How Much Money I Make as a Professional Producer

Summary

The video shares insights from a professional music producer on how to turn music production and songwriting into multiple sources of income. The speaker discusses four main income streams: freelance production, live shows, royalties, and sample packs, sharing personal experiences and strategies for scaling up earnings in each area. They also touch on publishing deals and placements. The video aims to inspire and guide aspiring musicians, offering practical advice on making a sustainable living from music, while promoting a more comprehensive paid course on the music business.

Takeaways

• 💡 The video aims to inspire musicians and producers to turn their music-making skills into a source of income.
• 💰 The speaker's four primary income sources over the past decade have been freelance production, live shows, royalties, and sample packs.
• 🎹 Freelance production was the speaker's initial source of income, starting at $500 per song and scaling up to $2,000-$10,000 per track over time.
• 🎧 Live shows became the most lucrative income stream, with fees between $2,000-$5,000 per show, peaking at $80,000 per year.
• 🎼 The speaker made limited royalties earlier in their career, but now generates around $2,000 per month from streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
• 📦 Sample packs provided a smaller but consistent income stream, around $200-$300 per month, though some people make much more from them.
• 🎬 Placements in TV shows, movies, or ads were mentioned as an additional income stream but were considered inconsistent.
• 📑 Publishing deals, where agencies find placements for artists in exchange for a percentage of the revenue, are another potential income route.
• 👥 The speaker highlights the importance of maintaining a part-time or full-time job in the early stages of a music career to avoid burnout and financial instability.
• 🚀 The speaker encourages continuous learning, scaling prices with skill improvement, and exploring different revenue streams for long-term success in the music industry.

Q & A

What are the four main sources of income the producer discusses?

The producer's four main sources of income are freelance production, live shows, royalties, and sample packs.

How did the producer's freelance production income evolve over time?

The producer started with freelance production by charging $500 per song, eventually scaling up to $2,000 per song and even $10,000 per song in special cases. Initially, they made around $10,000 per year, but this grew to around $60,000 to $70,000 per year.

What does the producer mean by 'ghost production'?

Ghost production refers to producing songs for another artist, who releases the songs under their own name. The producer gets paid for the work but does not receive public credit.

Why does the producer emphasize the importance of scaling up prices in freelance production?

The producer stresses that as skills and resources improve, it's important to raise prices accordingly. This ensures the producer is compensated fairly as their work quality increases.

Why were live shows the most lucrative income source for the producer?

Live shows were highly lucrative because the producer could charge substantial fees, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per show, and sometimes up to $27,000 for special events. This income was high relative to the time spent performing.

What role did royalties play in the producer’s income, and how did it change over time?

Initially, royalties were not a significant income source, bringing in only a few hundred dollars a month. However, in the last two years, the producer focused on releasing more quality music and increased their monthly royalty revenue to around $2,000.

How did the producer utilize sample packs as a source of income?

The producer created sample packs from scratch and sold them through platforms like Splice. While it wasn't their largest income source, it generated consistent revenue, averaging around $200 to $300 per month for the first year.

What are the honorable mentions in the producer's sources of income?

The producer mentions publishing money from song placements in TV shows, movies, or video games as honorable mentions. Although not consistent, they have earned large sums, like $4,000 for a gym ad and $2,000 for a video game placement.

What advice does the producer give about publishing deals?

The producer advises not to sign publishing deals without a trusted lawyer to review the contract. These deals often involve advances and sharing income from placements, so it's important to understand the terms clearly.

What is the producer’s main goal in sharing this information with the audience?

The producer’s goal is to inspire and inform musicians, helping them turn their songwriting and production skills into viable sources of income. They want to show different ways to generate revenue in the music industry and help others avoid mistakes they made.