How To Make Money In Music

Let’s be honest.

Most musicians aren’t struggling because they’re bad. They’re struggling because no one ever showed them how money actually works in music. The industry loves keeping you in the dark. Everyone’s happy to talk about streams and “building buzz” but no one explains how you pay rent off it.

So here we tell you some ways on how you can make money as a musician.

1. Streaming won’t pay your bills

You already know this deep down. Spotify pays a few quid for every thousand streams. You’d need millions just to cover your electricity bill. It’s not an income stream. It’s a shop window.

Use streaming to get people listening, then move them somewhere that actually matters. Sell something. Offer something. Give them a reason to support you outside of a playlist.

2. Gigs still count

Even the small ones. £100 or £200 a night adds up if you treat it right. But gigs aren’t just about money. They’re about connection.

Play every show like it’s your headline slot. Bring merch. Talk to people. Film clips for content. Make the venue remember you. That’s how you build momentum that lasts longer than a viral post.

3. Merch is your secret weapon

Merch isn’t just a T-shirt. It’s identity. It’s what makes people feel part of your world.
If it looks lazy, they won’t buy it. If it feels cheap, they won’t wear it.

Get your designs right. Pick good blanks. Make it look like something you’d wear yourself.
Twenty shirts at £25 each is £500. That’s real money.

4. Sync and licensing

Getting your music placed in a film, game or ad is one of the best ways to earn properly. It’s not luck either. It’s about being prepared.

You need clean recordings, full ownership and the right metadata. Sites like Sentric, Music Gateway and Songtradr are a good start. One placement can pay more than a year’s worth of streams.

5. Build a fanbase you actually own

Social media doesn’t belong to you. One algorithm change and you disappear.
Build something that’s yours. A mailing list. A WhatsApp group. A Discord server. Whatever works.

These are your real fans. They’ll buy tickets, merch and music because they actually care. You don’t need millions of followers. You need a few hundred loyal people who show up.

6. Sell your skills

If you can write, record, mix or produce, that’s money waiting for you.
Half the musicians you see doing well aren’t living off streams. They’re teaching guitar, producing for others, writing hooks, gigging on weekends.

It’s not selling out. It’s staying in the game.

7. Play the long game

There’s no overnight fix. This takes time, consistency and patience.
Keep your ego out of it. Keep your costs low. Reinvest what you make.

Music is a business whether you like it or not. The sooner you treat it like one, the sooner it starts paying you back.

In conclusion...

You don’t need luck. You don’t need a label. You just need to work smart and stick with it.

If you’re talented, disciplined and a bit stubborn, you can make a living doing this.
Maybe not today. Maybe not next month. But it will come if you keep showing up.