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> First, you have to create enough each year that you can earn, on average, $100 profit from each true fan. Definitely not possible to earn 100k per year from

> First, you have to create enough each year that you can earn, on average, $100 profit from each true fan. Definitely not possible to earn 100k per year from 1,000 fans through music streaming alone. Musicians earn about $0.005 per stream on Spotify. To ear $100 from a single fan, that fan would need to listen to 20,000 songs, or about 1,000 hours. There are only around 720 hours in a month.

grecy 6y ago
Which is why having multiple streams is the the key. Once fans love your music, you can also sell branded t-shirts, hats, posters and whatever else. You could also write a book of your songs, a "photography" book of your album cover designs, tour and do concerts, etc. etc. You don't have to earn the $100 profit from each fan from just the core of your 'production' - think more sideways. Right now I earn from Book sales, YouTube, Patreon, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, speaking engagements, merchandise (I need to expand), private one on one consulting calls, etc.
ksm1717 6y ago
Nice context. I wonder if this same kind of sanity test would make posting music on Spotify an outlier compared to other revenue streams for monetizing art
abetusk 6y ago
Going down one more paragraph: > Second, you must have a direct relationship with your fans. That is, they must pay you directly. Spotify is acting as an intermediary, presumably you as the artist sacrificing more of the profit from a digital sale to reach more of an audience.
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redis_mlc 6y ago
> through music streaming alone. HN keeps going around in circles on this every month. Musicians in general do make a living with Patreon, equipment endorsements, merch, and streaming. Just because all you know as a consumer is Spotify, doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. Source: managed musicians.
kjakm 6y ago
'True' fans don't just stream a musicians music. They buy bundles where a physical copy of the album comes with a t-shirt + poster etc. and costs $60. They go to every gig + spend $50 on merchandise. They pay $25 to watch a live stream.

grecy 6y ago

Which is why having multiple streams is the the key. Once fans love your music, you can also sell branded t-shirts, hats, posters and whatever else. You could also write a book of your songs, a "photography" book of your album cover designs, tour and do concerts, etc. etc. You don't have to earn the $100 profit from each fan from just the core of your 'production' - think more sideways. Right now I earn from Book sales, YouTube, Patreon, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, speaking engagements, merchandise (I need to expand), private one on one consulting calls, etc.

ksm1717 6y ago

Nice context. I wonder if this same kind of sanity test would make posting music on Spotify an outlier compared to other revenue streams for monetizing art

abetusk 6y ago

Going down one more paragraph: > Second, you must have a direct relationship with your fans. That is, they must pay you directly. Spotify is acting as an intermediary, presumably you as the artist sacrificing more of the profit from a digital sale to reach more of an audience.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

redis_mlc 6y ago

> through music streaming alone. HN keeps going around in circles on this every month. Musicians in general do make a living with Patreon, equipment endorsements, merch, and streaming. Just because all you know as a consumer is Spotify, doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. Source: managed musicians.

kjakm 6y ago

'True' fans don't just stream a musicians music. They buy bundles where a physical copy of the album comes with a t-shirt + poster etc. and costs $60. They go to every gig + spend $50 on merchandise. They pay $25 to watch a live stream.