A Fairly Comprehensive List Of Income Streams Available To Artists

Posted by on January 14, 2010

Or at least 99.99999% of those available today. This fairly comprehensive list came from Hypebot, but feel free to post in the comments if you can think of any more.

In this day and age, only the savviest artists are surviving by making the most out of every opportunity. It’s important to know there are other sources of revenue for artists besides simple (well, “simple”) mechanical royalties and gig guarantees. Here are some of the different ways artists are making money today, in no particular order. Hit Hypebot for the rest:

  • Publishing
  • Mechanical royalties
  • Performance Royalties from ASCAP and BMI
  • Digital Performance Royalties from Sound Exchange
  • Sync rights: TV, Commercials, Movies, Video Games
  • Digital sales – Individual or by combination
  • Music (studio & live) Album – Physical & Digital, Single – Digital, Ringtone, Ringback, Podcasts
  • Instant Post Gig Live Recording via download, mobile streaming or flash drives
  • Music videos
  • Video and Internet Games featuring or about the artist
  • Sheet music
  • Compilations
  • Merchandise – Clothes, USB packs, Posters, other things
  • Live Performances
  • Live Show – After Party
  • Meet and Greet
  • Personal Appearance
  • Studio Session Work
  • Sponsorships and endorsements
  • Advertising
  • Blog/Website
  • Fan Clubs
  • Patronage Model – Artist Fan Exclusives – e.g. paying to sing on a song in studio or have artist write a song for you
  • Mobile Apps
  • Artist Specific Revenue Stream – unique streams customized to the specific artist, e.g Amanda Palmer
  • Music Teaching – Lessons and Workshops
  • Music Employment – orchestras, etc, choir directors, ministers of music, etc.
  • Music Production – Studio and Live

Categorised in: Lists