How To Make Money With Your Music Website

Below are some ways to get creative with growing your online revenue streams. It’s best practice to start with your website, which is the one spot on the internet you’ll always be in control of.

Sell digital music

Most music listening has shifted to streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, but plenty of artists have found success selling their music online to loyal fans. Make sure to sell your singles, EPs, and albums through your own website. This is where you own the fan data and get to choose the pricing model that works best for you. You can also make your releases available anywhere people might look for them, such as iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

Sell CDs & vinyl

For many die-hard music fans, nothing compares to the feeling of physically holding an album in your hands. CD duplication has become incredibly cost-effective, and vinyl can be a great collector’s item. Sell your physical music alongside your digital music on your website, and even bundle it with merch to multiply your income.

Sell other physical merch

Band merch staples include t-shirts, hats, posters, and stickers. These are a fun opportunity to put your creativity to work. Brainstorm other ideas that align with your branding that your fans would be eager to buy. Anything from phone cases to handwritten lyric sheets is fair game.

Sell digital merch

If you’re not seeing much demand for physical merch or you’re on a tight budget, think of some valuable yet low-risk digital merch offerings to sell instead. For instance, a beautiful ebook of your album lyrics, or a sheet music download for your latest single would only require a little upfront effort, with no worries about manufacturing or shipping when you make a sale.

You could also offer video lessons for any musically inclined fans. Teach them how to play an acoustic version of your song, share your songwriting techniques, or walk them through your music production setup.

Sell tickets to live streams 

Technology is only getting better, so consider participating or hosting an online concert.

If you had strong turnouts at your gigs before the pandemic, those same fans would most likely be thrilled to tune into your live streams. Be sure to sell your live stream tickets through your website to make the online experience feel more exclusive and intimate.

Start an online fan club

Craving a more predictable source of revenue? Subscriptions give your biggest fans access to special rewards and exclusive content in exchange for their monthly contribution.

Patreon is a popular platform for this, or you can use Bandzoogle’s built-in subscription feature to easily manage everything on your own website, with no commissions taken out of your payments.

Check out The Indie Musician’s Guide To Building A Professional Website for more tips on building your own website!

SOURCES: “7 ways to make money through your music website,” CD Baby DIY Musician