The Big Question: How To Make a Living In Music? 

Great video, Rick, but you left out playing music live in bars as an income source. I don't like to brag, but I made well over a hundred dollars gigging last year. Honest.

How does a jazz musician make a million dollars? He starts with two million dollars. The flip side to having another career other than music is you get to play what you really enjoy.

I feel like this video leaned over towards the question "once you make any money from music, where is it coming from?". I think a good way to answer the question "how to make a living in music" would be - in order to make a living doing music, you need to do MULTIPLE things at the same time. Relying solely on succeeding with your own form of art is close to impossible (still is possible, but very difficult and might take years until it becomes dependable). Here are some ideas of music related streams of income to think about: - Sound Engineering (studio or live) - Teaching (privately or in an institute, a music teaching business/website) - Producing - RU-vid (content creation, ad revenue, 'Patreon' support etc.) - Session work (irl or online) - Musical Performance (with your own music or someone else's) + it's secondary ways of income (merchandise, digital and physical record selling and streaming, etc.) - Film Scoring (or any other type of "intended composing") - Running or renting out a rehearsal space - (for people who own a lot of instruments) Instrument Renting - Instrument building - Instrument set up and maintenance Those are a few ideas to have in mind. Even if you want to be more niche and become an expert in one field (say a performing musician), try to diversify yourself and have several jobs running at the same time, ie take part in several projects at the same time. Honestly, if you can sustain even just a few of those avenues at the same time you are going to make at least a decent amount of money as a musician, plus, having these parallel sources of income means you're less susceptible to the uncertainties of living a life based solely around music. Hope that helps anyone.

My father, god bless his soul. Told me when I was young and with a “dream” just get a simple career and if something happens to your music you’ll be lucky! But with your normal job you won’t be rich but you’ll be comfortable. Thank you dad, rest easy. He knew way ahead of time that I wasn’t going to make it, ha ha!

I’m happy someone recognized the Tele-Communications Act. In the past, there was a limit as to how many radio stations a company can own. The thinking was that it was bad for democracy, and it was bad for business. Having one company owning everything stifles business and creativity. A great example of how beneficial it was for artists in the old days is the movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Loretta Lynne and her husband went from radio station to radio station throughout the South trying to get her demo played on air. Most wouldn’t play it, but some did, and when the song became a hit on those stations that aired it, those that didn’t play it originally began to do so. She was able to pull this off because, by law, all those stations were separately owned. Nowadays, with only six companies owning every station, this can’t be done.

My roommate and I have almost entirely replaced streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Whatever, at night with your videos. You have a palpably contagious passion and it serves as a perfect reminder that life wouldn't be so bad if we all just loved, learned from, and lived for each other. Thank you for taking the time to share with us what you have learned my brother from a cosmic mother. Cheers from Raleigh, NC, USA!

Lol “ they can’t steal your live performance” In comes Covid

"Don't quit your day job."

The problem with musicians is that most of them see themselves as entrepreneurs who are one day gonna make it big. It’s this attitude that has kept musicians in poverty. When they all wake up to reality and realize that they are more like day laborers who are never gonna be huge, then they’ll see the need to form unions who will boycott establishments that refuse to pay their workers a living wage. Musicians are the most nickeled and dimed group of professionals out there. The “I just do it for the love of it” attitude is bullshit. Musicians perform a very important function and should be compensated. Form unions because you deserve more.

“We’ve taken care of everything from the words you read to the songs you sing, the pictures that give pleasure to your eye” - Rush 2112

It's hard. The fact that there is not much money to make many talented people will work in there usual jobs and will never have the time and energy to focus on their music as much as it needs.

Thanks Rick for your honest presentation on making a living in the music business. My son is one of those people that went to school to become a recording engineer. He interned in Dallas, TX at a large studio and then got a job in a small studio in Eastern Texas but couldn't make enough money to support himself. Since then he has turned his efforts to computer technician jobs which pay the bills but he has stayed in the music business on a part time basis. He has all the attributes you mention in your video, He plays several instruments, writes his own music, records and produces it in his own studio and has set up his own publishing company. He is upgrading his home studio to be a very good choice for local and regional talent to record. He still wants to do this full time and I think he is moving in the right direction at least according to your information. Thank you again for your time to address this topic.

I got into the "music business" when my band, Amedeus, was signed to Epic records. Everything Rick says about record deals and publishing "theft" is true. Too young and ignorant to read the contract and spent years as a touring band paying back the front money for the record production. Success in this business is different for everyone. I became a successful studio musician for several decades until digital processing and drum machines took over. When something like that happens, you have to change your game, which I did. It meant walking away from the music business and into multimedia production. Everyone has some other talent besides their music skills that they can leverage for a new career. I know a couple of drummers who went to law school and now have practices just for music related business. A lot of my colleagues write or produce. Many are great visual artists and work with musicians to create promo and web sites. If you don't have a side skill, my advice is to develop one or several. You need a variety of tools in your survival kit. And, things will change for sure and you want to be ready when they do.

Here we are in 2023, six years later, and the answers to the big question haven't gotten any easier. A lot has continued to change in Music. The Music Modernization Act passage in 2018 creating the introduction of the MLC changed the royalty collection and payment landscape. Rick, it would be great if you would do an update to this very informative video. As a songwriter and producer of over 120 instrumental songs over the last 40+ years, I have made a good living and lived through the whole progression from vinyl, cassette tapes, CDs, downloads, streaming, ... But, if I had to start all over today, it is doubtful that I could make a living. We musicians have almost no physical product to sell these days. Even CD players are becoming extinct. Please consider an update video. Love your videos and would love to meet you in person someday.

I love how actually playing live comes way down your list and you only mention stadium gigs. When I lived in the North East of the U.K. I was employed playing in clubs every week. You can approach earning a living playing live just like any job but you need an agent for that. This means gathering promotional material, transport and equipment. I also got work making jingles to order. All of your advice applies to original material which is about as difficult as getting a book published.

Thanks for all of this advice, Rick. Being in this industry is such an utterly daunting task. It often feels like I need the skills of five different professionals just to have a chance at ever making any money. Currently studying sound engineering and trying to improve on my instruments and with my compositions but damn...it's so intimidating. Thanks for making it just a little easier :)

so what you are really saying is there is no money in music and it's just an expensive hobby for 99.9% of musicians

I just took music business 101 from Berklee online and it took me three months to learn all this. Thank you for your time doing this for all of us.

Hey Rick, great video, thank you! My personal experience as a professional musician here in Italy since 1980 is do various things in the music business to make a living, pay bills and buy my house with a studio: 1) club gigs in many different music styles; 2) play drums on tours with famous pop artist 3) play at convention, corporate party 4) tv promo on national tv broadcast for big stars (for example...i do this for 8 years with Andrea Bocelli); 5) writing article on a print drummer magazine; 6) do european tour with USA blues/r&b/funk/soul artist on tour; 7) do private drum lessons (and percussions) in my studio; 8) recording drums for national tv jingles in my studio and in other studios (example i play on Q8, Nikon, Buitoni, IBM, Citibank, Fiat and many others; 9) recording session of every kind of musical projects in my own studio; 10) rent my studio to producers; 11) record producer (recording all the musicians and singers, play drums and percussions, mix, mastering, artwork for cover-package); 12) writing and produce music for documentary, tv show, movie, radio jingles; 13) play drums and cymbals as endorser at music fair-exposition; 14) team building with drum circle and percussions; 15) rent my 2000 watt little PA for cabaret evening in restaurant and small club; 16) recording sessions drums and/or percussions in other studios. ...and i think in the years i have do a lot of other things! :-)

As always, Mr. Beato's knowledge on any music topic may be among the most valuable sources around. From film score analysis to complex music theory, I hope some royalties are being earned here because all of these videos are in my repeat queue.

I have a non-music related full time job, but I always love the feeling of playing music live (although only few times a year, mostly at friends' events). At some occasions I get paid, but not that much... Lately I have been thinking about going into playing music full time, but I know its not easy... Guess I'll just start by doing regular session at bars/cafe at night while working in the office during the day. It's always been constant battle inside of me, between being realistic and following the dream... Just sharing though... Oh, i remember Guthrie Govan once said: "Music owes nothing to you"

The majority of the video seems to be about how the record industry used to be and about how that process doesn't really work anymore. People coming to this video based on the title are going to be looking for how to make a living in music today. The old way of getting signed obviously isn't going to work anymore. To make a living in music an artist has to hustle more and become more of an entrepreneur. They have to become a "label" onto themselves. There are also still a lot of opportunities for musicians to make a living performing music. Studios still need musicians to play on recordings. Cruise ships still need live musicians. There are still opportunities out there to make a "living," but the standard "rich and famous" contracts are just not being given anymore.

Over forty years in the music industry and I could not agree more with every word said here. This is Solid gold information.

Is your studio radioactive? That Geiger counter is going mental

How do you end up with a $1000,000 in the music business? Start with $5000,000 and gig for a couple of years. :) I remember back in the day, mid-70s, when buying a piece of vinyl was a moment of great anticipation. You would put that album on, sit back, look at the artwork, read the liner notes/lyrics and play that album until it had worn out. Music shows like Top of The Pops in the UK were 'institutions' - a conversation topic next day at school: '... did you see so and so? Did you see that band, this band...?' You just didn't dare miss it. Music, as a normal, cultural 'phenomenon' was held in high esteem and aspired to. It was 'special'. Fast forward to now.... Frankly, no one gives a s**t. Kids have the attention span of a Labrador puppy. So many things vie for their attention - games, internet, smartphones etc - music isn't the huge point of focus it once was. The internet has made so much music available that its value has plummeted financially and culturally. Diamonds only have value because the mining of them is carefully controlled and restricted. Too many diamonds and the value falls. This is what happened to music: its total accessability has been its undoing. Some will make money but they will be a miniscule percentage. Years back if someone had 200 vinyl albums they were a serious, hardcore collector. These days, my ex girlfriend had over 100,000 mp3s on her hard drive - that's around 8000 albums - hardly any of it she listened to. Every month Spotify would send her hundreds of tracks to listen to - mostly rubbish - that she paid next to nothing for. That's where the business is now. You stand a better chance of making a living with music by standing on a street corner banging out a few well-known songs with an acoustic guitar. In fact, some very good musicians do very well playing in the streets around Europe. Thing is, they ALL at some point thought they would make a million from the 'music biz'.

Great job RIck. Can't wait to see the heights your son reaches musically in the future. Tis no coincidence that so many gifted people had parents who were gifted teachers, from Mozart to Tiger woods. Good luck to you.

I find this content very interesting, I never realized how tough it was to make a living in the music industry. People say they love an artist but the real question should be, are you supporting them?

Just wanted to say, I really appreciate how you have advanced music theory stuff that continually challenges me but also these much more personal discussion type videos. I find both incredibly inspiring and am looking forward to looking over your catalog of new and old videos.

Stupid music business. I could have been a famous basketball player, or famous actor, but NO, I had to be a musician. Ughh

YOUR WHOLE CHANNEL IS HEAVEN TO ME

I know guys who have made tens of dollars as professional musicians.

Rick, I know this video is almost 3 years old but thank you for the clarity in how market you own music. I have learned a lot from you over the years. Thank you truly.

I studied music production, got my masters in Audio production. I've played bass for 17 years. I produce music which I put up on soundcloud and have accumulated a couple of thousand listens. D'you know how I make money from music? Covers band. For the majority of musicians, that's the best you'll do. Play pubs, weddings, birthdays etc. You have a great time and you can make a bit of cash to supplement your earnings from the regular job you have to have. There's always that joke about how do you make a million off jazz music? Start with a billion. Reckon if I become some sort of crypto millionaire I could build a studio, employ myself and slowly run out of money until I have to get a job again.

Thanks Rick (Dangerous) for talking over this troublesome subject. I always thought (25 years ago) that making a living off music making would ruin the romatic and magical nature of it, and make it a routine, stressed, compromising profession for me. I thought musicians should have a "real job" and do music when the "muse" hits them, usually, off work hours. Today I have a family and steady job and I hate the fact I cannot drop everything and only play, compose, cover, mix, try all the diferent instruments until I get versed on them. So - whomever reading this and delaying music to the afterlife (actually not go that far but when you are a family and not an individual with free time and will) - jsut don't - you will be sorry for lost time, lost ideas, lost music. It is something you got to try to know whether you will be good and make it your occupation, or keep doing gigs to your kids and friends and make a very good career in some business, so you can buy some instruments and gear and keep up the dream. Cheers! Great channel :)

You ask great questions in interviews. You are the most thorough instructor on the internet. You give practical information for practitioners,and describe the whole process for free. Thank you!

35:30ish: "If you become a RU-vid star and get a million subscribers, you're making a lot of money." Welcome to the machine, my friend!

Absolutely fantastic! Having been a public high school band director in Minnesota for an entire career (now retired) as well as always played in bands - community, night clubs, church, etc. i always wondered about these aspects of the music business. Thanks so much for explaining some very complicated information in such a comprehensible fashion!!!

Just turned 50 and I still love music. My band had a record deal with BMG in the mid 90s, released a full length and toured the country twice. But it fizzled out because we never wanted to become pop stars, and I personally didn't get into music to make money. These days I could care less about how the industry changed because I was never a fan of the industry to begin with, not even in the so-called "better days". If making music is part of who you are, do it for fun and don't change who you are. Do something else to make money.

Thanks for this commentary, Rick. You encapsulated not only the energy of the biz circa 2000 that inspired me to pursue a career in the biz as a young teenager, but also the anguish of enrolling in recording school in 2004, just as the biz was cratering. Not to mention graduating during the fallout of the 2007 financial crisis. Sheesh. Posting this from my IT day job, which is my cushion while being a weekend warrior sideman.

Great video that confirmed my fears about going into the music business. I went to college in Mississippi back in the early 2000's and switched my major from music to business administration, because I was afraid I really wouldn't be able to make a living in the music industry. I've been playing piano, guitar, bass & drums since my middle school years, write my own music & lyrics and understand mixing, but I was never excellent and any of those things. I am so glad I made that decision back then to get a normal job and have a family while using my talents as a hobby and at church. Thanks for the info.

domo origato, Mr Beato...

Lots of truths here Rick ! I would add that, If your an artist, the most important revenue stream, at any level, is live performance. You have to be able to sell tickets to your performances. Most acts, established or emerging, generate most of their revenue from live performance. Your ability to do, especially early on, is an indication that people like what your doing and will likely buy your recordings, merch, and other income generating vehicles as well. While you can make money selling the music itself, I would suggest that, more than not, music sales revenue is a fringe benefit of successful touring. Radio, for example, functions as a marketing tool for live performance revenue. Moral of the story is, if you (or a club owner or promoter) is having trouble selling tickets to your shows, you need to step back and take a hard look at what your doing, both artistically and marketing wise. Its not just about being great (very subjective) but its about getting people to buy in to what your doing on stage. Every thing else follows.

Simply want to give a shout out to you Rick for the work you do and I have derived so much inspiration and knowledge as a developing musician. A couple years ago I faced a very important truth which was that because of my choice to want to play my own original music I choose not to address what I have learned as some very important fundamentals . Music Theory and consistent guidance through the process of development. Facing the fact that my musical vocabulary was very narrow was a very hard pill to swallow. All these varied ideas that were expressed in a way that was simply too much the same felt like a punch in the gut. I had to get real and either quit which honestly was not an option, or face what I have avoided for a very long time. It has been a privilege to experience your generosity in teaching and I thank you for it. If I am correct I am pretty sure Ive heard you mention living in Nashville. Being that my parents live there I hope to one day meet you and when in a state of readiness work with you. A lofty goal yet I am determined to achieve is a few Rock Operas. Hopefully one day I can talk and possibly work with you on some projects that are very tied to a great need to give birth to these concepts. Thanks again and be well and prosper.

Hey Rick, your videos are a treasure cove of inspiration and information. Thank your for the stories, insights, experience and teachings. I feel grateful beyond my ability to express it.

I highly recommend reading "How To Make It in the New Music Business" from Ari Herstand, really good book on the matter, you don't need to be a superstar to make a living.

I think I will write a book on how money used to be made in the Music Business as it is all downhill now. Having played for 55 years it is very sad to notice the lack of opportunities for up and coming artistes

I started learning the guitar at 65 years old about 3 months ago. I haven't made a dime yet but spent a small fortune on the 5 guitars, amps etc. that I now own. I enjoy your vids.

Hey Rick, just want to give you props you are virtually the only person I've found with good info on theory that's not just fundamentals. Modal theory and applications are really useful and interesting for me as a flamenco guitarist. Definitely going to buy your book next paycheck. Thanks!

There is also the tried and true street performing. If you have chops you can easily pull in $100-$250 an hour with a guitar box laying on the ground. Even if you are terrible people will throw a couple of bucks down. Location is 🔑

Hey Rick, I have a video idea for you.. How about "How to meet other likeminded(committed) musicians/producers/ect. I feel it is harder to do these days with all the different genres..Just a thought. Best, -Z

Omg I feel incredibly overwhelmed yet really informed by having watched this video!!

Thank you Rick, I think people need to understand that this video covers publishing, writing, engineering and producing. The mid to high end level of the music business. On the local level sure there are other ways but you did awesome explaining it as you see it from your world. I operate the Eccentric Musician Company here in the North East on a part time basis. That being said, thank you for your contribution.

Once a famous Italian music producer told me: "If you wanna do something in the music business you need money and (the right) friendships!"

Thanks. Now, I'm depressed.

Thank you. I studied music in the 80's mostly because of the wonderful feeling it gave me to be in Choir and the Marching Band. A former roommate of mine, Bob Stone, teaches music to middle school in Modesto. I love going on vacation to watch him perform and I often see him composing and arranging. It's an amazing skill. I would really love to see my friend Bob make money on some of his work. I sent him a link to your video. I learned a great deal. I subscribed to your channel and I look forward to hearing more from you. Excellent production.

Nice one again Rick ! Youre break down about the "alternative viable" methods to making a living are the most informative, especially regarding Publishing, Sound Exchange & Licensing ~ thanks again !

CD Baby is great, no ongoing fee, very good customer service and they just take a percentage of the sales. They do CDs and all the main online download and streaming (bah!) distribution channels, although you can get RU-vid advertising money direct rather than through their partner with regard to that aspect.

How to make a living as a musician? Make a bunch of videos and start a youtube channel talking about how to make a living as a musician.

I'm only 20 minutes in and already I know this is one of the great YT videos for ANYBODY who is trying to do what your title asks. Incredibly informative. You're speaking my language. Thanks!

For the past 20 years I've been making a living producing Foxrox guitar pedals during the week and playing weddings on the weekends, around 70 per year. Electronics and guitar, my two main hobbies. Thank you Music.

The best chance for most of us to earn money in the music business is to simply own shares of Spotify, LOL!

This sounds like the publishing industry and others as well. You don’t get a book deal unless your book is selling. Sounds odd, but with the Internet, publishers can sit back and take less risk this way. Not so good for the up and comers but great for the publishers.

Thanks Rick for the awesome video. You are such a genuine person! The world would be a better place if more people were like you. I originally saw your Apple rant videos and I didn't realize your true profession and experience. A real treat that you are willing to share. I really enjoyed your video where you played the greatest song intros. Talent comes through and puts most of other so-called RU-vid "talent" to shame.

I'm glad you found RU-vid Rick. There's a lot of RU-vidrs teaching how to produce and engineer but you have a lot of history and perspective to go along with it.

You come out with the most amazing and interesting information Rick, fascinating even for those of us with no connection with the music business (except as consumers, of course; most of us can relate to it in that sense).

Fascinating.. I grew up in the 70's and 80's ...interesting how things have moved on ..or down

Thanks Rick. Your knowledge of the industry is invaluable. I bought/downloaded your book and am slowly working through it.

Hey Rick! I really appreciate your videos and all the information you're giving out, thank you! I'm 28 years old and currently making a living in music / sound and would like to add a couple of options where music / sound is applied. I'm sure you know all this, but just throwing this out there as a a viable option for other viewers as well. Sound design for performing arts (contemporary circus, dance, installations, etc.) especially in Europe is a big one for me. The work is usually a mix of composition / producing, but includes also technical aspects of sound, like programming patches with Max MSP to create interaction with sound and the actions happening on stage etc. Granted that the work usually includes a lot of travelling which might be problematic for some people. Another one is making music for videos, teasers and other promotional material. Companies, youtubers, artists, etc. utilize professional sound for their videos to promote themselves. But all in all, what I have found for me is that you have to be able to wear multiple hats and it definitely helps if you can create the final product yourself from start to finish. Right mixture of musical skills, being able to produce creative content, technical skills and entrepreneurship are needed to make it today. Again, thank you for your videos. I'm thinking of sending you an e-mail if you'd be interested in some mentoring through Skype. You seem like a great teacher with lots of valuable knowledge! Best, Sami

I live on my own, have since 19 years old. I wanted to be a rock star along with everyone else. Although, I saw this coming. It was around 1991-1993 when Terminator II came out that I could remember e-mails on the screen. I was like, "who the fuck would use an e-mail, just call the person". I got to thinking. I was like, "hmmm, digital, everything digital, I better get a government job". Been there ever since. Best decision ever. Now I get paid a modest living for the rest of my life. You see, I was only "good" at music, you had to be "beyond great" at the time. I'm glad I figured that out. Many of my friends at the time went to CA to "make it" only to come back years later. Education and government work has been the only way out for me. I know that isn't the case for most people. Most people have no idea was "public service" is at all. But, it isn't much, but I live on my paychecks. What good is it to share 240 million dollars with millions of people? And even if you get a piece of that pie, it isn't much. It is probably more than I make, that isn't difficult, but it is so unstable. So, I ask, where are all the rappers? By the fact that all the people I knew in 1990 wanted to be a rapper, everyone my age should be rappers right now. There are how many? Like five? RU-vid seems to make millionaires, but when that company starts to de-monetize all the videos, what then? I AM amazed at YT's millionaires though, that's no doubt. I'd have liked to have been part of that movement, but I sadly missed that too.

If offered a 360 deal one should counter with a 180 deal! (Do a 180 out the door.)

I have no intention of going into the music business (not that I have the talent or skill to do so anyways) but I ended up watching the entire video just because of how informative this man is. Thank you for the information!

I enjoy your videos. Your delivery and authentic love of what you're doing shows through big time. Great work, great presentations... thanks.

I felt the pinch when Disk Jockeys came in favor in the early 80's. Way less live, private party, wedding, bar gigs every weekend. Playing drums I sure felt the pressure to get live bookings. The horn players I worked with had got killed and many had to fall back to teaching revenues. These guys were not hacks they were pro players who could do almost any style. lately in Chicago seems to me live is on a small up swing. Last year at my Nieces wedding, no DJ. They brought in a small PA plugged in the grooms Phone and hit play. No JD.

Music is a drug. And we love it. It sucks the life out of you and we just keep doing it because it fills our soul. You have to write music that changes the way people think and feel to make a living, like the Beatles. It’s a rare thing but worth it

Thanks Rick. I have played 40+ years. I glad i enjoy playing just for the sake of playing. I dont depend on the income any longer. So now, i enjoy it even more.

Thank you so much for this. I'm building a project studio in south Atlanta and have been trying to wrap my head around the current economic landscape in the music business and this helps congeal a lot of random streams into a succinct picture.

Rick...thanks for this info man..I'm a producer, writer, musician and performer and I really needed this info to push my music and make a real living at it.

I agree all what you said. I been in the industry as a Motion Graphics designer and Musician and its quite a lot of things to do before you can get the payment for living... This is why I am still not famous since I'm focusing more on the Motion graphics day job... what's also hard for me is that I live in country side... and most of the creative things happen in the big city.. that is another hard part of living as a creator and not only a musician :/

Thank you Rick for the reality check that is needed for many people/artists who think they want to "make it".Some have no idea of the realities of this so called music industry . Even in 1985-2005 it was always difficult even if you signed to a major and had the promo department working your record...you were living on thin air and top ramen in a dingy apartment and learning what."ownership in perpetuity though out the universe" means.

Thank you Mr Beato for taking the time to make such an informative video!

Something that is happening in my area that is new and has taken me by surprise and all but destroyed music is that anyone who can hold an acoustic guitar is getting gigs at seasoned performer pay. I never saw this coming, people used to think karaoke would be the death of the gigging musician. What this tells us is that the people who hire artists can not tell the difference between talent and the absence of it. In addition the patrons of these establishments have been assaulted so much that now they just tune out all live performance further decreasing the value of a seasoned professional. Due to this I have been pretty much forced into an early retirement from performing, just can't find work, and since my talent counts for nothing I have no value in the industry anymore. So what I have done is built a small home studio and went back to creating music for myself again. But this is certainly the death of the gigging artist.

Comments here made me extremely sad. Why do i even watch these videos and read them when I should just create music. But i cannot focus on music when i need money, money is more vital task. I guess need for money killed so much art...

I came across this video by chance and just wanted to say thank you for it!! I've played music (mostly just for fun) most of my life, but took about a 10 year hiatus from it while I was practicing law and starting a family. Now I am getting back into songwriting and performing, and thinking of pursuing it in a more focused, professional way, but I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and not sure where to start. This video was great and really helped provide a clear overview of the basics, so now I can work on setting some practical and realistic goals. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to watching more of your videos. Thanks again!

Recently, I commented to some touring artists I produced a show for about how tough the music business is and their response surprised me. They both responded at how much easier things had gotten. Both of these artists had developed their own unique sound. They set themselves apart. They were also easy going and professional which made my job very pleasant. I'm sure that translates throughout their network and keeps them working.

great video Rick. Every starting musician needs to watch this video to the end... covers a lot of ground while hitting the essentials well.

How To Make a Living In Music? Become a plumber!

It's very difficult now when no one buys music and the live scene has decreased as well unless they are a now big time group. I seem to still pay bills and live off doing live sound for artists and corporate events well as a bit of djing still which is now also a flooded market. You just have to be good at it and have a great ear and present yourself professional to whom books you. I could write a whole blog but Rick covers all the basis. Thanks man

Hey Rick ! Great video. You answered a lot of questions that I, as a musician for 40- odd years , wondered about often. I travelled and toured back in the hey day - late 70's . Bands could make good money then...I find it amazing that the business has changed so much. We went from a basement to success of a sort - 2 of our guys paid for their houses - Completely!!!! Free rooms Discount at the restaurant PLUS Pay - for doing what you love. I'm glad I answered that ad. Oh, I'll bet you were a great teacher/prof - It just makes sense.I played with four guys who I love. Stadiums three times Mostly huge Bars. Selling out all Liquor at Port-aux-Choice. Locking the doors at 10 P.M ....Sorry if I brag but I will always love those 3 years. Music. My favourite word.

Wow! Thank YOU, Rick. I feel a bit like I entered the Twilight Zone here, as it was if you made this video specifically for me, although I needed to see it years ago. I knew I wanted to be a producer since I was around 20 or so. While I was already a musician, I studied recording engineering on my own, until in the late 80's I was convinced to go to school for it, figuring I still had a few things I didn't know about, which was accurate, of course. I had perfect grades and was very good at it, and in fact continued on teaching workshops in it for a couple of years at the college, as well as continuing to do live sound reinforcement. (Vince Gill actually sang through my equipment a few times before he became famous) However, it seems that no matter how much effort I put into finding work (in Los Angeles, btw) I could never get more than a very occasional engineering gig. I was offered internships a couple of times, but by this time I was in my 40's and had a family and needed paying work. Eventually, I realized that there are few engineering jobs that ever open up and there were dozens, maybe hundreds of trained people who wanted them. I lost heart. I even tried working as a somewhat competent cover band musician, but soon learned that you compete with dozens of bands who will play for free just to have their friends come see them. In fact, in LA some clubs charge the band to play.. So a few years ago, I gave up on that. Never been too interested in writing my own music, but I'm 65 now, and wouldn't mind making a little bit of regular income as a musician for once in my life. So, I'm thinking hard about the RU-vid thing. Then I see how much you have to do just to keep your channel afloat and I wonder if it's just a pipe dream at this point. Do you think I'm too old at this point? Rock has always been for the young, unless you're Jagger. Henley's line in The Sad Cafe seems profound. The line about Fortune smiling on some and letting the rest go free. Damn shame as I think I would have been good as a producer. Thanks again. I'd appreciate your thoughts.- Jstn

Rick; great video, very insightful and thorough. I'm currently a college student with Berklee's online campus majoring in music production and music business. In my classes, we've heard from a lot of speakers, label people, A&R reps, promoters, etc. who have stated much of what you have. Many of the predictions that I've heard from some of these same people point to streaming becoming the new profitable avenue for making revenue as an artist, producer, engineer, etc. I'm well aware of the royalty rates you earn off of streaming, and how insubstantial it is for making a living, and how that rate must change in order for there to be more "room" in the music industry. I'd love to hear your predictions: do you think that we're just on a downswing in the music business as consumer choice is switching from the pay-to-own mentality to the pay-to-subscribe mentality, and do you think that this downswing is temporary? In other words, what do you foresee for the future of consumer-based music? Is that future going to be profitable for people working in many of the industry verticals, or should we all go get regular jobs like our parents told us? That last line was a joke.

Rick, you went over the evolution of the music industry. these days u have to know the business end to end. great video on actual living experience. I love you hit what I am targeting, writing music.

The producer/mixing engineer point is interesting. What is the best way to begin as a producer/mixing engineer in your opinion ? What basic knowledge and experience would you recommend ? (I'm 23, bass and guitar player for almost 10 years, I try to expend to other intruments lately like piano, drums, singing, and sound design. I know the basics of music theory, etc).

Rick should do a 2020/2021 version of this video

Great video, Rick! Learned a lot about the ins and outs of the music biz. Keep up the good work!

Rick... Even though your post is 3 years old, it’s still refreshing to hear your candid take on the work-a-day world of making a living in today’s music industry. In fact, you may well gain some WATCH TIME with this video, now that I’ve discovered it! Thanks for all your insightful detail. ...Hank

After I retired, I tried my hand at typography and typesetting. The graphic design and prepress. The the Mac computer came along and suddenly everyone's a graphic designer. Then I moved onto video production. The the cellphone camera came along. So I focused on high end concert videos. But then the market crash happened and orchestras went broke. Now I'm repairing vacuum tube amplifiers for a living.

More and more, it seems like the music therapy route is going to be the way for me to go!

loved this ..... Reality can really suck but you shined a beacon on the industry and the changing opportunities available for today's musician Thank you

So glad I found and subscribed to your channel. Not a wasted second. Thanks a million!

The Beatles never learned to read music, but after playing together a few years for food and drink, got their chops down and managed to collaborate among themselves professionally and had a great producer to guide them. But yeah, it's getting tougher and tougher to make a living in music or anywhere without the right connections, talent, skills and knowledge. But as we go deeper into the "necessities" of making a living in music today, we go further and further away from what makes music enjoyable, accessible - special. If you're in it just for the money, you better be ready to do "whatever" to make it. If you're playing music because you love doing it - get with others like yourself in that respect, collaborate, make it better and play for an audience be it your friends, a parking lot, or a club. Because if you're really into the music, and can keep developing, eventually we'll want to hear what you've got to say.