If you’re passionate about music and want to turn it into a career, but don’t know how to start, this guide is for you. It covers all the major aspects and beginning steps you need to consider when setting up your music career as an independent artist. Although it’s aimed more at performers, singer-songwriters, bands and rappers. But it’s applicable to all aspiring musicians.
Even if your goal is to sign with a major music label, you should still follow these steps. It’s that in the current climate of the music industry you are no longer dependent on music labels to have a career in music, especially the majors. You have the freedom to do it yourself.
The benefits of signing to a label definitely include having access to resources, connections, and expertise that can help you focus more on the creative aspects. But, this may come at a cost, such as the loss of ownership of your music. Many artists would prefer not to sign to a label to maintain full control over their careers and creative output.
The disadvantages of trying to make music your career without being signed to a label is that it is very difficult. It takes a lot of effort. You are not only responsible for the creative side. But you also need to take care of the business side and your own development as an artist. It can be very overwhelming, but I hope that this post will help you get started and serve as a guide for creating a solid foundation for your journey to a career in music.
1. Identify your musical interests and passions
Finding The Most Authentic ‘YOU’
Put down what you believe in and what you value most before you start working towards your goals. You will probably have to give up some things along the way as you move up in your career, and that’s alright. Don’t sacrifice your core beliefs for the sake of getting ahead. Stay true to who you are.
You need to stay true to yourself even when you’re at the top of your game. Being authentic is more than just making music – it’s about conveying all the emotions and experiences that go into your art. People can relate to music that comes from the heart, and they can tell when you’re only in it for the money. Sure, it’s easy to make music that will sell, but that’s not the right way to go about it.
2. Define your goals for music
There are many different things that someone can hope to achieve when it comes to their music career. Some people may want to make a name for themselves in the music industry, while others may just want to make some money. Whatever your goals may be, it’s important to figure out what you want out of the music industry and then work towards achieving it.
Some things to consider when defining your music career goals may include:
-Making a name for yourself in the music industry
-Becoming a successful musician
-Gaining popularity among your peers
-Making a positive impact on your fans
-Selling records
-Touring extensively
-Creating unique music
Once you have a good understanding of what you want from your music career, it’s important to start planning your route to achieving it. This may involve networking, building a following online, and developing your musical skills. Ultimately, the most successful musicians are those who are constantly working towards improving their craft.
Set Short Term Goals
Setting short-term goals is an important part of a successful career. By focusing on what you want to achieve in a specific timeframe, you can better organize your thoughts and energies, and make more informed decisions about where to divide your time and resources.
When setting short-term goals, it’s important to make sure that they are attainable. Don’t set goals that are too difficult or unrealistic to achieve. Instead, focus on goals that will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Here are a few tips to help you set successful short-term goals:
1. Determine your short-term goals.
2. Break your goal down into smaller, more manageable steps.
3. Assign a priority to each goal.
4. Set deadlines.
5. Celebrate your accomplishments along the way!
Work Out Your Living Expenses
As a musician, it can be expensive to constantly upgrade and change your gear. If you don’t have a day job, it can be difficult to afford these costs. The first thing you should do is figure out how much money you need to live, and then save up for your dream gear. Many professional musicians sacrifice temporary luxuries to save up for better equipment.
If you want to be a successful musician, you need to be disciplined and make time for practice, even if it means sacrificing leisure time. It can be difficult to balance work and practice, but it will get easier with time. Many musicians have day jobs related to the music industry. You can also make a living by doing some of the things:
-Selling vocal and sample packs
-Creating hooks for beats and voice tags
-Songwriting or Producing for other artist
-Djing and live performance
-Session musician
-Mixing and Mastering
-Sync licensing
-Music streaming
-Selling merch
-Patreon
3. Create a music portfolio and marketing strategy
Have A Electronic Press Kit
Electronic press kit abbreviated “EPK”. In essence, you can think of it as a resume for musicians.
An EPK will help you show decision makers in the music industry who you are, what you’ve accomplished so far, and why they should work with you.
Creating an EPK that stands out from the competition can be done by designing a dedicated website or artist page on an existing website. If you have the budget for it, you can hire a professional web developer. Otherwise, there are many great do-it-yourself options available, such as Wix or Squarespace.
Below are the components that most industry professionals look for in an EPK:
-Your music
-Biography
-Photos and album art
-Your brand
-Press and testimonials
-Upcoming shows
-Relevant links and contact information
Have A Business Mindset
It’s important to have discussions about money and ownership early on, even though they can be difficult to have. All members of your band should be on the same page when it comes to rights and investments. The same goes for your manager, agent, etc.
Everyone involved in music should have a good understanding of business and legal contracts, to avoid any confusion or arguments later on. If you’re signing with a record label, for example, make sure you have a lawyer look over the contract before you sign anything. Music is a passion for many people, but it’s important to remember that it’s also a business. Be objective in your decisions and remember that you’re running a business, not just a hobby.
Work On Release Strategies
You need to plan the release of your music in advance, whether it is a single, album, or music video. You cannot just upload your music to the internet and expect it to get attention.
Release plans are important to set deadlines and make sure you stick to them. Artists or their PR teams plan their releases weeks and even months before the release date.
It’s important to let your audience know that something is coming well in advance. You can do this by sharing audio snippets or video promos on your social media channels announcing the release date. This will create a buzz and keep your audience tuned in.
Make sure you have all the licenses and files in order before the release date. Waiting until the last minute is not a good idea, as many things can go wrong. Think of a release date as an exam – the more prepared you are for it, the better.
I highly recommend you to read this How To Release Your Own Music AND ACTUALLY GET STREAMS!.
Know About Performance And Publishing Rights
You must have copyright over your music and have your licenses in order when you release something. This will ensure that you get your royalty if your music is being used for commercial purposes. Publishing rights are also important because they safeguard you from plagiarism.
4. Create a social media presence and grow an audience
Create An Online Presence
It is important to have a social media presence as an artist, not just to be a great performer live. Your social media should be carefully curated and relatable to your fans.
When you have created dedicated pages for social media such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc., you can then create a music website. Where your fans can get access to all your work, your upcoming gigs and an insight into your creative processes.
There are a few great options when it comes to building a website on a budget. WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix are all great choices that come with various templates to help you design your page. Canva is another great online tool to create budget-friendly images for your website.
Build A Mailing List
The best way to involve your fans is by setting up an email list. You should do this early on and build your base. Paid promotion on social media is expensive. Lists will allow you to communicate directly with your fans and keep them in the loop.
You can use your social media accounts to promote your mailing list. Musicians often give listeners special access to music via mailing lists. You can do exclusive releases of singles or video snippets to get people to sign up.
Make a plan for how often you will send emails to your mailing list. You want to keep your fans interested without sending too many emails.
Some good tools for building email list automation sending mails to your audience:
Make Great Videos
Music videos are important for promoting your music as they ensure that your reach widens. People are drawn to visual things, so a great video can make or break your song.
You don’t need a high budget to make a great music video. Many artists get help from friends to put their videos together. Find people you can collaborate with and who are willing to work with you. Zero-budget videos can often go viral if they are intriguing and captivating.
Make sure that the content you put out on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok is interesting and engaging, and post regularly and consistently to grow your audience.
5. Network with other musicians and music industry professionals
Build A Network Of Contacts
Musicians want to be signed by a record label and have a manager who will organize things for them. Before you achieve this, you should build relationships with people in the music scene, such as other musicians, gig promoters, and tour managers. You never know what opportunities they might present to you.
Musicians who have been in the business for a while have one big piece of advice when it comes to building contacts: be nice to everyone you meet. This includes the stage techs and sound engineers at venues. Remember that it takes a team to make a good gig happen. An arrogant musician is a lot less likely to succeed than a humble one. Make sure that your behavior leaves a lasting impression on people, in a good way. The way you present yourself will often determine whether you are considered for an opportunity or not.
Start Building a Team Early
Even if you are planning to do everything yourself, you will need a team of people to help you with both the music and your career.
If you’re not confident in your production skills, you may want to consider working with a producer to help with writing and arrangement. A producer can also be helpful in bringing a new perspective to existing music, especially with bands. In addition to a producer, you’ll also need mix and master engineers to create a polished, professional-sounding record. It’s important to find people who understand both your music and your vision.
Do not work with someone solely because they have an impressive portfolio- try to find someone who is willing to interpret your ideas and work together to create something great. If you have the necessary skills, you can produce something on your own, but always get feedback from other producers as well- having another set of ears will help you catch things you may have missed.
The role of a music manager is to act as a link between the artist and the music industry. It is important to be clear about your goals when communicating with your manager, and to agree on a commission that is fair to both parties. In some cases, music managers also book gigs for their clients.
In addition to your music team, you’ll also need to be in touch with booking agents and gig promoters. They’re responsible for you getting gigs and spreading the word about your music to other agents. As with a manager, make sure they’re on the same page as you when it comes to goals and aspirations.
As your business grows, you will need to rely on others for help. This is natural and over time, your team will become like an extended family.
What is the best age to start a music career?
There is no definitive answer to this question. It depends on a variety of factors, including your personal goals and preferences. But, some experts believe that starting a music career at a young age can be advantageous.
It can give you the opportunity to build a strong following quickly and learn from experienced professionals. Starting young can help you avoid any potential negative experiences that could setback your career. It’s important to listen to your own instincts and decide what’s best for you.
Summary
A full-time music career is a whole lot of fun. Not many people can boast about how much they love their job. Like anything else, you have to put in a lot of effort and be very determined. You will experience ups and downs.
After all, you’ll forget your troubles when you’re doing what you love. Importance should be placed on things that make you happy.