People are not Paying for Music Anymore

Top post 4/12/2021

A large section of the intellectual property has become publicly accessible for free. It is only natural for fans not to pay for music too.  Most emerging artists are not very fond of this fact, as it is no longer possible to rely on music sales to sustain a living.

The days when every artist was scolding fans for illegal downloads are long gone. Bands, producers, labels, songwriters, and session musicians were all affected negatively by the decreased amount of purchases. Illegally downloading tracks used to be considered as bad as stealing a toaster from a store. Ok, a toaster is a bit too harsh, but let’s say a pair of socks. However, since the beginning of the century, music sales have dropped dramatically and musicians were forced to embrace alternative cash-flows. The whole music industry had to suck it up, dust itself off, pick up all its weapons, and fight.
The albums have become the business cards of artists and are no longer the end-game. They are more of an introduction, a set of expectations

Anyways, fans have not been paying for music, but that does not mean they would not pay musicians to make music. Here are 7 income streams emerging artists use to put bread on the table:

1. Busking might not be the easiest way to earn money. There is a bunch of factors that affect how much you could make out of playing on the street but will review some other time.
2. Gigs and Tours are not for celebrities only.  What you make from live shows can vary greatly, but it’s still one of the best ways to earn income.
3. Merchandise might make sense if you go on tours. Make sure you bring some t-shirts and stickers with you.
4. Crowdfunding is a great way to get money for your next project. You don’t have to rely on one source to fund it. The investments can come from multiple directions – a concept Airstage will strongly promote. Sign up to get the advantage of this feature when we release the app. 
5. Licensing: If you get your song placed in a film, commercial, or TV show, chances are they’re going to pay you a licensing fee.
6. YouTube pays a portion of that advertising money to the rights holders of the song.
7. Music Lessons: Teaching is the highest form of understanding. If you’re good at what you do, why not pass on the knowledge.Can you think of any others? Let us know at fb.com/airstage.co