it - just don't force it.

Banter With the Band

Maybe it's too much to try and banter with the audience, but if you're running solo, then surely you can keep things alive with your band. I mean, you play music with these people - you must be able to talk to them, right?

You know what makes them tick and what drives them up the wall - so use that to your advantage.

One thing to avoid here is inside jokes though. While it might make your bassist cackle, or easy for you to do, it's called an inside joke for a reason.

You want your audience to feel part of the experience. And there are few things more alienating than being on the outside of a joke.

There I go again, bringing up humor first.

Being funny isn't the only way to converse on stage. There are so many things you can do outside of humor - like an easy one is to ask a loaded question.

For instance, if you have a top song that always kills it, and it's getting close to the end of the set, you could ask a layup question like:

"You guys (other bandmates) think we should play ‘Baby Shark’ or ‘When Doves Cry’?"

Your audience is going to jump in. Trust me, they will be vocal here.

And now you've successfully used band banter to open up audience banter. It can be that easy.

How Do You Introduce A Song to an Audience?

When introducing a song, you can certainly share the name of the song, but if you're able to quickly share an interesting or meaningful story about the song, you'll create something more memorable.

Telling Your Audience a Story

Introducing a song most often means you're breaking up some dead space while you or your band tune up. But introducing a song, or even telling a story about a song, aren't confined to quiet moments between songs.

This is a bit of an aside, but there's a great story about Ernest Hemingway writing the shortest story ever.

Legend has it, he got into an alcohol-fueled bet about writing a complete story in six words. Hemingway, never shy to the bottle or a wager, responded with this.

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Needless to say, Hemingway won the bet and proved that stories don't have to be lengthy to be interesting or impactful.

If you incorporate anything from this article into how you speak on the mic, make it brevity.

There is nothing worse than a long-winded and super detailed story to introduce a song.

If by the third sentence, I can't understand where the lead singer is going, I know their story is doomed and difficult to relate to.

There are a few exceptions here - e.g. the name of the song is said first and is a fan favorite or the band is a bit of god status with the audience and could say anything, etc.

But in general, if you go the story route, try to keep it to a few sentences max.

How Do You Tell A Short Story About A Song ?

If you want to work on telling a great story quickly, you might want to plot out what you would say for songs with great stories. You could even look at a tool like the classic Three-Act Structure of storytelling to organize your thoughts.

The three acts are rather simple to follow.

1. Setup: Set the scene - people involved or location. How you talk about each should be in a relatable context. Don't just list cities and zip codes. This is also the spot where you need to tease out some sort of incident - or that something just isn't quite right.

2. Confrontation: Build on the incident - you want to layer on top of whatever the drama is that you've teased in the setup.

3. Resolution: Just like the name suggests, this is where the outcome is settled. StudioBinder has a genius way of thinking about this, "...the end should bring some kind of catharsis..." I love that approach because catharsis doesn't mean happy or sad, and the whole song could be the resolution to the story.

Meaning you wouldn't need to state the resolution in your story; the story you use to introduce the song could just include the setup and confrontation, and the actual song is the payoff that includes the resolution.

How Future Islands Introduces Songs Through Stories

A great example of this comes from one of my favorite leads in one of my favorite bands - Sam Herring of Future Islands. They are operatic and other-worldly, a bit menacing, and showcase some of the strangest dance moves you'll ever see on stage.

But just a beautiful concoction of songwriting and stage presence. Here's what I mean - pay close attention to how Sam Herring introduces the song.

If you aren't able to watch or listen - here is the transcript...

"This next song is called Long Flight... This song is about a guy that went on tour for four months and when he got back he realized he had lost everything he loved. It's a true story."

Aside from being the first non-NPR Tiny Desk performance in this article, what else did you notice?

Dissecting Future Island's Live Song Introduction

The introduction and story are told during the song. The synth and drums start at the same time he says "This song is called Long Flight." The bass then kicks in - and Sam moves into his short story about the song.

He follows the three-act structure of a story.

1. Setting the scene: He starts by naming the song - "Long Flight" - and follows up with it being a story about a guy returning home after four months. We've got context now - someone traveling for a while, and coming home. Note that he doesn't say it's about him - even though his audience may not go on tour, they could relate to traveling and coming home after a long period.

2. Building interest: After this long trip, they are headed home, and what does this person find? Their whole life is upside down - "when he got back he realized he had lost everything he loved." You know this is going to be about love, and you can probably guess what happened, but you want to hear him tell it now. I love that the last thing he says is "It's a true story." while never acknowledging this is about him.

3. Catharsis is the payoff: This isn't a Disney ending - but you don't know that until the song ends, because he doesn't reveal the end of the story during his introduction, the whole song is the resolution. You could argue that the first few lines of the song are an extension of Act 1 and Act 2 "I got back from a long flight, you said you'd meet me there. I've been tripping off constellations and stars. I found you at home, what was our home with another man. Oh, man."

In general, though, this song's introduction is a masterclass in storytelling introductions and using the song as cathartic resolution.

While we're on Future Islands (I swear I'm not on their payroll, although I would love to be) - here are a few other gems on how Sam introduces songs, each example has a version of Long Flight in it too, but each with a different way of introducing the song:

• This is a three-song set of theirs where you can see Sam introduces the songs but gets more personal about the stories, while still making them relatable.

• This is from a SXSW set with a wild crowd. It's pretty far into the show - you can tell he's got the crowd. So no real introductions are needed - he just rolls with banter in this example. A great example of how he could say anything he wanted really. "All we've got is love. All we've got is love. Ain't that a beautiful thing? Ain't that a beautiful thing?"

What Should You Say at the End of a Gig or Show?

It's customary to end your performance by thanking an audience, venue, and praising the location. This is also a great point to talk about any upcoming projects like tour dates, albums, or appearances. If a smaller venue, and you're playing for tips, it's appropriate to kindly mention this.

How to Thank an Audience at the End of a Gig

You can never go wrong by thanking an audience, and outside of thanking your audience for showing up at the start of the show, absolutely end the night with a sincere thank you.

Sincerity doesn't have to be family-friendly either, you just want it to be on-brand for you or your band.

If you're a sarcastic bunch, don't be afraid to let that come out in your thanks - it'll make people laugh and enjoy the moment.

Here are some sarcastic ways to thank an audience:

"Thank you, everyone, who's still awake."

"Thank you, everybody, who decided not to go to the bathroom during our set."

"Thanks for putting up with our crap."

"Thank you, sober people, in the audience."

"Thank you to the staff who will have to clean this place up after we're done."

And of course, the classic mixed with the sarcastic...

"Thanks for coming, we hope you enjoyed the show. If you didn't, well, thanks for coming anyway and please keep quiet."

If your brand isn't edgy or sarcastic, some safer options include:

"Thank you, Los Angeles. It's been a pleasure playing for you tonight

"Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight. We really appreciate it."

"Thank you so much for being here. We love you guys."

"Thank you, Austin! Thank you, Texas! We'll be back"

Adding Promotion Into Your Closing Thoughts

Some people cringe at asking for things from their audience - unless you're selling out stadiums or you aren't being compensated by the bride and groom, it's most likely okay to add some promotional elements to your closing statements.

Share What's in the Pipeline

You're a live performer. If your audience had a great time, which I'm sure they did, then let them know where they can have a great time with you again. Don't shy away from telling them where and when you're playing next.

Maybe you're just on a stop on tour, about to start a tour, or maybe this is a recurring gig in the same spot, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you bring it up.

"I had a great time with you all tonight. If you did too, come back next Saturday - I'm here every Saturday and would love to see you again."

It's that easy.

If you're about to release music, the biggest mistake you could make is not letting your crowd know.

Social media and other marketing channels are ridiculously noisy and crowded, but at the end of your show, you have unfettered access to the attention of 50+ people who just had a great time.

Tell them about your upcoming drop and where they can listen.

This is valuable real estate to a relevant audience so take advantage of it.

Let Your Audience Know Where to Find You

Spotify, your website, Tik Tok, Instagram, SongMe, etc. - if you're growing your music business, you need to let your fans know where they can interact with you and your music.

Don't list every channel that you're on though, keep the list at a max of three. You want people to remember the next day.

If you're buried online or have a strange handle, just opt for one option to make it stickier.

For example…

"Find me on Instagram at @musicman - I'll share some reels from tonight and where I'm playing next."

Keep it simple.

In that vein, SongMe can be your "one fell swoop" option. It's built for live musicians to handle a few components of their gigs: taking live show requests, managing your virtual tip jar during performances, and also lets your audience follow you to see upcoming shows and dates.

How to Handle Tips and Merch

It kills me when a band is playing for tips, but they are too shy to let the crowd know. Some just place their tip jar in a hidden place, others never mention it to the crowd. So they walk away at the end of the night not properly getting compensated.

If this is you, stop it right now. I need you to do two things.

The first is to get over being shy about asking for tips. You don't have to straight up say "Give me money so I can pay my rent." (unless that's your brand of conversation.)

If you think you can go the route of directly asking for tips, I've listed a couple of ideas in this link for you on how to straight-up ask for tips without alienating your fans.

If asking for tips gives you overwhelming anxiety, or it's just too off-brand for you, you can still indirectly ask for tips. I've dropped a few approaches in a list that you can find in this link.

The truth is that your audience knows how it works for performing musicians. They know the deal - you're playing the gig for tips. The majority of people will be more than fine with you mentioning this.

And if they had a good time, they're going to show you that with their wallets.

The same principles of how you would directly or indirectly ask for tips would apply to promoting anything you sell. Be it merch or albums. And you can still simply state that without being overbearing. For example:

"If you enjoyed the show, make sure to pick up our new album on your way out."

That not so scary right? It's polite, non-binding, and expected to some level.

The second thing I need you to do is diversify how you accept tips. If you are only accepting cash tips, you're playing cards with half a deck.

Only 16% of Americans "Always" carry cash, and only 10% of people carry cash with the intent of leaving it as a tip.

So, if you only accept cash tips and you're playing in front of one hundred people, only 16 of them could even leave you a tip, but only 10 of them have cash on them for tips.

There are even more compelling stats to show you why you need to make sure that you are accepting virtual tips, but I hope this is enough to get you to have both cash and virtual tip jars as part of your performance.

Make a Plan For What You'll Say During a Show

It's easy to get tongue-tied or just blabber on and on, and it's happened to all of us at one point or another, especially when you're just starting.

If you find yourself in this situation often, it might be time to create a list of topics or questions that you can ask your audience between songs.

It may sound a bit weird and canned, and that's because it is, by design.

In my experience, what you'll find happens more times than not is you'll prep some backup ammo and realize that you don't need it at the moment. You've mentally worked through the marks in the show and the segue to the point where you feel prepared - everything will just flow.

And if you do end up needing it, you're covered.

Over time, the whole exercise becomes part of your behavior, but you no longer have to map it out since you have enough experience thinking through the flow in a real context.

Just the idea of having a plan will make everything feel lighter and take some pressure off of you to come up with witty things to say "on the spot."

A plan will always make you feel more confident and if you have a prompt, just like giving a speech, don't go word for word, just capture the idea down to quickly reference - this will make it feel way more natural.

The Bottom Line

The best way to introduce yourself or your band to an audience will vary depending on the gig, venue, and your style.

In general, you'll want to wait until after the first or second song to make any introductions, but feel free to experiment with different methods to see what works best for you and your band.

The main thing to keep in mind is that you want to maintain a balance between sounding professional and maintaining the integrity of your brand.

You also want to make sure that you are set up to accept tips, whether it's through cash or virtual tip jars.

And finally, don't be afraid to have a plan for what you'll say during the show. It'll take a ton of pressure off of you if banter, introductions, or wrapping up a show aren't currently your strength.

TikTok will have more than 755 million users by the end of 2022. And in 2025, there will be a billion people using the platform. TikTok was built for snackable video content - what Twitter is to Facebook, TikTok is to YouTube. These short snippets of content have taken over social feeds, and music is front and center in the TikTok experience.

TikTok is home to what's trending. It rallies people behind trends and creates community along the way. And the music itself can be a major part of the trend.

So, for musicians or anyone in the music industry, it's important that you consider making TikTok part of your marketing channel strategy, and learn what you'll need to do to create content that resonates with your fans.

Build Your Community and Earn Royalties on TikTok

For musicians, TikTok is a killer platform for building a following, while also making a cut per stream. If you're in the royalty game, there are some caveats, but in terms of revenue per stream, it's one of the few social platforms that is making a concerted effort to payout royalties to musicians and artists.

Micro-Sync Royalties from TikTok

Micro-Sync Royalties are a branch of synchronization royalties in music, where video uses music overlayed, so YouTube and TikTok - but it also applies to content created by users.

As a musician, you would get a cut of mechanical and performance royalties as part of a micro-sync royalty. Which is great.

Royalties can be crazy to comprehend at times, if you want some guidance on mechanical, sync, print, and performance royalties, definitely check out the guide I wrote on all four music royalties.

TikTok Can Help You Get Discovered

I mentioned the crazy global reach of TikTok, as well as its hyperbolic growth. But since the platform is so intrinsically tied to music and trends, it's a launchpad for artists as well.

For instance, Lil Nas X and Lizzo both credit TikTok for a large portion of their early success. Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" went viral on the platform, and Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" took off in a big way as well.

And that all goes back to a song becoming part of a trend, users generating content to a specific track, and spreading the music even further.

You Need to Understand the TikTok Algorithm

The TikTok algorithm is built to make relevant content more discoverable. This concept isn't unique to TikTok either, nearly every social media platform follows similar procedures to introduce its audience to new ideas and material.

It's important to understand how the TikTok algorithm works because it's the key to getting your content in front of the right audience.

So let's peel back the onion together and figure out what you need to know about the algorithm and then we will get into ways musicians should use this new knowledge.

What is the TikTok Algorithm Exactly?

The TikTok algorithm is a series of backend variables that measures numerous factors of content, with the end goal of serving up the most relevant and personalized content to a user, to ultimately improve their experience.

More specifically, this content will appear on users' For You page, which will be unique for everyone. What's cool about it is that if you started to pick up a new hobby let's say, and you start diving into content about your new hobby, you'll start to see that type of content pop into your For You page.

How Does the TikTok Algorithm Work?

There are three major buckets for how the TikTok algorithm works. Within each bucket, there is a multitude of variables, and the exact algorithm is anyone's guess. But, some general themes are quite clear: those buckets surround viewer behaviors, details about individual content, and some general audience demographics.

These three categories should be the backbone of how musicians create content on TikTok and serve as the outline for our 12 tips in the next section.

Behavioral: How Viewers Engage With Your Content

This is all about engagement per user - what does a user like or dislike. How long do they watch a video, and do they comment, share, or react? All of these behavioral cues give TikTok an idea about how users interact with content on their app.

The more engagement, the better. If a user watches your videos to full length, that means it's engaging content. For users that have similar interests across TikTok, your content will earn some street cred and start to become more discoverable to that group.

TikTok tracks all of this data, and they use it to show users more content that they will like, and less content that they won't.

And that's why understanding the algorithm is critical for success on TikTok. Because if you can reverse engineer what TikTok wants, you can give them exactly what they are looking for.

Informational: What You Define About Your Content

If you've ever written content for your website or traveled down the musician marketing path on SEO, this is a similar concept. You need to give TikTok some information about your content so that its algorithm can do its job.

This is done by optimizing your videos with the right captions, hashtags, and descriptions. You also want to make sure you are using the correct category when uploading your content.

If you're a musician, you want to make sure you append the right hashtag to your video. All of this adds up to discoverability - and that's the name of the game here.

Audience: Basic Intel on Where Someone is and How They Get There

Some basic demographic information like location and language are used as part of the algorithm.

This makes a lot of sense when you think about it - language and location are important factors in content making sense for users. If you only speak English, even with translated captions, a post entirely in Japanese might not be valuable or engaging.

Devices and categories are also factors that define the audience.

That said, behavioral indications seem to be far more valuable when it comes to the TikTok algorithm, and that's why even in the audience tips below there is a much greater emphasis on psychographics over the demographics of audiences.

So, now you know how the algorithm works, what do you make? Keep reading, I've laid out 12 tips for musicians to win TikTok's algorithm.

Creating Content to Win TikTok's Algorithm

Using behavioral, informational, and audience as the guide, I'll show you practical tips from the musician's perspective, that can help you break through the clutter. You'll also find general best practices to incorporate in your content as well.

Behavioral

This is all about improving engagement with your fans - getting them to take some sort of action with your content, so the algorithm works in your favor.

1. The Hook - You Have 1 Second

People can be brutal - in fact, they can size you up and form an opinion about a web page visual in 500 milliseconds. That's half a second. That means you need to start with a bang on every video you create.

Right off the bat do something that stops their thumbs mid-scroll. Think about how Buzzfeed writes clickbait titles - that's the general gist to incorporate. The whole reason Buzzfeed writes the way that they do is because some general headline formulas always get people wanting to learn more.

For some ideas on hooks, check out eCompath's analysis of hooks and what the most successful TikTok videos have in common.

Because sound and music are such an important component of TikTok, your hook could be built around that and trends related to music.

2. Know Your Trends - But Keep It Authentic

TikTok is all about trends. You need to be familiar with the trends, but also put your spin on them. There's nothing worse than joining a trend just because it's popular, but is so far removed from who you are.

This is where a lot of people get it wrong - they just try to recreate what's popular without bringing anything new to the table, and that comes across as inauthentic.

Your job is to be familiar with the trends, but also find a way to make them your own and authentic to you. This can be as simple as using your original music or adding your own flavor to the challenge.

Pay particular attention to how music is trending. TikTok is just one of a few social platforms where people can search by music, and if you're able to make a cover of a trending song, that can be TikTok gold.

3. The Outro - Don't Overstay Your Welcome

So how do you close this thing out?

TikTok isn't Facebook or YouTube. It's a community built on snackable video content. Unless you're going live, you should cap the length of your videos.

According to Hootsuite, which is a well-known thought leader in social media, they recommend videos around 7-15 seconds. You just need enough time to drop your hook, then hit your point.

In my experience, and also some other sources I've read about, 13-15 seconds tends to be the sweet spot. It's also worth mentioning that it's totally fine, and actually, a smart move to have some sort of call-to-action at the end of your videos.

You'll find that if you ask people to do something, like follow, they tend to do it. I know, what a crazy concept. That's why you see YouTubers constantly stop their videos and ask for likes and subscribes.

It's just like being at a live performance and asking for tips, which you absolutely should if you're not already. If you need some coaching on how to ask for tips, no worries, I've got you covered. And these tips (pun intended) can be applied to your TikTok.

Informational

If you're familiar with how images show up on Google searches, this is a similar concept. Essentially, you write a description of an image, and it's partly used to help Google determine what that image is about.

There are a few ways that TikTok follows a similar concept, by what you write about your TikTok videos.

4. Captions: Branding, Engagement, and Wayfinding

Captions are super important for TikTok for a few reasons. The first reason is that it's a great way to include some branding for your videos. This can be as simple as including your website or social media handle in the caption.

Captions are also a simple way to engage your audience. You can ask questions, start conversations, and get people talking in the comments. Or, maybe you just write something hilarious and memorable. That could even support part of your hook.

The last reason captions are important, and why captions are within the information section of this article, is they act as a way to help TikTok understand what your content is about. You absolutely should customize them so that you can help TikTok classify your content correctly.

You can turn on captions to record exactly what you said in your video, but manual captions are the better option. It will allow you to add emphasis to what you're doing and drop your personality and style into it better. If your caption can help someone quickly understand what your video is about and if it's interesting to them, you're more likely to get views.

5. Hashtags: Just Follow the Trends

Twitter pioneered social hashtags, Instagram grew them, and TikTok has mastered them. If you want to be successful on TikTok, you have to incorporate hashtags into your content.

They immediately improve your discoverability and help you get found by the right audience. That audience, in essence, becomes a community, and if you play your cards right, you can create a community of like-minded people.

This is instrumental (pun again) for musicians and bands - if a fan loves your music, they will naturally want to be part of your community.

Trends are so important on TikTok - I've probably said that a hundred times in this article, but it's really a platform of trends. And hashtags are a barometer of trends. So when it's relevant, if you create content as part of a trend, certainly use the correct hashtag for it.

You can find that in the TikTok Discover tab, which will show you what hashtags are trending at the moment.

6. Descriptions: Be Descriptive?

You've 150 characters to work with, and it's most likely less than that because your hashtags are going to eat into that character count. So what do you say?

TikTok won't necessarily comb through your description to categorize your video (outside of hashtags), but having a clear description, with some sort of engaging element can go a long way.

And that starts with your audience, or the audience you are trying to build - what are they into? Is there some sort of language or insider talk that works best with them? Perfect, run with that. Show them that you are also in the loop and one of them.

Some people will drop the description into their actual video, but there's always a fixed position to work with. There are many ways to go about this, but here's a great resource on how to write video descriptions that help you gain some informational brownie points with TikTok.

Audience

In a nerdy research kind of way, the audience consists of demographic details, especially geography - think language and location. But it's also relative to the devices used.

I like to think those signals help build up a profile of a general user, and how that user is part of a larger segment, an audience if you will. So there are three things all musicians should know about their TikTok audience.

7. Niche Down

If you try to stand out and be everything to everyone, you're going to have a tough time succeeding on TikTok.

What I mean by that is if you want to be successful on any platform, you need to focus on one thing, or in this case, niching down.

Niche down is the concept of taking something like a genre of rock, slicing it down a little bit more, and trying to own that smaller space. That might mean you end up in a circle of less than a thousand people, but if you can build up some credit there, then you can start to expand.

This means you'll need to create content very specific to that niche, and use the hashtags related to this group while staying on top of the trends that resonate the most with this smaller audience.

8. Give and Take

There's a lot of give and take on TikTok - if you want an audience, you have to give them something first.

You can't just go out there and post content and hope people will find it, especially in the beginning. You need to be a little more proactive about it, which means you'll have to put in the work to get something back.

Think of it like performing live - you have to interact with your audience if you want a decent show. You wouldn't just stand on stage and play the hits without some sort of conversation with the crowd. Well, you at least wouldn't want to do that if you were trying to create a great show.

On TikTok, this could be anything from following people who might be interested in your content, to engaging with their content and leaving comments. It doesn't have to be a ton of work, but it is work nonetheless.

The good news is that once you start to build up an audience, the platform will do more of the work for you. But in the beginning, you must be active and engaging if you want people to stick around.

9. Be Active - And Go Live

The best way to engage with your audience is to be active on the platform. This could be anything from commenting on other people's videos to posting your content regularly. Consistency is a super important key to success here.

But one of the best ways to engage with your audience is to go live. Live streaming is a great way to connect with your fans in real-time and build up a connection.

It's also a great way to show off your personality and give people a behind-the-scenes look at your life as a musician.

You're a musician or performer after all, and hold a special talent that others don't possess. So use that to your advantage and show them in real-time how you roll.

And if you're worried about live streaming, don't be - it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be real.

Best Practices

Now that we've gone over some of the specifics that directly impact the algorithm, I think it's important to just hit some of the best practices. You know, so you avoid looking like your mom taking photos on her iPad...

10. New Accounts Get A Boost to First Videos

This is something that's completely out of your control, but it's important to know nonetheless.

TikTok gives new accounts a little bit of a boost when they first start posting videos. So if you're just starting, make sure your first few videos are high quality and super engaging.

You want to make the best possible impression, because you've got super reach, and it can help you build your following even quicker.

11. Vertical, Not Horizontal

TikTok is a vertical platform, which means you should be recording your videos in a vertical orientation.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to note nonetheless. People hold their phones vertically 95% of the time, so you want your videos to reflect that.

12. Lights, Camera, and... Steady Hands

The quality of your videos is important, but it doesn't have to be super high-end to look great.

TikTok is all about quick, raw, and unfiltered content - so don't worry about making things perfect. Just focus on having fun and being yourself.

That said, there are a few things you can do to make sure your videos look great.

First, make sure you have good lighting. Natural light is always best, but if you're indoors, try to find a well-lit room. Unless you live in a dungeon or are going live from the Catacombs, it will come off weird with dark lighting.

Second, use a tripod if you can, or something with a stabilizing capability. This will help keep your camera steady and avoid any shaking.

And That's How Musicians Should Use Tik Tok

TikTok can be a great platform for musicians - but only if you use it correctly. You only have so much time to dedicate to marketing and social media. If you're going to jump into TikTok, do it correctly so that you get the most from the experience.

The algorithm is important, but so are things like being active and engaging with your audience. If you use the tips above but focus on the fan you are trying to win over, and stay natural the whole time, you'll set yourself up for the most success.

So go out there and start posting some videos with these new tips. I want to see them too, so make sure you let us know where to find you.

There are four types of royalties in music; mechanical royalties, performance royalties, print music royalties, and sync royalties. In some instances, like digital streaming, artists will be paid multiple royalties.

As you can imagine, each royalty type is buried in nuance, but critical for all artists to know. Below, you'll find the legalese of music royalties translated into a language we can all understand. If you need a refresher on royalties, no worries, at the bottom of this article I've dropped in a Music Royalties 101.

To start though, let's dissect and simplify the four music royalty classifications.

How are the Four Types of Music Royalties different?

1. Mechanical royalties focus on the reproduction of music, for instance in CD or vinyl, or streaming via a service like Spotify.

2. Performance royalties are earned whenever music is performed in public, for example in a concert, on the radio, or streamed online.

3. Print music royalties are royalties paid for the use of sheet music, whether it’s for a performance, teaching, or practice.

4. Sync royalties are royalties earned when music is used in synchronization with visual media, like in a film, TV show, or video games.

There are far more details involved in each, so let's dig in a bit more.

1. What are Mechanical Royalties?

A mechanical royalty is paid to a songwriter or composer when their musical composition is reproduced and distributed.

What are Examples of Mechanical Royalties?

In the physical world, this meant royalties were generated whenever a CD or vinyl was pressed and sold. With the advent of digital music, mechanical royalties have exploded from streaming platforms.

Mechanical royalties for streaming are generated every time a track is downloaded or streamed online. So Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music - all of those streaming platforms are subject to mechanical royalties for the trillions of streams that happen every year.

Who Collects Mechanical Royalties?

The Harry Fox Agency and the Mechanical Licensing Collective are the two main organizations responsible for collecting royalties on behalf of songwriters and composers in the United States. Globally, mechanical royalties are typically going to be managed by publishers.

If you'd like more info on how MROs work, I've dropped some details towards the end of this article.

There are a lot of parties involved. You and I (the artists), the publishers, the organizations that collect and distribute. So as you can imagine, mechanical royalties can take a while to trickle down through all the organizations - it's a pretty long process.

And in most cases, for something like streaming, fractions of a penny will make it down to the artist per stream. Plus your ability to earn on each of those platforms per stream and whatever arrangements you have with your team means this monetary figure varies quite a bit.

Which Streaming Platform Pays Artists the Most per Stream?

Apple Music pay significantly higher than YouTube, Amazon, and Spotify, on a per-stream basis. Mechanical and performance royalties both contribute to how a streaming platform distributes royalties.

There are a lot of fine details on music streaming platforms, far beyond revenue per stream, which is why I wrote a whole article that breaks down how Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon pay an artist per stream, and what type of listener is on each platform.

In fact, the way the Spotify handles streaming royalties is a subject worth diving into, especially since it covers mechanical and performance royalties.

2. What are Performance Royalties?

A performance royalty is paid to artists, musicians, and songwriters when their work is performed publicly.

What are Examples of Performance Royalties?

In the physical world, performance royalties are generated whenever a song is played on the radio, in a bar, in a restaurant, or in any other public setting.

Streaming has turned this on its head though, there are cases where your music can be classified as a performance royalty too. Just think radio in the digital age - Pandora or Spotify.

So for streaming your music on Spotify for instance, you would be due royalties for both performance and mechanical.

Who Collects Performance Royalties?

The PROs (Performing Rights Organizations) then go through and collect on behalf of the songwriter and the publisher, and distribute the proceeds. A few noteworthy PROs in the US include ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.

SoundExchange is another organization that collects royalties, but they focus solely on the digital world - so Spotify and SiriusXM are good examples of channels in the SoundExchange remit. They don't handle royalties for terrestrial radio (AM/FM), whereas an organization like BMI could handle both terrestrial and digital radio.

3. What are Sync Royalties?

A sync (synchronization) royalty is paid to artists, musicians, and songwriters when their musical composition is used in a film or other forms of video media.

What are Examples of Sync Royalties?

Historically, royalties in this category were commonly generated whenever a song was used in a movie, TV show, or commercial.

Sync royalties have also been upended by the Internet and the momentous growth of gaming. Any time you hear a song on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, this would be classified as a sync royalty.

"Running Up That Hill..."

If you watched the latest season of Stranger Things on Netflix, you'll know "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush. Her song, which was originally recorded in 1985, was played at a powerful moment in the show. Viewers went wild for it, and the show introduced this song to a new generation.

After airing during the show, everyone took to streaming this song and revived the popularity of "Running Up That Hill." Kate Bush's song broke three records in the UK as a result: the longest time to reach No.1 from the time of release, the oldest female artist to hit No. 1, and the longest gap for a single to hit No. 1 twice.

Kate Bush would receive sync royalties from her song being used on the show. Plus, the song shot up the charts on Spotify and other platforms, meaning she will be owed mechanical and performance royalties.

I'm sure Kate is having a good year, all thanks to one show reviving her 1985 classic.

Sync Royalties Apply to Video Games

The gaming industry is massive. In the US video games generate more revenue than movies and sports combined. The video game industry shows no signs of slowing down either, and gaming continues to popularize music for artists, earning sync royalties as a result.

Even from 90's video game consoles like N64 or PlayStation 1, titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Crazy Taxi, and FIFA 98 exposed a whole generation to music from Goldfinger, The Offspring, and Blur.

Gaming will continue to be a way for artists to grow their fanbase, expose their work, and generate sync royalties.

Sync Royalties for Tik Tok

Tik Tok is all over the place, and it's been instrumental in building artists' careers - look no further than Lil Nas X or Lizzo. Tik Tok, and other platforms that play short videos or content created by users in a short format, are part of a group called Micro-Sync Royalties.

Who Collects Sync Royalties?

The sync license is actually between the copyright holder of the song (usually the artist or their record label) and the company that wants to use it. After the sync license is agreed upon, the royalties are typically paid out by the production company using the song.

4. What are Print Music Royalties?

A print music royalty is paid to artists, musicians, and songwriters when their musical composition is printed and sold. Print music royalties were the first music royalties on the scene, but are the least common music royalty today.

And that's part of the reason I'm talking through this as the last royalty - it's just not all that prevalent for most of today's artists. Important to know, sure, but most likely not something you'll need to use any time soon.

What are Examples of Print Music Royalties?

In the physical world, this meant royalties were generated whenever sheet music was sold, or when your tab books were laid out for purchase at Sam Goody.

Thanks to a whole host of ways to learn music online, like YouTube and apps like Ultimate Guitar, this is a rarely used royalty for most artists.

Who Collects Print Music Royalties?

The printer will typically collect and distribute print music royalties.

Know Your Royalties Rights

You work hard to create unique music - so you should be rewarded for that work. It's not as complicated as all the acronyms and legalese swirling around these four royalties seem.

Each has made the process pretty simple for the artist, which is great.

For example, the MLC has a super simple 5 step process of how everything works - from the moment you register to the moment you get paid. And the best part is you are only responsible for two of the five steps.

It's worth sitting down and looking at your work, deciding which royalties apply to what you've made, and then making sure you are set up for success - aka, getting paid what you are owed.

FAQ

What are Royalties?

Royalties are payments to artists for the use of their intellectual property - in our case, that's music.

What Royalties are Paid for Streaming?

Streaming music, say on Spotify or Apple Music, pays two types of royalties; a performance royalty and a mechanical royalty.

How do I Get Paid Music Royalties for Streams?

To collect royalties, you must first register your songs with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) and a Mechanical Rights Organization (MRO.) There are quite a few names and even more acronyms to know on this, but below, you'll find a few of them listed and what each does.

What is a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)?

A PRO is an organization that collects royalties on behalf of artists and distributes those royalties to the appropriate party. They oversee performance royalties, which are earned when an artist's music is played publicly.

Public performances happen in quite a few settings - streaming (which I mentioned above, but still, find a bit unexpected), concerts, radio, and even when you hear music in the background at a local restaurant. his can be quite a few settings - usually the artist or songwriter. In the US, there are four PROs you should know - ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and SoundExchange.

What are ASCAP and BMI?

ASCAP, which stands for "American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers" is a massive membership organization of songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Very creative name, right?

What's cool about ASCAP though is it's entirely operated by actual composers, publishers, and writers. And it's all a not-for-profit.

Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) is a performing rights organization that represents more than a million songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the US. It is a non-profit as well.

What is SESAC?

The name is a bit misleading, but SESAC stands for the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers. SESAC is a for-profit PRO that's quite a bit smaller than the other two - it represents about 30,000 artists.

What is SoundExchange?

SoundExchange is a bit of an outlier as it's not technically a PRO. Instead, it's a non-profit performance rights organization that collects royalties on behalf of artists when their music is played on digital and satellite radio.

Pretty much any time you hear music on Pandora, Sirius XM, or iHeartRadio - royalties are being collected by SoundExchange. It was important to add though because SoundExchange focuses only on digital performances - which is obviously an important area that's growing.

What is a Mechanical Rights Organization (MRO)?

A Mechanical Rights Organization (MRO) is in charge of collecting royalties for the reproduction and distribution of copyrighted musical works. In simpler terms, they make sure you're being paid when your song is sold, streamed, or reproduced.

Something is considered mechanical rights when it's “fixed in a tangible medium of expression.” That means if your song is reproduced in some way - on a CD, vinyl, a digital download, and of course streaming - you're owed royalties.

In the US, there are three MROs you should know about - the Harry Fox Agency (HFA), Music Reports Inc. (MRI.), and the newly established Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC.)

What is The Harry Fox Agency?

The Harry Fox Agency is the largest provider of mechanical licensing and royalties services in the US. They hold the keys to the doors of the biggest music publishers you can think of.

What is Music Reports Inc.?

Music Reports Inc. (MRI) is a bit different in that it's not just an MRO, but also a provider of royalties technology and administration services. They work with all the major digital service providers - think Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music - to help make sure royalties are being paid out correctly.

What is Mechanical Licensing Collective?

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) is the newest MRO on the block, having only been established in January of 2021. The MLC was created as part of the Music Modernization Act - I'll spare you all the details - and its main purpose was to make sure that music copyright was protected as all the different formats become digital.

Spotify pays two types of royalties: mechanical and performance. But the royalties paid are different across each - and typically the artist will see a small portion of the proceeds after distribution.

That's right, there are two types of royalties distributed whenever your song is streamed on Spotify. Performance and mechanical royalties are just two of the four types of royalties - but you should know all four if you are creating music.

What Are Mechanical Royalties?

Mechanical royalties are payments made to songwriters and their publishers for the privilege of reproducing their work on a physical format, such as CDs or vinyl records, or as a digital product like a stream.

Since mechanical royalties are critical to streaming revenue, this caught my attention. As an artist making a go of YouTube Music, Spotify, and others, my next stop was to figure out what this meant for me.

Like I said though, artists won't get the full payout on royalties, mechanical or otherwise. Especially on a platform like Spotify, which has one of the lowest payouts per stream within the music streaming ecosystem.

How Much Does Spotify Pay Per Stream?

Spotify pays artists an average of $0.0033 per stream. Comparatively, platforms like Apple Music and Tidal pay on average $.01 per stream and $.011 per stream.

Of the big four music streaming platforms (Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify), Spotify is by far the lowest revenue generator for artists. That said, it does have an incredibly loyal audience that streams a ridiculously high volume.

If you are trying to figure out which music streaming platform to use, so you can maximize revenue per stream, I highly recommend you check out some of the pros and cons to consider before making a decision.

Ok, Spotify is not a great earner, but all the streaming services have to abide by the mechanical royalties. So it's important to know how it all connects.

How do Mechanical Royalties Work in Streaming?

Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, etc, hold the lion's share of mechanical royalties that get paid in today's music world. And while what gets paid out for streaming can vary quite a bit, the volume of streams can offset the low revenue per stream.

I'm going to focus on the US for the following info, but each region will have a separate approach for this.

Who Pays Mechanical Royalties?

Traditionally, The entity that "presses, manufactures, or duplicates" the physical copies of a work is who pays the mechanical royalties in the US.

For example, if you bought a CD from an artist, the record label that pressed and sold that CD is who would owe the mechanical royalties to the songwriter - not the artist. The same goes for vinyl records.

Who Pays Mechanical Royalties for Streaming Music?

In the digital world, it's a little different. The platform that makes the copy of the work available to the listener is who pays the mechanical royalties in the US.

For example, if you stream a song on Spotify, Spotify is who would owe the mechanical royalties to the songwriter - not the artist or record label.

This is an important distinction to make because it's often assumed that the artist is who would get paid the mechanical royalties for streaming. But that's not necessarily the case.

Most artists see very little - if any - of their streaming mechanical royalties. The majority of those royalties go to the songwriter and/or publisher.

The reason for this is that the artist typically signs over their mechanical royalties to the record label in exchange for an advance and/or other considerations.

This is known as a "controlled composition clause" and it's pretty standard in most record deals nowadays.

It's also important to point out that the US isn't the only country where this happens. In many other countries, the artist also signs over their streaming mechanical royalties to the record label.

So, while the artist may not see any of their streaming mechanical royalties, they are still owed those royalties by the platform. The royalties just get paid to the record label instead.

The good news is that the US Copyright Office had a new rule that went into effect on January 1, 2021 that allows artists to terminate their record deals after 35 years. This allows them to collect their mechanical royalties on their music from 1986 onward.

Who Collects Mechanical Royalties for Streaming?

In the US, The Harry Fox Agency, Music Reports Inc (MRI), and Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) cover the collection of mechanical royalties - all of which are classified as MROs. It's a misconception that BMI or other PROs will collect mechanical royalties - they stick to performance royalties.

Harry Fox is the largest of the three and they've been around the longest. They currently represent over 48,000 music publishers and handle over 50% of all digital mechanical licenses in the US.

Music Reports Inc is a direct competitor to Harry Fox and they represent around 20,000 music publishers. MRI also has a direct licensing program that allows them to license directly with digital service providers (DSPs) like Spotify, Amazon, Apple, etc.

The Mechanical Licensing Collective is the newest of the three and they were created by the Music Modernization Act (MMA) in 2018. The MLC is a non-profit organization that covers mechanical licensing and royalty collection for streaming services.

Royalties for Self-Releasing Artists

An artist who releases their own music can still collect mechanicals and performance royalties. While this would earn the most profit per royalty, it comes at the expense of not having a label promote your name, so you could miss out on higher volume as a result.

There are three parts to collecting for your music.

1. Distribution: You would set up an arrangement with a distributor like AWAL, CD Baby, or Tunecore. They are some of the most popular self-release services that will help with this. You could either pay a flat fee for their work or offer a cut for the distribution of your work.

2. Mechanicals: You can collect through a separate entity or do it all yourself. Collecting yourself brings in more profit, but requires more work on your end.

3. Performance: This is typically handled by a PRO, and the songwriter would be owed the writing and publishing proceeds collected.

In short, if you're a self-releasing artist, you can still collect mechanical royalties. You'll just need to set up an arrangement with a distributor and handle the collection yourself or through a separate entity.

This process can be daunting, but it's important to remember that you're owed these royalties for your music. The good news is that there are services available to help make this easier - all you need to do is some research and find the best option for you.

Other Royalties You Should Know

Mechanical royalties are just one type of royalty that artists should be aware of. Other royalties can be collected for different uses of your music as well. I've just barely touched on performance royalties, but there are also sync and print royalties.

Performance royalties are earned whenever your music is played on the radio, TV, or any live performance venues. These royalties are collected by aPRO (like BMI or ASCAP) and they are then split between the songwriter and the publisher.

Sync royalties are earned whenever your music is used in a commercial, TV show, movie, or video game. These are usually handled by a music supervisor or composer but can be collected by the artist as well.

Print royalties are earned whenever your music is printed in sheet form. This includes anything from method books to guitar tablature. These royalties are typically collected by the publisher but can be collected by the songwriter as well.

While there are many different types of royalties, mechanical royalties are some of the most important for artists to understand. They can be a significant source of income, especially for digital streaming services.

But because streaming services also pay out performance royalties, you should know how those work. And certainly don't overlook sync royalties - there is a component within that called micro-sync royalties that applies to your music on short-form video formats like Tik Tok.

So What Does All of This Mean for Musicians?

Simply put, it means that streaming services like Spotify pay mechanical royalties (and performance,) but artists see very little of those payments. Organizations like Harry Fox Agency, MRI, and the MLC come in to help collect and distribute mechanical royalties.

If you're self-releasing your music, you can handle mechanical royalties on your own, but don't forget about performance royalties and distribution. And there are two other types of royalties that you should know just as well as mechanical and performance royalties.

To learn more about all four types of music royalties and how they can affect your career as a musician, check out our other article called "What are the Different Types of Royalties in Music?"

As a musician, I know that streaming services are an important part of promoting my music, but not necessarily the most profitable part of my business. I decided to research which music streaming service is the best at building income for musicians.

Apple Music pays musicians the most per stream, averaging $.01 per stream. Although Apple Music has half the subscribers of Spotify, on average, it pays nearly three times the amount per stream compared to Spotify.

Streaming is essential to building a music career for today's artists, but it's not all rainbows and butterflies, especially if the best paying platform averages $.01 per stream. To pick the best platform and get the most out of streaming, there are some other factors outside of revenue per stream that you need keep an eye on.

In this article, I'll help you figure out which platforms to prioritize. I'll show you what each major streaming service pays per stream, what other independent artists are currently making, and where your audiences stream music.

What Streaming Service Pays the Most per Stream?

The average artist gets $.01 per stream on Apple Music, which is significantly higher than the other popular platforms in the United States. If you were to get one million streams on Apple Music, the platform would pay out around $10k.  

For comparison, on average, YouTube pays $.008 per stream, Amazon Music pays $.004 per stream, and Spotify pays $.0033 per stream. Yes, you read that correctly, Spotify pays out $.0033 per stream.

I don't know about you, but none of those financial figures look impressive, it's even hard to understand what the highest paying service (Apple Music) means monetarily - sure, I know that $.01 is a penny, but how many streams do I need to make it worth my while?

A penny may seem low, obviously because it is, but it's a penny per stream - many platforms, including Spotify, consider a stream to be when someone listens for at least 30 seconds.

So, let's imagine that one of your tracks took off and got a million streams over a year. What would that mean financially?

There's a lot of sweat, tears, and luck involved in getting one million streams in a year. And yet, the best-case scenario for streaming revenue is $10k, and the worst-case scenario is $3.3k.

Here's the sand in your eyes while you're laying on the ground.

If you work with a distributor, and your arrangement involves placing your music on Spotify, let's say CD Baby or Tunecore, you can expect your cut to decrease even more. If you go that route, hopefully, those distributors will be able to increase your stream count so you ultimately bring in more income.

With this revenue per stream information alone, it seems that Spotify has put us artists in an interesting position.

Spotify knows that they hold one of the most valuable audiences, which happens to be the largest share of music-specific paid subscribers by a significant margin. So they naturally pay the worst for a stream - because, why not?

Spotify is banking on artists choosing quality exposure to a valuable audience over artists choosing to focus on platforms that pay the most revenue per stream. It's the independent musician's dilemma of the day.

Spotify's leverage and forced predicament is the biggest reason why independent artists rarely make a living wage through streaming on Spotify.

Which brings us to our next installment - what can you expect to earn by streaming on Spotify?

How Much Do Artists Earn Streaming on Spotify?

Around 98% of Spotify artists made less than $1,000 a year on streaming in 2021. According to Spotify's Loud & Clear, 203,000 out of the over 11 million artists on Spotify (new figures from Spotify Q4 earnings call) earned over $1,000 in 2021.

The actual figure is that 1.85% of artists earn more than $1k a year streaming (I was just rounding up.) Yikes, that figure hurts.

If you need some added context, don't sweat, I got you.

Musicians Have a Slightly Better Chance of Earning $1K Than Going NFL

In 2020, there were 73,000 football players in the NCAA (Division I to Division III. Of those players, 16,380 were eligible to go pro. Of those eligible to go to a professional league (think age requirements here,) 254 successfully made the transition.

So my headline there is a little misleading, but for the mathematicians out there, that's a 1.6% conversion rate of going from college football player to pro.

So, as a musician, you have slightly better odds of earning over $1,000 streaming on Spotify in a year, than a college football player turning pro.

Hooray! What a relief.

Sorry to kick you while you're down, but the truly depressing part about this stat is that you would need over 300,000 (~303k total) streams just to make $1,000 on Spotify.

Over 200k Spotify Artists Had a Million Streams in 2021

And yet over 200,000 people successfully did just that in 2021. Well done you all. In fact, there were quite a few who even earned well above that number.

Ok, so Spotify doesn't pay the best, you get my point. Then surely it's the most popular, right?

What is the Most Popular Music Streaming Service?

Globally, YouTube Music is the most widely used music streaming service by a large margin, with over 2 billion users. The second most popular music streaming service is Tencent which is most popular in China and boasts 800 million users.

The third most popular music streaming service is Spotify - between its paid subscribers and freemium users, there are 381 million people on the platform.

While all the data above includes a mix of paid and freemium subscribers, there's something to be said for paid subscribers and their motivations.

This breed of listener is typically going to be an audience that values a pure music experience and is willing to throw down their hard-earned money for an ad-free experience.

I'd venture this is an audience more likely to support you monetarily compared to a freemium user. In that case, let's have a closer look at paying subscribers and which music platforms have the most.

What Music Streaming Service has the Most Paid Subscribers?

Spotify has the most paid subscribers, reporting 165 million in 2021. Due in large part to being first-to-market, Spotify has a dominant market share for paid subscribers.

The second most popular music subscription service is Apple Music, which reported 88 million subscribers in 2021.

Rounding out the third and fourth most popular music subscriptions are Amazon Music and YouTube Music, reporting 70 million and 50 million subscribers in 2021 respectively.

I find it fascinating that the global juggernaut of YouTube, has a lower percentage of paid subscribers than Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon music.

Maybe it's due to the way people use these platforms- with YouTube often used as a discovering platform while Spotify focuses more on focused listening habits

For me, the main takeaway is that each platform has something valuable to offer. With YouTube (and arguably Amazon Music) you get a baked-in audience that will give you some solid exposure.

With both Apple Music and Spotify, you'll find a more premium listener - while Apple Music pays the best, Spotify has that quality listener at a much larger scale through their subscribed listeners.

Of course, it's not always as simple as picking YouTube for popularity, and Spotify for quality - what about the fans? If you can't be on every platform and manage the experience well, you should think like your fans and figure out which platform they use the most to guide your decisions.

What is the Most Popular Music Platform in the US by Age?

YouTube is the most popular music platform in the US, with around 44% of US adults using it across all age groups. Even with the 18-34-year-old age group, YouTube has higher usage than Spotify.

The platform with the least usage is Amazon Music, but it's important to remember that this still represents millions of people.

Also, if you're trying to add up the numbers in the chart above to make sure they equal 100%, I'll save you time. They don't.

That's because most people listen to multiple streaming services, and this can vary based on location or even who they are with - like driving in your car solo vs. driving with your kids in the back seat.

YouTube (and Amazon Music) Have Built-in Reach

I was surprised that YouTube was still the most popular for a younger demographic. I fully expected to discover a new platform I had never heard of while researching this part. But this does make sense if you sit and think about it for a minute.

YouTube benefits from the ability to listen to music on two apps - YouTube Music and the regular YouTube app, which focuses more on music videos.

There are tons of ways to watch videos today, I mean music and Tik Tok are inseparable. But for a full video viewing from your favorite artist or a live session, YouTube is most likely going to be one of the first stops on the streaming tour.

YouTube is the Third Largest Search Engine in the World

Purely looking at the numbers too, this YouTube data shouldn't be all that surprising given YouTube is the third most popular search engine, just behind Google Images.

For those keeping track, that means Alphabet, which owns Google, Google Images, and YouTube has the three most popular search engines.

The Value of Understanding Your Audience

If you're trying to decide where to focus your efforts as an artist or band, these numbers can help give some guidance. But if you only look at absolute numbers and percentages, you are going to miss out.

For instance, if you made your decision to focus on a platform solely based on the age breakdown by platform, that could be a misstep.

Maybe that data is suggesting that the respondent uses YouTube every morning while they comb their hair, but every other day they listen to Amazon Music for their daily commute - and it's an hour drive each way.

In that case, I would rather have the Amazon Music platform.

Hopefully, you see what I'm getting at - there are a lot of variables that go into play here. An easy one related to the "Most Popular Music Platforms by Age" chart, is to look at the breakdown of which streaming services are used the most often.

That could give a better view of where a listener is actually spending their time.

What Music Streaming Platforms are Used Most Often?

Spotify is the most frequently used music streaming service, with nearly 35% of American adults saying they listen to music on the platform most often. YouTube is the next most used platform, with 18% of Americans reporting they use YouTube most often.

Well here I go again (on my own... going down the only road I've ever known...) One minute I'm in the YouTube camp, the next I'm on team Spotify. Which is entirely my point.

How Do You Prioritize a Streaming Platform to Focus on?

If you're trying to get maximum exposure to your music, YouTube (including YouTube Music) seems like it should be a priority. You know you're music better than anyone though and should start with your fans first and foremost.

As it relates to your audience - you'll want to get close to their behaviors and where they hang out online. You may want to be agnostic of the numbers you just read and go into this with fresh eyes.

Dig around on all four platforms and see which platform, imagine your typical listener, and find where they congregate on each platform.

Aside from YouTube just being a numbers game, where does your typical fan age range land? What about their interests and geographies? That should guide you on another way to prioritize your platforms to add into the mix for exposing your music to the right audience.

Spotify is certainly an important platform from quality of listener perspective, but also valuable when you look at the volume (yes that's a pun) of listeners. AKA, Spotify has quality AND quantity.

And while Spotify's nearly 400 million users look puny compared to YouTube's 2 billion, when you take into account audience behaviors, like frequency of listens, well you start to view Spotify in a different light. Well beyond monetary gain of streaming revenue.

How Many Streams Does Spotify Have in a Year?

According to Spotify, in 2021 the company paid out $7 Billion for streaming rights to artist music. With the average stream paying $.0033, Spotify roughly had 2.1 trillion streams in the year.

Trillion. With a "T" - and I'm going to capitalize/bold/underline/italicize that for emphasis.

Trillion is so huge, that you can't even see the 4 million streams in a minute or the 242 million streams in an hour. All those numbers are hard to comprehend really - when you introduce 9 and 12 zeroes to numbers, the scale quickly becomes incomprehensible.

So let's start "small" and build up the context.

How Many Daily Streams Are Needed for a Million Streams a Year?

Let's say you wanted to get a million streams a year - on average you would need 2,780 per day to hit your goal. That's a lot, but possible. Especially since 238,000 songs on Spotify were streamed over a million times in 2021.

How's your brain doing? Want to look at a few more numbers? Perfect.

How many daily streams would you need to reach a billion or trillion streams a year?

You would need 2.8 million streams a day to reach a billion streams in a year.

And this is insane but if you wanted to reach a trillion streams in a year, you would need to get 2.7 billion streams a day for 365 days.

As crazy as the trillion streams figure looks and sounds, Spotify did this in 2021. Actually they did more than twice that a day - Spotify is getting more than 5.7 billion streams a day.

In case you're a visual learner like I am, let's use a different example to explain this - where every stream is equivalent to 1 second (I know it's off-topic, but I'm a sucker for this stuff and visual context.)

So if Spotify had 2.1 trillion streams in 2021, and each stream was worth one second, how far back in history would we be able to go?

Damn. That's pretty far back. We hit the times of the neanderthal, with wooly mammoths running around, and all that jazz.

As you can see, the total number of users on a platform isn't everything, there are many factors at play - audience type via demographics like age, or behaviors like frequency of streams are just as important as the total number of listeners.

And in this case with Spotify, it's pretty clear that they do have a valuable audience that listens to a ton of music.

How Every Musician Should Approach Streaming Services

Bringing this back from the past, the overarching takeaway is that if you are in the music business, your marketing and distribution of music needs to be multi-platform.

Figure out what your goals are and define the role of each streaming channel.

A good place to start is to figure out your channel for the most exposure potential, your channel for where your audience currently lives, and the channel that gives you the highest return per streaming.

Yes, that's three channels. It could be one channel does all three of these, or it could mean your streaming mix needs to involve three separate platforms.

Regardless, doing this exercise will help you focus your energies and establish where you need to invest time and energy.

I know this article can be a bit heady with the charts and data, but your music is your product. And your show is your experience. Using data and looking at your fans' behavior is an important step in making sure you maximize your earnings potential is crucial to being in the music business.

I think the biggest oversight about streaming is that artists lose sight of the value in reaching a new audience, and put too much energy on revenue from streaming.

If you were able to get a million streams on Spotify because your audience is there, but you only earned $3.3k for that work would you take it?

I know I would. That exposure could be monetized elsewhere - it could be on merch on my site, live show attendance increasing, more followers on Instagram leading to influencer deals, or one of the many other ways to earn more money as a performing musician.

So there you have it - more than you ever cared to know about music streaming revenue.

Streaming platforms shouldn't be looked at in isolation. Just like all the other ways you can earn more money as a musician, there's no single way to measure value. And that includes only looking at revenue.

Whether you’re a musician or just like to listen to music, there are plenty of apps out there that can make your experience better. And there are more than enough music apps, even those built just for musicians, but we wanted to focus on the wild breed of musicians who like to pour their hearts out with an audience surrounding them. If that's you, then this article on the best apps for performing musicians had you in mind all along.

Determining the Top 5 Apps for Musicians

The average smartphone has 80 apps installed - let that sink in for a second. And each app has a varying degree of purpose - even within your music folder on your phone, you may have 5 music apps that do different things.

One to listen to music, another to record, another one to listen to indie music, etc.

When sitting down to write this article, the need for clear criteria became clear. It wasn't good enough to just list out the coolest music apps - there needed to be something more concrete. The goal is to ultimately save you, the performing musician, time on finding diamonds in the rough.

Focus on Live Musicians

So right off the bat, the recommendations needed to have the live musician in mind. That means an essential music app that is portable because a live musician is on the road or at least away from home quite a bit. And adds value - be it monetary or creative, something that makes it worth your while to use with frequency and helps you advance your music career.

Intuitive User Experience

Usability, in the context of not being at home, or even being in front of a live audience, was also an important factor. If an app in question was needlessly complex or resource-intensive, it probably wasn’t going to cut it.

Each App is Unique

Additionally, it became important to make sure that each recommended app offered something unique compared to the other apps on the list. This helped to add more value and cater to a wider range of performing musicians.

The Performing Musician's Journey

Using the criteria above, a final list was formed that naturally accounted for the entire journey of a performing musician. From practicing, songwriting, and recording, to live shows and the all-important utility tool.

In this article, you'll find the 5 apps that you need to install if you are a live musician. You'll get a clear read on what they do, where each excels, the favorite features of each app, how much it costs, and where it's available. Plus, for full transparency, we've added why it made the list specifically.

Feel free to jump around the article with the Table of Contents below.

Table of Contents:

• Best App For Creating Music

• Best App for Songwriting

• Best App for Live Shows

• Best App for Rehearsing

• Best App for Tuning

Let's get started.

What are the 5 Best Apps for Musicians?

GarageBand

Best App For Creating Music

Garageband has been a staple on Macs, as a desktop app, for years. It's always given musicians and tinkerers access to an incredible music creation tool - and John Mayer is famous for supporting its initial launch as "democratizing" music creation.

It's got all the features of the desktop app but with a seriously impressive multitouch interface that will make you think GarageBand started with iOS or iPad.

You can create, play and record music and effects using the Touch Instruments - which is exactly what it sounds like. Fire up the keys, drum set, guitar, and synth apps - they are all included in the app, and using them is probably as close to playing the real instruments as you can currently get in an on-screen environment.

It's simple to view tracks as notation as well - and easy to generate sheet music from your projects.

You can make any kind of music you want using this app and it'll sound incredible. Plus it's easy to set up if it's your first time. The possibilities are endless - and GarageBand continues to change the game even a decade after they hit the scene.

The magic behind this whole app, beyond just its features and usability, has to be that it's just fun to mess with. As a musician, you'll go down some paths you wouldn't normally go, which can be rewarding, even if it doesn't make the final cut.

Standout Feature: Everything + It's a Free App

Ok, this is a bit of a cop-out, but it's worth reiterating that this is free... and absolutely the best option given that price tag.

Other Favorite Features

• Live Loops - Super intuitive since it's touch-based, but this is a fun one added to the experience.

• Smart Instruments - virtual instruments that can play chords and autoplay as needed (piano, strings, guitar, and bass)

• Syncs with iCloud - so any Apple device can pick up where the other left off

• Tons of Tracks - Up to 32 tracks - an impressive amount

User Experience

If you're a performing musician, you're probably on the go a lot - time for creating or recording can be difficult to pencil in.

And when you do have time at home, you may not have the energy to fire up some creative juices - and if you have any sort of relationship, your partner may not appreciate your "at-home time" spent face down in a screen.

If you have a creative pulse during any precious downtime, GarageBand should be your go-to. It's the easiest way to access everything you need to create music, and you don't skip a beat between the desktop version and the portable version.

Pricing:

Free: That's right. Free app.

Logic: $200 (this is an upgraded version)

Availability:

Mac and iOS devices only - Sorry Windows and Android folks - there are some solid alternatives though.

Why GarageBand Made the List

It's pretty amazing to think that such a powerful piece of tech is not only a free app, (there is an upgraded version available with more features) but also extremely easy to use. When GarageBand migrated to iOS, and most recently to iPad, there was concern that the usability might suffer. But it's just the opposite.

Making a full-fledged studio free and one of the most intuitive apps on the market is why it made the list here.

Songwriter's Pad

Best App for Songwriting

Songwriter's Pad is the best thing that has happened to music since Purple Rain. That may be a bit biased, but that album is ridiculously solid.

As the creative name suggests, this app was built specifically for songwriters. Topline, this music app is on a mission to improve the quality of your writing, and it does that by streamlining the process while adding some creative gasoline to your song fire.

There is a nice creative assistance element in the app, such as the idea generation, which pumps out song ideas to get over the writer's block hurdle. And as you know, sometimes the perfect lyric requires the perfect rhyme - it includes a rhyme lookup function built exactly for that purpose.

It also includes chord notation, in case that's how you write, and also has recording and backing track functions so you can give it go live.

You never know when inspiration strikes, and having something like this in your pocket can make all the difference. The beauty here is that there's a massive difference in jotting lyrics down vs detailing the feeling and intention of lyrics.

The comprehensive setup naturally fosters everything from song ideas to a rough recording with context.

Standout Feature: Generating Song Ideas

Writer's block is real, and sometimes you just need a nudge. The idea generator is top-notch and nudging, but also feels more intuitive than other web apps that help you concept.

Other Favorite Features

• Layering - This is a killer feature that will let you layer up tracks of recordings, so you can get a better feel of how the song comes to life.

• Vocab - Thesaurus, phrases, dictionary - all of the above. It helps you tap into new approaches and increase your vocabulary as a musician.

• Device Syncing - Android or iOS, Mac or Windows - it doesn't matter with Songwriter's Pad - this is awesome for making songwriting available wherever you are.

User Experience

This is an incredibly intuitive app overall. It's clear to navigate and that's vital for this process. Nothing is worse than disrupting flow while writing a song. The developers must have had solid insight into that when they created the product.

Pricing:

Free: Free app, but does have In-App Purchases and ads

Availability:

All of the above - iOS, Android, etc.

Why Songwriter's Pad Made the List

This app features everything a songwriter needs. There are other apps out there that may have more features or be more comprehensive, but this one hits all the key points and does it in an easy-to-use interface.

The best part of this app is that it's free - usability and price were major factors in creating this list.

SongMe

Best App for Interactive Live Shows

If you play live, add SongMe to your arsenal.

Built by musicians, for musicians, SongMe is a handy app that has a clever way of making your life easier on stage while improving your fan's experience - oh, and all while increasing your income.

Taking live requests can be cumbersome at times - SongMe will let you upload your shows and song catalogs to the app. Fans can then make real-time requests in the app, from your catalog. And attach a tip to the request.

You can decide to thumbs up or thumbs down their request - and if you do decide to play the song, your tip automatically heads to your bank account.

Your fans, or new fans in the audience, will be able to see your current set list and track where you are playing next so they can make your show.

You'll also get access to the data from your set - you can see which songs were requested, what you turned down, etc - this is a great way to identify trends and figure out ways to improve your show.

Standout Feature: Handy App for Fan Engagement

There are few apps for musicians that carry so much weight for live musicians - but adding your shows in so new fans can catch your next live performance is powerful.

Other Favorite Features

• Fan Experience - This app does a great job of taking the age-old concept of requesting music during a live show and bringing it into the 21st century. And it does this in a way where it's fun for fans to get involved, while also being profitable to you, the musician.

• Data Recaps - All the features are fantastic, but the ability to take your performance and dissect it to improve your next show is invaluable.

• Benefits - SongMe is hellbent on supporting musicians - transcending the apps for musicians space - you'll find a section of the site that's dedicated to insurance for independent musicians - everything you would expect like health insurance, all the way to pet insurance. It's a seriously cool offering.

User Experience

It couldn't be easier to upload your catalog and update where your shows are. The interface is clean and simple - and the dark color makes it easy to glance at during shows. Tips and requests take visual cues from other apps in the wild that everyone has, so the experience is instinctual for anyone that installs SongMe.

Pricing:

Free: Boom. A free app is always welcome.

Availability:

iOS and Android

Why SongMe Made the List

If you are looking for the best apps for live musicians anywhere online, you'll find a ton of results that focus on pre and post, but very few that cater to an app that helps you during an actual live performance.

SongMe was built specifically for that reason, and if you play live, whether at a wedding, local pub, or concert hall, there is a component of the app that will help you.

iReal Pro

Best App for Practicing

Serious musicians know the value of practice, but also that it's not always feasible to have the rest of your band around, or even be in the same place as all of your equipment.

And you have a ton of options if you're looking for apps to help you practice. But we are proposing just one practice app to "rule them all."

iReal Pro has been helping musicians practice for over a decade now by helping musicians practice with a simulated band - and it's not an awful Chuck-E-Cheese animatronic sound, they have solid backing tracks.

Some people even use this app for live backing tracks, but this feature is best served for practicing.

There are so many options here - 50+ including the usual genre suspects, but also the atypical - for instance, they just added salsa to the mix.

Aside from practicing with backing tracks, you can catalog chord charts of songs you love, or quickly create your own based on your songs.

You can manipulate existing songs or build from scratch, then share out however you like - whether that's sheet music (the sheet music exports will to midi and musicXML) or an audio file.

This is perfect for passing along sheet music or rough audio ideas to the rest of your band. Plus it's all backed up into the cloud if you'd like it to be.

It's like having an instructor with you at all times, without the small practice booth and the overbearing smell of patchouli.

Standout Feature: Sheet Music

You'll love how easy it is to export into midi or musicXML format.

Other Favorite Features

• Style Options - iReal Pro has a robust catalog of styles included - but if you are looking for something specific, they also have some unique options that you can purchase individually.

• Brass Tacks - It's always nice to run through progressions, even as a warm-up - the app includes chord diagrams for guitar, ukulele, and piano based on your own chord chart, PLUS it offers recommended chord progressions and scales based on your chord charts.

• Community - The online community in the app is the unsung hero - it's active and behaves a lot like Reddit where you can branch off into styles or instruments, etc.

User Experience

Simple. Simple. Simple.

Too many simples there, but that's where the mind gravitates when using iReal Pro - and that's said in the best way possible. You can create chord charts that are easy to read and share them effortlessly.

This is only possible because the user experience is stellar - no instruction manual is required.

Pricing:

Standard: $14.99

In-App Purchases: e.g. $4.99 Blues Backing Tracks (I know, in-app purchases are the worst, but the base product has just about everything you'll need - the in-app purchases are extremely specialized.

Availability:

iOS and Android

Why iReal Pro Made the List

Between performing its intended function extremely well, and the online community support, iReal Pro makes practicing easier and more enjoyable. And that's a difficult thing to do at times - and certainly sets it apart from the thousand other apps for practice.

Cleartune

Best App for Tuning

A tuner isn't the most exciting app on this list - but it is one of the most useful. There are so many tuner apps for musicians too - but one rises above the rest. And that's why we've decided to include ClearTune.

ClearTune does one thing, and it does it well - it tunes your instrument (voice is an instrument too) for you.

The app is a chromatic instrument tuner and pitch pipe - they incorporate a wheel design for finding pitch in combination with a meter, which makes it clear how to quickly make adjustments to get perfect pitch.

This is a professional-grade tuner in app form and can tune nearly any instrument, even violins. Most tuner apps are going to have clear limitations, but Cleartune outperforms most physical tuners.

Standout & Favorite Feature

• Pitch and Pair - Makes it easy to find the right pitch and pair it without any issue.

User Experience

Simple makes the list again. It's accurate (can't state how important that is for a live performance) and it's also quick.

It gets three cheers for its simplicity, but it can also be as complex or detailed as you like. That flexibility for users is a nice touch.

Pricing:

Standard: $3.99

Availability:

iOS only. Hey Androiders - head here for alternative tuners.

Why Cleartune Made the List

It's not all that surprising that the shortest length recommendation in our best apps is for Cleartune. It does one thing, but it does it well. It's simple, and whether you are at home or on a stage, its readability and accuracy make it bar-none when comparing other tuner apps.

Being tuned is beyond important for any sort of performance - so a tuner needed to be on this list as a result.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup of the best apps for performing musicians!

Whether you are a beginner just starting out, or a seasoned pro, if you're getting in front of a crowd, there is an app on this list that will help you in your music career, helping you practice, rehearse, record, and perform better.

Being a musician and performing is difficult - like really difficult - and an app that can cater to your life and improve it in some aspect is worth an install or a few bucks.

We would love to hear which ones you end up trying, or if you think another app should be added to the list - let us know in the comments