If you are looking to start a career in the music industry, you may be wondering how beat makers get paid. While making your own music and sharing it with the world may be exciting, it can also seem intimidating financially. This guide explains how to make money as a beat maker and the multiple revenue streams that you can create.
How to Make Money as a Beat Maker?
Are you wondering: do beat makers make money? You might be surprised to learn that there are plenty of opportunities in the music industry for talented beat makers who are looking to live off their craft.
Understanding the Music Industry
The music industry is diverse and in constant evolution. It encompasses different sectors, from writers, performing artists, beat makers, and recording labels to publishing companies, distribution platforms, and promotion agencies. These sectors are all interconnected, working together to bring music to a wide audience.
Each player contributes to the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry and opens opportunities for talented individuals from all backgrounds. Nevertheless, financial prospects may depend on the sector as well as each individual’s number of revenue streams and level of success. Consumer trends and market shifts can also greatly impact each person’s revenue.
Tips to Build Your Beat-Making Skills
As a beat maker, it is important that you hone your skills continuously. The music industry is extremely competitive, so if you want to make money from your music, you should find a distinctive sound that will set you apart from other artists and help you build your own audience. Here are some tips to help you improve your beat-making skills.
1. Practice Makes Perfect
Explore the functionalities of your digital audio workstation (DAW) and perfect your skills by practicing them often.
Experiment With Different Rhythms, Melodies, Dynamics, and Harmonies
Music is based on four pillars: rhythm, melody, dynamic and harmony. Try out different combinations to discover new sounds.
2. Learn Music Theory
By learning the basics of music theory, you will become more familiar with concepts such as scales, chord progressions, and rhythmic patterns. This will be helpful when making your own beats.
3. Listen to Different Genres
Get out of your comfort zone by discovering and analyzing new artists and genres. Open your musical horizons to draw inspiration from an array of musical references.
Master Different Software and Hardware Tools
Take the time to compare different groove boxes, samplers, microphones, computers, and other beat-making hardware that you might need. Also, try out different DAWs to choose the platform that best suits your needs.
Beat-Making Revenue Streams
There are plenty of ways beat makers can make money by capitalizing on different revenue streams. Simply put, a revenue stream is a source of income for a business or an individual. From selling beats to online content creation, here are some of the main strategies beat makers use to make money.
1. Selling Beats: Platforms, Pricing, and Strategies
Thanks to online marketplaces such as BeatStars, SoundClick and Airbit, beat makers can sell their high-quality beats to other creatives and get publishing royalties. Some platforms also offer the possibility to promote their music through ads, create websites for artists, and even track how and when their music is being used across social media. Investing time and money in marketing is crucial to help you increase your sales. Properly setting your rates is also important to attract talented musicians who are looking for high-quality beats.
2. Licensing Music
You can also consider licensing your beats. Depending on what kind of licensing deal you sign, you can give clients permission to feature your beats in TV shows, commercials, and movies (synchronization license), to make physical reproductions of your music (mechanical license), and other types of uses. It’s a great way to make passive income from your music.
3. Production Work for Other Artists
Another way to make money as a beat maker is to put your production skills to good use by doing production work for other artists. Depending on your level of expertise, you can establish your rates and offer your services to fellow artists, producers, and beat makers. Working for other musicians can be a great side hustle since it can help you boost your visibility in the beat-making community. It can also be a great opportunity to hone your skills, while establishing long-lasting relationships with people in the same industry.
4. Live Performances
If you have enough material to play a set, you can also look into booking live performances. Research the best venues in your area to showcase your skills and contact the booking agent. Make sure to include links and samples to help them visualize your work. A lot of venues do door deals, which means that artists charge a fee at the entrance and then split it.
5. YouTube Content Creation
YouTube can also be a great way to make money. You can think about monetizing your beats on the platform, making music production tutorials, offering courses, and so on. This is a great way to boost your personal brand and drive traffic to your website.
How To Become a Professional Beat Maker
If you are thinking about becoming a professional beat maker, here is some important advice to help you launch a successful career in the field.
1. Create a Professional Portfolio
No matter what revenue streams you choose to create, make sure to put together a diverse and high-quality portfolio to showcase your skills professionally. This will come in especially handy if you contact potential venues, collaborators, or clients. Most beat makers will put together a website with links to their best work.
2. Network and Collaborate With Fellow Beat Makers
The music industry is all about connections. Do your best to establish genuine relationships with people in the industry by attending networking at events. You never know when potential collaboration opportunities could arise! For example, if you are planning on attending an event, make sure to contact other attendees in advance through the event’s social hashtag. Networking is one of the best ways to gain visibility and recognition in the industry.
3. Play the Marketing Game
Once your website is up, it’s time to increase its visibility. Make sure to optimize your website SEO-wise to ensure that it is well-ranked on Google. Building a social media presence is also a great way to increase your online visibility and drive traffic to your contact form. Moreover, feel free to contact music bloggers and the media directly to spark interest in your work.
4. Legal Considerations
As a creative, it’s important that you protect your work. Make sure to learn the basics of music copyright law so you can always get due credit and your fair share of royalties. While copyright protection begins when the work is recorded or written in a tangible form, it is best to register it at the Canadian Intellectual Porperty Office (CIPO) from the get-go to avoid future problems. It is also recommended to get a lawyer to go over contracts and ensure that your rights are always protected.
5. Financial Management
While beat making is a creative process, it remains a business. Especially if you plan on making a living out of it. So don’t forget to always put your businessperson hat on when negotiating potential collaborations, licensing deals, or performance gigs. Moreover, make sure to spend and reinvest your earnings wisely to ensure long-term growth and peace of mind.
You now know everything about how to make money as a beat maker. From licensing deals to live performances, it’s a matter of seizing the right opportunities and protecting your rights. Working on a collaborative DAW also opens the door to potential collaborations and revenue streams. If you are still searching for the best free production platform to make beats, try out BeatConnect and sign up for your first Beat Battle