42 Ways to Make Money as an Independent Musician

While often difficult, it is never entirely impossible to make a sustainable living as a musician these days. In fact, the Future of Music Coalition assembled a list of 42 ways that musicians can potentially earn money in today's music space - demonstrating the multitude of revenue streams that today's working musician must keep into account when venturing off into the world as an independent musician.

SONGWRITER AND COMPOSER REVENUE

Publisher Advance
Mechanical Royalties
Commissions
Public Performance (PRO) Royalties
Composing Original Works for Broadcast
Synch Licenses
Sheet Music Sales
Ringtones Revenue
ASCAPLUS Awards Program
Publisher Settlement

PERFORMER AND RECORDING ARTIST REVENUE

Salary as Member of Orchestra or Ensemble
Shows/Performance Fees
Record Label Advance
Record Label Support
Retail Sales
Digital Sales
Sales at Shows
Interactive Service Payments
Digital Performance Royalties
AARC Royalties
Neighboring Rights Royalties
AFM/Secondary Markets Fund
AFM/Sound Recording Special Payments
AFTRA Contingent Scale
Label Settlements

SESSION MUSICIAN REVENUE

Session Musician/Sideman Fees for Studio Work
Session Musician/Sideman Fees for Live Work
AFM/AFTRA Payments

KNOWLEDGE OF CRAFT: TEACHING AND PRODUCING

Music Teacher
Producer
Honoraria or Speakers Fees

BRAND-RELATED REVENUE

Merchandise Sales
Fan Club
YouTube Partner Program
Ad Revenue
Persona Licensing
Product Endorsements
Acting

FAN, CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION FUNDING

Fan Funding
Sponsorship
Grants

OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE

Arts Administrator

Source: The Future of Music Coalition