Streaming is quickly becoming music’s most profitable frontier. For many artists, that means skipping gatekeepers and developing a direct following. But with so many different streaming music platforms out there, the digital rights management p…
Category archives: Information For Musicians
45 Ways an Artist Can Make Money In 2017
This list was generated as part of Future of Music Coalition’s Artist Revenue Streams research project, a cross-genre multi-method examination of musicians’ revenue streams. More on this list and other reports here. As you read this list, remember th…
Taking the Hero Out of Heroin: Through the Eyes of an Ex-Heroin Addict
The following article is a hard glimpse into the lifestyle of an active heroin user. It’s written by Amanda Bocchi, a writer and Americana soul musician. She agreed to detail the trainwreck that is addiction. Part One January 2015, Blue Ridge M…
What Facebook Armageddon and YouTube Adpocalypse Taught Me About My Email List
This just in: Facebook says they aren’t going to decimate your band Page’s reach, after all. Do you really need another memo? People have been bitching about Facebook for years. But that’s a huge waste of energy. I’ve seen a f…
The 15 Different Kinds of Musicians In This World
1. The Unsigned DIY Do-it-yourself (DIY) and totally direct-to-fan. Not affiliated, this soloist or band is handling mostly everything themselves. Typically very early stage, with low levels of income but ample inspiration. Early fans, and early sig…
How A-List Freelance Musicians Get Hired in LA
Last month I found myself on the Sunset Strip looking up at the Tower Records marquee and a long line of people standing outside the building. Now, for LA natives this seems odd considering Tower Records shut down this location back in 2006. The people…
Sorry, You Can’t Fund Your Fetish Porn Site on Patreon Anymore
Patreon is taking more forceful action against NSFW and pornographic content. That includes a range of accounts that involve porn sites, webcams, and ‘fringe adult’ activity. At a certain stage, this stops being fun for Patreon. Who knows…
How Post Malone Stuck It to YouTube, Got a #1 Hit, and Cashed a Big Fat Check
Everyone’s complaining about how little YouTube pays artists. So Post Malone, 21 Savage, and Republic Records did something about it. The music industry spends a lot of time complaining about YouTube. Now, we’re starting to see more and m…
I’m Beyonce’s Band Leader. And These Are My 16 Tips for Turning Pro
“There are no rules for success,” says Bibi McGill, leader of Beyonce’s band, Suga Mama. But these 16 principles just might change your musical career. This is the person that Beyonce trusts to manage, direct, and coordinate her back…
The 7 Most Stinging Stereotypes About Musicians
1. They’re flaky. Always f—king late. Late to sound check. Late to the gig. Late to the media interview. Late to the meeting with the lawyer for the career-changing contract they need to understand. 2. Emotionally unstable. This one’s th…