You’ve sent up your digital audio workstation, you’ve selected the right VST, you have all the equipment you need to be a producer, so now what? If you feel like being a music producer is something you’re passionate about, and you want to turn it into a career it can be daunting to know how to get started.
The competition level is high, and most producers aren’t making millions and working with huge celebrities.
Regardless, that doesn’t mean you can’t turn being a producer into a successful career, and the following are some tips to help you get started.
Sell Your Licensing To Your Beats
One of the easiest ways to make money if you’re a producer is to sell licensing rights to your beats. You can sell your beats on your own site, or you can use an artist service or music community. It’s one of the best ways to start building your career and develop a revenue stream, even in the early days.
There are different types of licensing routes you can take including lease licenses, exclusive licenses, and sync licenses.
You may find that selling your beats becomes your primary career or at least your main source of income, but you’ll to ensure you have a strong online presence and you can promote yourself to stand out from everyone else.
Sell Drum Samples
Along with beats, another thing a lot of producers do is sell their drum samples. For example, other producers might not know how to play drums, or they might not have the right equipment, so they can turn to other people (which would be you in this equation) to get what they need.
This is another scenario where you could sell your drum samples directly through your own site, or you could work with a reputable music community.
Consider Trying To Get Your Music To An Online Radio Station
This tip is one of the tougher ones on the list, but you can also try and get your music on stations like Spotify or Pandora. These sites share profits based on how many plays you get, and while it can be tough to get your music there if you do and people like it can be a good passive stream of income.
Work on A Freelance Basis
If you go on a freelance site like Upwork, you’ll likely be surprised at how many people are searching for talented composers and producers to work with them on projects. Some of these projects might be one-offs, while others can be ongoing and you can work from home and still earn.
Finally, the best thing you can do is create as much music as possible, and try to put yourself out there on as many channels and networks as you can. The more you can build your credentials and the more places your music can be found, the more opportunities are likely to come your way. The more people who can find you, the more likely you are to be hired for bigger projects.
