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100+ Music Business Ideas

Idea threads

Lex DeVille

Sweeping Shadows From Dreams
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Just some ideas for ways to make money with music (or turn it into a full-blown business) without becoming a celebrity. Feel free to add your own ideas if you have more.

Direct Performance Ideas
-
Play/sing for weddings
- Play for churches
- Play/sing for funerals
- Play/sing for private parties
- Play/sing for corporate events
- Play/sing for birthday parties
- Play/sing for bars
- Play/sing for coffee shops / bistros
- Play/sing on Social Media (YT/TikTok/Twitter etc.)
- Play/sing at festivals
- Musician for nursing homes
- Musician for the dying (terminal patients)
- Final tune musician (plays a final request just before someone passes away)
- Singing telegram service
- Tailgate party band
- Play/sing for college parties
- Play in an orchestra
- Play/sing for a theatrical production

Offline Business Ideas
- Teach 1:1 Students
- Teach Group Lessons
- Recording studio
- Music editor (sound engineer?)
- Music Equipment Store
- Music store that also offers lessons
- Resell music equipment
- Rent music equipment
- Create a local live music venue
- Create a music festival (vendors pay for booth space, musicians pay to perform)
- Instrument tuning services
- Instrument moving services (i.e. piano moving)
- Instrument storage services
- Children's activity center where children have their first musical learning experiences
- Karaoke bar
- Music Therapy
- Music Business Coaching
- Musician Lead Gen
- Music Lesson Lead Gen
- Musician booking agent
- Dueling Piano/Guitar/other instrument bar
- Talent shows
- Motivational speaker (corporate or youth)
- Physical therapy specializing in musicians
- Private security for celebrity musicians
- Music-themed restaurant with live music
- Instrument cleaning services
- Instrument restoration services
- Recital business where people pay to watch local musicians from kids to adults perform (could be paired with something like a bar for additional entertainment).
- Stage support (people who setup and breakdown stage before and after performances.
- Rent your studio out
- Personal assistant to musician
- Babysitter for musicians (so they can attend gigs)

Online Business Ideas
- YT Music Channel (ads from views on your music)
- YT Equipment review channel (ads/affiliate/sponsorship etc.)
- YT Channel that combines music with a unique angle (i.e. Karen Metal)
- YT Channel that offers lessons and leads back to a course
- Online Coaching
- Online Teaching 1:1 or Group
- App that teaches a single difficult concept in a simple way
- App that teaches an instrument as a skill
- Stock music library
- Meditation Music Website
- App that creates sheet music automatically
- Online Music Therapy
- Livestream Musician (sell subscriptions/ad revenue)
- Sell sheet music digital download
- Sell video song instructions (showing how to play X song)
- Website where you create custom songs upon paid request
- Resell equipment on ebay/craigslist etc.
- Online equipment rental site
- Online equipment store
- Website that only sells gear/equipment/parts for one instrument (i.e. StewMac.com)
- Music critique website
- Livestream Talent Show (like America's Got Talent)
- Music Podcast
- Music Blog
- Create music for games
- Music NFT
- Music social media platform that leverages NFTs and musicians earn based on engagement with their content
- Sell soundproofing stuff (vocal booths, wall foam, etc.) on Amazon or website
- Build a better, cheaper alternative to WhisperRoom studio and sell online
- Create custom music for commercials
- Website that operates as a focus group for feedback (connects musician with a live audience)
- Subscription service (like StitchFix) that delivers stylish clothes for musicians
- Sell custom-made guitar picks on Etsy
- Sell custom music decor
- Musician fan site (subscription)
- Sell custom diamond/gold/silver enhanced instruments for $100k+ to rich people
- Sell pre-recorded courses teaching an instrument
- Sell songwriting courses
- Host songwriting competitions with paid entry
- Host composition competitions with paid entry
- Sell an ebook that teaches musician marketing
- Sell vinyl records / cds / casettes
- Sell digital downloads of your music on your website
- Stream niche music 24/7 and collect revenue from ads
- Sell branded musician t-shirts/hats etc.
- Sponsorships on YT channel
- Affiliate for musician / music equipment / music courses
- Affiliate for music college programs (lead students to enroll)
- Become an accrediting body for the music industry (companies pay for membership)

Paid Email newsletter Ideas
- Niche music only available through your newsletter
- Early access to your newest music creations
- Insights for musicians trying to break into the music industry
- Musician marketing and/or business insights list
- Musician progress list for sharing personal journey

Freelance Services
- Musician Web Design
- Copywriter for musicians
- Photographer for musicians
- Brand design for musicians
- Freelance soundtrack recording
- Freelance singer for commercials
- Freelancer who creates sheet music for songs
- Freelance sound designer
- Freelance music video director / producer / editor etc.
- Freelancer who helps musicians with fashion styling
- PR Freelancer for musicians
- Virtual Assistant for musician
 
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Last edited:

violinista

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Just some ideas for ways to make money with music (or turn it into a full-blown business) without becoming a celebrity. Feel free to add your own ideas if you have more.

Direct Performance Ideas
-
Play/sing for weddings
- Play for churches
- Play/sing for funerals
- Play/sing for private parties
- Play/sing for corporate events
- Play/sing for birthday parties
- Play/sing for bars
- Play/sing for coffee shops / bistros
- Play/sing on Social Media (YT/TikTok/Twitter etc.)
- Play/sing at festivals
- Musician for nursing homes
- Musician for the dying (terminal patients)
- Final tune musician (plays a final request just before someone passes away)
- Singing telegram service
- Tailgate party band
- Play/sing for college parties
- Play in an orchestra
- Play/sing for a theatrical production

Offline Business Ideas
- Teach 1:1 Students
- Teach Group Lessons
- Recording studio
- Music editor (sound engineer?)
- Music Equipment Store
- Music store that also offers lessons
- Resell music equipment
- Rent music equipment
- Create a local live music venue
- Create a music festival (vendors pay for booth space, musicians pay to perform)
- Instrument tuning services
- Instrument moving services (i.e. piano moving)
- Instrument storage services
- Children's activity center where children have their first musical learning experiences
- Karaoke bar
- Music Therapy
- Music Business Coaching
- Musician Lead Gen
- Music Lesson Lead Gen
- Musician booking agent
- Dueling Piano/Guitar/other instrument bar
- Talent shows
- Motivational speaker (corporate or youth)
- Physical therapy specializing in musicians
- Private security for celebrity musicians
- Music-themed restaurant with live music
- Instrument cleaning services
- Instrument restoration services
- Recital business where people pay to watch local musicians from kids to adults perform (could be paired with something like a bar for additional entertainment).
- Stage support (people who setup and breakdown stage before and after performances.
- Rent your studio out
- Personal assistant to musician
- Babysitter for musicians (so they can attend gigs)

Online Business Ideas
- YT Music Channel (ads from views on your music)
- YT Equipment review channel (ads/affiliate/sponsorship etc.)
- YT Channel that combines music with a unique angle (i.e. Karen Metal)
- YT Channel that offers lessons and leads back to a course
- Online Coaching
- Online Teaching 1:1 or Group
- App that teaches a single difficult concept in a simple way
- App that teaches an instrument as a skill
- Stock music library
- Meditation Music Website
- App that creates sheet music automatically
- Online Music Therapy
- Livestream Musician (sell subscriptions/ad revenue)
- Sell sheet music digital download
- Sell video song instructions (showing how to play X song)
- Website where you create custom songs upon paid request
- Resell equipment on ebay/craigslist etc.
- Online equipment rental site
- Online equipment store
- Website that only sells gear/equipment/parts for one instrument (i.e. StewMac.com)
- Music critique website
- Livestream Talent Show (like America's Got Talent)
- Music Podcast
- Music Blog
- Create music for games
- Music NFT
- Music social media platform that leverages NFTs and musicians earn based on engagement with their content
- Sell soundproofing stuff (vocal booths, wall foam, etc.) on Amazon or website
- Build a better, cheaper alternative to WhisperRoom studio and sell online
- Create custom music for commercials
- Website that operates as a focus group for feedback (connects musician with a live audience)
- Subscription service (like StitchFix) that delivers stylish clothes for musicians
- Sell custom-made guitar picks on Etsy
- Sell custom music decor
- Musician fan site (subscription)
- Sell custom diamond/gold/silver enhanced instruments for $100k+ to rich people
- Sell pre-recorded courses teaching an instrument
- Sell songwriting courses
- Host songwriting competitions with paid entry
- Host composition competitions with paid entry
- Sell an ebook that teaches musician marketing
- Sell vinyl records / cds / casettes
- Sell digital downloads of your music on your website
- Stream niche music 24/7 and collect revenue from ads
- Sell branded musician t-shirts/hats etc.
- Sponsorships on YT channel
- Affiliate for musician / music equipment / music courses
- Affiliate for music college programs (lead students to enroll)
- Become an accrediting body for the music industry (companies pay for membership)

Paid Email newsletter Ideas
- Niche music only available through your newsletter
- Early access to your newest music creations
- Insights for musicians trying to break into the music industry
- Musician marketing and/or business insights list
- Musician progress list for sharing personal journey

Freelance Services
- Musician Web Design
- Copywriter for musicians
- Photographer for musicians
- Brand design for musicians
- Freelance soundtrack recording
- Freelance singer for commercials
- Freelancer who creates sheet music for songs
- Freelance sound designer
- Freelance music video director / producer / editor etc.
- Freelancer who helps musicians with fashion styling
- PR Freelancer for musicians
- Virtual Assistant for musician
Excellent list! And really cool timing, actually, these past few days, I've been doing so much research and brainstorming to develop ideas for making Fastlane-style income as a musician/teacher. I keep wondering if I need to completely veer off of music and head towards an unrelated or faster-growing/more profitable field, or if I should stick to my musician roots and grow what I know.

Recently I've left my job as a music teacher in public schools to focus on really going after, well, the Millionaire Fastlane . While I was never in teaching for the money (I loved and lived for my students' success), the public school teaching environment was really taking a toll on my mental health, and I hated that no matter what I gave to the profession, financially, there would be no compensation correlated to my success. Just like all teachers, I spent my own money and spent unpaid time devoted to my classroom setup and preparation as well.

So far, I've been patching together different sources of income outside of my former public school teaching job by giving online/in person private lessons, teaching in music studios, doing gigs, symphony performances, getting into music admin, etc., but everything seems so tied to time in terms of income potential and scalability. All of those require a pretty direct correlation to my time so far. I've been thinking for months about how to massively scale a music-related teaching/education business, and I keep thinking it's not possible for me to enter simply because courses and classes and YouTube channels out there are already being made, hosted, and fostered by world class teachers and musicians. I have other ideas, from developing budget-friendly classroom orchestra teaching products/worksheets/arrangements/gifts based on my firsthand experience, instrument beginner subscription gift boxes, developing some sort of professional subscription based flexible sheet music gig website and hiring professional freelancers Upwork/Fiverr style, live online tuning/instrument setup services, etc., but I am so afraid of investing into something unfamiliar that would also come along with website development, manufacturing, significant financial investment, and experiencing, well, failure. I totally flit from idea to idea, looking for safety and guaranteed success, which is a huge problem for me in terms of getting started, lol. I'm also totally afraid of putting myself out there and testing the viability of ideas. Picking just one is so challenging, and truly going all in with consistency and discipline to follow through.

Whew! Feels good getting these thoughts, concerns, and ideas out there! Thank you for your posts, Lex! :)
 

TeacherToOwner

Contributor
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Mar 1, 2021
27
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Excellent list! And really cool timing, actually, these past few days, I've been doing so much research and brainstorming to develop ideas for making Fastlane-style income as a musician/teacher. I keep wondering if I need to completely veer off of music and head towards an unrelated or faster-growing/more profitable field, or if I should stick to my musician roots and grow what I know.

Recently I've left my job as a music teacher in public schools to focus on really going after, well, the Millionaire Fastlane . While I was never in teaching for the money (I loved and lived for my students' success), the public school teaching environment was really taking a toll on my mental health, and I hated that no matter what I gave to the profession, financially, there would be no compensation correlated to my success. Just like all teachers, I spent my own money and spent unpaid time devoted to my classroom setup and preparation as well.

So far, I've been patching together different sources of income outside of my former public school teaching job by giving online/in person private lessons, teaching in music studios, doing gigs, symphony performances, getting into music admin, etc., but everything seems so tied to time in terms of income potential and scalability. All of those require a pretty direct correlation to my time so far. I've been thinking for months about how to massively scale a music-related teaching/education business, and I keep thinking it's not possible for me to enter simply because courses and classes and YouTube channels out there are already being made, hosted, and fostered by world class teachers and musicians. I have other ideas, from developing budget-friendly classroom orchestra teaching products/worksheets/arrangements/gifts based on my firsthand experience, instrument beginner subscription gift boxes, developing some sort of professional subscription based flexible sheet music gig website and hiring professional freelancers Upwork/Fiverr style, live online tuning/instrument setup services, etc., but I am so afraid of investing into something unfamiliar that would also come along with website development, manufacturing, significant financial investment, and experiencing, well, failure. I totally flit from idea to idea, looking for safety and guaranteed success, which is a huge problem for me in terms of getting started, lol. I'm also totally afraid of putting myself out there and testing the viability of ideas. Picking just one is so challenging, and truly going all in with consistency and discipline to follow through.

Whew! Feels good getting these thoughts, concerns, and ideas out there! Thank you for your posts, Lex! :)
Wow! It seems like you and I have a similar story! I went to college for music businesses, I used to have a semi-professional recording studio in my parents house, and for a little bit of time I was managing a rapper. I never ended up pursuing the music business for a few reasons (I didn't want to work in NYC, pay was low, lack of job availability, etc) I ended up becoming a teacher, which I hated. The pay was low, there no was respect or support, and the job was extremely stressful. I now work as a school administrator, while trying to get my educational consultation business off the ground which I just started. In most of my free time I try to think about different innovative ideas I could possibly start a business around. It aint easy!
 

Lex DeVille

Sweeping Shadows From Dreams
FASTLANE INSIDER
EPIC CONTRIBUTOR
Read Fastlane!
Read Unscripted!
Speedway Pass
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Jan 14, 2013
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Utah
Excellent list! And really cool timing, actually, these past few days, I've been doing so much research and brainstorming to develop ideas for making Fastlane-style income as a musician/teacher. I keep wondering if I need to completely veer off of music and head towards an unrelated or faster-growing/more profitable field, or if I should stick to my musician roots and grow what I know.

Just about any industry can have fastlane potential if you approach it with the mindset of an entrepreneur. Several of the ideas above are highly scalable. Some of the above can be combined into one offering to make it more lucrative. Just takes the right person stepping up.
 
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StrikingViper69

Shredding scales and making sales
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Excellent list! And really cool timing, actually, these past few days, I've been doing so much research and brainstorming to develop ideas for making Fastlane-style income as a musician/teacher. I keep wondering if I need to completely veer off of music and head towards an unrelated or faster-growing/more profitable field, or if I should stick to my musician roots and grow what I know.

Recently I've left my job as a music teacher in public schools to focus on really going after, well, the Millionaire Fastlane . While I was never in teaching for the money (I loved and lived for my students' success), the public school teaching environment was really taking a toll on my mental health, and I hated that no matter what I gave to the profession, financially, there would be no compensation correlated to my success. Just like all teachers, I spent my own money and spent unpaid time devoted to my classroom setup and preparation as well.

So far, I've been patching together different sources of income outside of my former public school teaching job by giving online/in person private lessons, teaching in music studios, doing gigs, symphony performances, getting into music admin, etc., but everything seems so tied to time in terms of income potential and scalability. All of those require a pretty direct correlation to my time so far. I've been thinking for months about how to massively scale a music-related teaching/education business, and I keep thinking it's not possible for me to enter simply because courses and classes and YouTube channels out there are already being made, hosted, and fostered by world class teachers and musicians. I have other ideas, from developing budget-friendly classroom orchestra teaching products/worksheets/arrangements/gifts based on my firsthand experience, instrument beginner subscription gift boxes, developing some sort of professional subscription based flexible sheet music gig website and hiring professional freelancers Upwork/Fiverr style, live online tuning/instrument setup services, etc., but I am so afraid of investing into something unfamiliar that would also come along with website development, manufacturing, significant financial investment, and experiencing, well, failure. I totally flit from idea to idea, looking for safety and guaranteed success, which is a huge problem for me in terms of getting started, lol. I'm also totally afraid of putting myself out there and testing the viability of ideas. Picking just one is so challenging, and truly going all in with consistency and discipline to follow through.

Whew! Feels good getting these thoughts, concerns, and ideas out there! Thank you for your posts, Lex! :)

I've seen teachers develop very profitable membership sites by creating lesson plans and learning materials for other teachers to use. This could work nicely for you if you have a teaching background, and lets you work with your experience.

If you have a network of music teachers as friends, you could put out some feelers and see if they would pay to have a big chunk of their time saved.
 

violinista

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I've seen teachers develop very profitable membership sites by creating lesson plans and learning materials for other teachers to use. This could work nicely for you if you have a teaching background, and lets you work with your experience.

If you have a network of music teachers as friends, you could put out some feelers and see if they would pay to have a big chunk of their time saved.

Absolutely! I have already developed/given out some free teaching resources that I created on a large Facebook group, and those were a big hit with many orchestra students and their teachers. I heard from several teachers that my resources saved the day/week in terms of lesson planning, and really resonated with students and even parents. I am hoping that perhaps I can refine a whole collection of similar resources, and sell them on Teachers Pay Teachers, other teacher resource websites, create physical/digital booklets on Amazon, mail free samples to orchestra teachers around the state, etc., and maybe even pair these resources with a supplemental YouTube channel.

I suppose I know what to do, but now it's time to (dare I say it) do the work! Not read more forums, not watch more entrepreneurial videos, not read another book, but actually take action. xD
 

StrikingViper69

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Absolutely! I have already developed/given out some free teaching resources that I created on a large Facebook group, and those were a big hit with many orchestra students and their teachers. I heard from several teachers that my resources saved the day/week in terms of lesson planning, and really resonated with students and even parents. I am hoping that perhaps I can refine a whole collection of similar resources, and sell them on Teachers Pay Teachers, other teacher resource websites, create physical/digital booklets on Amazon, mail free samples to orchestra teachers around the state, etc., and maybe even pair these resources with a supplemental YouTube channel.

I suppose I know what to do, but now it's time to (dare I say it) do the work! Not read more forums, not watch more entrepreneurial videos, not read another book, but actually take action. xD
Sounds like fish in a barrel!
 
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StrikingViper69

Shredding scales and making sales
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After reading this list I'm going to have a bash at composing some production music this weekend.

When I tried it in the past, I submitted some stuff I had written for myself, but this time I'll look at the top sellers can compose something in those styles.

Thanks for the idea!
 
D

Deleted88861

Guest
Just some ideas for ways to make money with music (or turn it into a full-blown business) without becoming a celebrity. Feel free to add your own ideas if you have more.

Direct Performance Ideas
-
Play/sing for weddings
- Play for churches
- Play/sing for funerals
- Play/sing for private parties
- Play/sing for corporate events
- Play/sing for birthday parties
- Play/sing for bars
- Play/sing for coffee shops / bistros
- Play/sing on Social Media (YT/TikTok/Twitter etc.)
- Play/sing at festivals
- Musician for nursing homes
- Musician for the dying (terminal patients)
- Final tune musician (plays a final request just before someone passes away)
- Singing telegram service
- Tailgate party band
- Play/sing for college parties
- Play in an orchestra
- Play/sing for a theatrical production

Offline Business Ideas
- Teach 1:1 Students
- Teach Group Lessons
- Recording studio
- Music editor (sound engineer?)
- Music Equipment Store
- Music store that also offers lessons
- Resell music equipment
- Rent music equipment
- Create a local live music venue
- Create a music festival (vendors pay for booth space, musicians pay to perform)
- Instrument tuning services
- Instrument moving services (i.e. piano moving)
- Instrument storage services
- Children's activity center where children have their first musical learning experiences
- Karaoke bar
- Music Therapy
- Music Business Coaching
- Musician Lead Gen
- Music Lesson Lead Gen
- Musician booking agent
- Dueling Piano/Guitar/other instrument bar
- Talent shows
- Motivational speaker (corporate or youth)
- Physical therapy specializing in musicians
- Private security for celebrity musicians
- Music-themed restaurant with live music
- Instrument cleaning services
- Instrument restoration services
- Recital business where people pay to watch local musicians from kids to adults perform (could be paired with something like a bar for additional entertainment).
- Stage support (people who setup and breakdown stage before and after performances.
- Rent your studio out
- Personal assistant to musician
- Babysitter for musicians (so they can attend gigs)

Online Business Ideas
- YT Music Channel (ads from views on your music)
- YT Equipment review channel (ads/affiliate/sponsorship etc.)
- YT Channel that combines music with a unique angle (i.e. Karen Metal)
- YT Channel that offers lessons and leads back to a course
- Online Coaching
- Online Teaching 1:1 or Group
- App that teaches a single difficult concept in a simple way
- App that teaches an instrument as a skill
- Stock music library
- Meditation Music Website
- App that creates sheet music automatically
- Online Music Therapy
- Livestream Musician (sell subscriptions/ad revenue)
- Sell sheet music digital download
- Sell video song instructions (showing how to play X song)
- Website where you create custom songs upon paid request
- Resell equipment on ebay/craigslist etc.
- Online equipment rental site
- Online equipment store
- Website that only sells gear/equipment/parts for one instrument (i.e. StewMac.com)
- Music critique website
- Livestream Talent Show (like America's Got Talent)
- Music Podcast
- Music Blog
- Create music for games
- Music NFT
- Music social media platform that leverages NFTs and musicians earn based on engagement with their content
- Sell soundproofing stuff (vocal booths, wall foam, etc.) on Amazon or website
- Build a better, cheaper alternative to WhisperRoom studio and sell online
- Create custom music for commercials
- Website that operates as a focus group for feedback (connects musician with a live audience)
- Subscription service (like StitchFix) that delivers stylish clothes for musicians
- Sell custom-made guitar picks on Etsy
- Sell custom music decor
- Musician fan site (subscription)
- Sell custom diamond/gold/silver enhanced instruments for $100k+ to rich people
- Sell pre-recorded courses teaching an instrument
- Sell songwriting courses
- Host songwriting competitions with paid entry
- Host composition competitions with paid entry
- Sell an ebook that teaches musician marketing
- Sell vinyl records / cds / casettes
- Sell digital downloads of your music on your website
- Stream niche music 24/7 and collect revenue from ads
- Sell branded musician t-shirts/hats etc.
- Sponsorships on YT channel
- Affiliate for musician / music equipment / music courses
- Affiliate for music college programs (lead students to enroll)
- Become an accrediting body for the music industry (companies pay for membership)

Paid Email newsletter Ideas
- Niche music only available through your newsletter
- Early access to your newest music creations
- Insights for musicians trying to break into the music industry
- Musician marketing and/or business insights list
- Musician progress list for sharing personal journey

Freelance Services
- Musician Web Design
- Copywriter for musicians
- Photographer for musicians
- Brand design for musicians
- Freelance soundtrack recording
- Freelance singer for commercials
- Freelancer who creates sheet music for songs
- Freelance sound designer
- Freelance music video director / producer / editor etc.
- Freelancer who helps musicians with fashion styling
- PR Freelancer for musicians
- Virtual Assistant for musician
This is an incredible list, Lex. After reading a number of your posts and your replies to threads (probably read too many!) I have been sat on an idea for a while and considering pursuing it.

I'm a music producer with around ten years of craft-honing behind me and got this idea to leverage this as a custom music creation service for clients within a certain tight-knitted niche.

Still pondering it for now but cheers for lending this list and assisting with the creation of this idea.

Cheers
Arron
 

Andy Black

Help people. Get paid. Help more people.
Staff member
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Just some ideas for ways to make money with music (or turn it into a full-blown business) without becoming a celebrity. Feel free to add your own ideas if you have more.

Direct Performance Ideas
-
Play/sing for weddings
- Play for churches
- Play/sing for funerals
- Play/sing for private parties
- Play/sing for corporate events
- Play/sing for birthday parties
- Play/sing for bars
- Play/sing for coffee shops / bistros
- Play/sing on Social Media (YT/TikTok/Twitter etc.)
- Play/sing at festivals
- Musician for nursing homes
- Musician for the dying (terminal patients)
- Final tune musician (plays a final request just before someone passes away)
- Singing telegram service
- Tailgate party band
- Play/sing for college parties
- Play in an orchestra
- Play/sing for a theatrical production

Offline Business Ideas
- Teach 1:1 Students
- Teach Group Lessons
- Recording studio
- Music editor (sound engineer?)
- Music Equipment Store
- Music store that also offers lessons
- Resell music equipment
- Rent music equipment
- Create a local live music venue
- Create a music festival (vendors pay for booth space, musicians pay to perform)
- Instrument tuning services
- Instrument moving services (i.e. piano moving)
- Instrument storage services
- Children's activity center where children have their first musical learning experiences
- Karaoke bar
- Music Therapy
- Music Business Coaching
- Musician Lead Gen
- Music Lesson Lead Gen
- Musician booking agent
- Dueling Piano/Guitar/other instrument bar
- Talent shows
- Motivational speaker (corporate or youth)
- Physical therapy specializing in musicians
- Private security for celebrity musicians
- Music-themed restaurant with live music
- Instrument cleaning services
- Instrument restoration services
- Recital business where people pay to watch local musicians from kids to adults perform (could be paired with something like a bar for additional entertainment).
- Stage support (people who setup and breakdown stage before and after performances.
- Rent your studio out
- Personal assistant to musician
- Babysitter for musicians (so they can attend gigs)

Online Business Ideas
- YT Music Channel (ads from views on your music)
- YT Equipment review channel (ads/affiliate/sponsorship etc.)
- YT Channel that combines music with a unique angle (i.e. Karen Metal)
- YT Channel that offers lessons and leads back to a course
- Online Coaching
- Online Teaching 1:1 or Group
- App that teaches a single difficult concept in a simple way
- App that teaches an instrument as a skill
- Stock music library
- Meditation Music Website
- App that creates sheet music automatically
- Online Music Therapy
- Livestream Musician (sell subscriptions/ad revenue)
- Sell sheet music digital download
- Sell video song instructions (showing how to play X song)
- Website where you create custom songs upon paid request
- Resell equipment on ebay/craigslist etc.
- Online equipment rental site
- Online equipment store
- Website that only sells gear/equipment/parts for one instrument (i.e. StewMac.com)
- Music critique website
- Livestream Talent Show (like America's Got Talent)
- Music Podcast
- Music Blog
- Create music for games
- Music NFT
- Music social media platform that leverages NFTs and musicians earn based on engagement with their content
- Sell soundproofing stuff (vocal booths, wall foam, etc.) on Amazon or website
- Build a better, cheaper alternative to WhisperRoom studio and sell online
- Create custom music for commercials
- Website that operates as a focus group for feedback (connects musician with a live audience)
- Subscription service (like StitchFix) that delivers stylish clothes for musicians
- Sell custom-made guitar picks on Etsy
- Sell custom music decor
- Musician fan site (subscription)
- Sell custom diamond/gold/silver enhanced instruments for $100k+ to rich people
- Sell pre-recorded courses teaching an instrument
- Sell songwriting courses
- Host songwriting competitions with paid entry
- Host composition competitions with paid entry
- Sell an ebook that teaches musician marketing
- Sell vinyl records / cds / casettes
- Sell digital downloads of your music on your website
- Stream niche music 24/7 and collect revenue from ads
- Sell branded musician t-shirts/hats etc.
- Sponsorships on YT channel
- Affiliate for musician / music equipment / music courses
- Affiliate for music college programs (lead students to enroll)
- Become an accrediting body for the music industry (companies pay for membership)

Paid Email Newsletter Ideas
- Niche music only available through your newsletter
- Early access to your newest music creations
- Insights for musicians trying to break into the music industry
- Musician marketing and/or business insights list
- Musician progress list for sharing personal journey

Freelance Services
- Musician Web Design
- Copywriter for musicians
- Photographer for musicians
- Brand design for musicians
- Freelance soundtrack recording
- Freelance singer for commercials
- Freelancer who creates sheet music for songs
- Freelance sound designer
- Freelance music video director / producer / editor etc.
- Freelancer who helps musicians with fashion styling
- PR Freelancer for musicians
- Virtual Assistant for musician
I never even saw this thread.

It just goes to show how many opportunities there are in anything if you think entrepreneurially.
 
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piano

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Nice list.
(although it's already hinted at) I'd add "YT music cover channel"
The difficulty with this option is however the insane competition, (and for few) the boringness of arranging in the similar style/genre each time. A thing that's sad is also the fact that most people honestly just have shit taste. I don't care if you disagree, it's true. You could have a video that took 5 hours to create vs. one that took 50 and it'd likely get less views.
Sadly, the music lables also usually try to F*cking assassinate you(r videos), claiming copyright (strikes) on them and taking half the profit. Also, I feel like less and less people are watching covers nowadays.
However, if you actually really enjoy process, are smart (not just arranging-wise...) and patient AS HELL, then you could reach a huge channel, success, etc.
 

violinista

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Nice list.
(although it's already hinted at) I'd add "YT music cover channel"
The difficulty with this option is however the insane competition, (and for few) the boringness of arranging in the similar style/genre each time. A thing that's sad is also the fact that most people honestly just have shit taste. I don't care if you disagree, it's true. You could have a video that took 5 hours to create vs. one that took 50 and it'd likely get less views.
Sadly, the music lables also usually try to F*cking assassinate you(r videos), claiming copyright (strikes) on them and taking half the profit. Also, I feel like less and less people are watching covers nowadays.
However, if you actually really enjoy process, are smart (not just arranging-wise...) and patient AS HELL, then you could reach a huge channel, success, etc.
SO true - it's an option! But, it's really challenging nowadays - I used to have a cover channel and got thousands of views and even some Adsense money and now... YT Copyright strikes :/ I also wanted to come up with my own music method book using pop/contemporary songs but... sigh... copyright laws and music just goes out of style too quickly. But that is ok! I learned things from both of these avenues and it's on to the next thing.
 

StrikingViper69

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I don't get the deal with musicians complaining about copyright. It's complaining about being able to use someone else's work for free.

It's exactly the same as complaining about not being able to create YouTube videos reading MJ's books because "boohoo copyright".

No amount of time into creating a video (or anything) entitles you to profit from someone else's work without their permission.
 
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violinista

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I don't get the deal with musicians complaining about copyright. It's complaining about being able to use someone else's work for free.

It's exactly the same as complaining about not being able to create YouTube videos reading MJ's books because "boohoo copyright".

No amount of time into creating a video (or anything) entitles you to profit from someone else's work without their permission.
That's definitely true. But, it hasn't always been so clear what is/is not fair use... When it comes to directly copy/pasting a song for a video, for example, it's been clear that it's not allowed, monetized or not. But when it comes to anything from creating covers of music to sampling, it's certainly interesting to see what is determined as fair use or not in the music industry as a whole over the decades. It has been brought to the most attention with YouTube recently, given the huge popularity of all types of channels featuring covers of music. Some covers retain similar instrumentation and are performed by the cover musician(s), or have been totally reimagined with different instrumentation/a modified arrangement. For many years, covers of music were very much profitable, accepted, and promoted on the platform, so of course it leads to confusion about what is/isn't allowed. The real issue with YouTube at this point is the fact that it's gotten to the point where they'll mistakenly copyright strike music that is very much public domain, such as performances of classical music or even original music, and it just isn't worth the hassle/worry about getting the whole channel taken down, even if it was perfectly legal use - violates the CENTS and all. But, we move on to other projects and use that experience going forward.
 

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That's definitely true. But, it hasn't always been so clear what is/is not fair use... When it comes to directly copy/pasting a song for a video, for example, it's been clear that it's not allowed, monetized or not. But when it comes to anything from creating covers of music to sampling, it's certainly interesting to see what is determined as fair use or not in the music industry as a whole over the decades. It has been brought to the most attention with YouTube recently, given the huge popularity of all types of channels featuring covers of music. Some covers retain similar instrumentation and are performed by the cover musician(s), or have been totally reimagined with different instrumentation/a modified arrangement. For many years, covers of music were very much profitable, accepted, and promoted on the platform, so of course it leads to confusion about what is/isn't allowed. The real issue with YouTube at this point is the fact that it's gotten to the point where they'll mistakenly copyright strike music that is very much public domain, such as performances of classical music or even original music, and it just isn't worth the hassle/worry about getting the whole channel taken down, even if it was perfectly legal use - violates the CENTS and all. But, we move on to other projects and use that experience going forward.
Copyright law on covers and original arrangements are quite clear cut.

I agree with YouTube striking things in public domain is a problem. Apparently some German record label "owns" the copyright on a baroque piece I uploaded a few weeks ago :rofl: I told YouTube that their claim was wrong, but still have a copyright notice against that video.
 

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Copyright law on covers and original arrangements are quite clear cut.

I agree with YouTube striking things in public domain is a problem. Apparently some German record label "owns" the copyright on a baroque piece I uploaded a few weeks ago :rofl: I told YouTube that their claim was wrong, but still have a copyright notice against that video.
That happened to my sister as well. She got claims on harpsichord recordings of baroque music from some Brazilian folks. Some people should spend their time building a real business.
 
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Wow! It seems like you and I have a similar story! I went to college for music businesses, I used to have a semi-professional recording studio in my parents house, and for a little bit of time I was managing a rapper. I never ended up pursuing the music business for a few reasons (I didn't want to work in NYC, pay was low, lack of job availability, etc) I ended up becoming a teacher, which I hated. The pay was low, there no was respect or support, and the job was extremely stressful. I now work as a school administrator, while trying to get my educational consultation business off the ground which I just started. In most of my free time I try to think about different innovative ideas I could possibly start a business around. It aint easy!
I love your list OP! And I had the same reaction as @TeacherToOwner — maybe we start a collective and our mission can reflect fair, equal pay that pays educators/video course subscription creators, maybe do a remote podcast might be cool.. the idea of a small group of strangers coming together from something that inspired them in a random comment. i wonder what makes us all different but also what brought us all together. I love the idea of community building in business and i thought a traveling (repurposed school bus?) like a school, but mobilized to either split their schedule between 1-on-1 pop by lessons or scheduled music exploratory class for kiddos who will have a blast while making sure parents are also an even bigger priority, if it’s fun for them AND their little ones, they’ll keep coming.

if You think MAYBE this could work.. if we work hard then reply below with a few top ideas, specialized contributions, or just whatever you honestly think your strengths are ( and maybe mention a few weaknesses too).. you never know, we may find out we compliment each other and are just the people we needed to meet to balance our chaotic but exciting, entrepreneurial and creative spirits.

tuccico@hotmail.com
cc: kellitucci@gmail.com
737-414-1555
(text, please)
 

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