Wait! Before you continue reading this article, you need to ask yourself this: “Do I have quality, completed contents to release out there?”
I trust you have. So, let’s get into how you can make money!
We know the Nigerian music landscape is hard to navigate especially as an upcoming unsigned artist; a lot of time, funds, (sometime pleading) and planning goes into making it.This isn’t one of those sugar-coated fairytales, Hollywood fiction or ponzi-scheme formula article that tells you you’ll make money fast. This is an informed guide on few things that will fetch you profit as an unsigned artist.
Get Attention
You’re making quality tracks, then why keep them to yourself? You’re waiting for label to sign you before you release? No, boss! O wrong!
Stop keeping those amazing tracks to yourself. Once you’ve worked on your sound enough to get a few completed quality, potential-hit songs, share them and build connections via socials on social media—Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. By doing this, you can potentially reach a larger number of people thereby drawing the attention of potential buyers who would pay to feature your music. Just keep calm and build and nourish that audience, it’s worth it.
Distribute Your Music
How will your fans have your music if you don’t give them?
Distribution is a important part of promoting your music. iTunes, Spotify, Boomplay, Audiomack are just some of the streaming platforms and digital music stores you can get on. Distributing your music and content on streaming platforms such as Boomplay Music, Spotify and Apple Music has the potentials to attract attention from new fans as well as the music industry. You make money every time people stream, download or buy your music on some of these platforms.
Get Your Face Out There
Social media popularity is cool and nice, increasing streams on platforms is also dope. You know what’s better? Getting out in real life!
Existing in real life, getting your face right out there is also important to your success. Get gigs, tour, go to clubs, dazzle the audience with quality music, maintain an all-star performance and watch the magic happen to your career. Great performances create buzz, get people talking and make big industry players take notice.
You’re TALENTED! You CAN EARN ADDITIONAL MONEY AS A SONGWRITER
There are a number of ways you can turn your songwriting talent into a money-making channel.
- Collaborate: Regardless of what genre your writing style leans more towards—Afropop, Fuji or anything in between, social media is a great way to find and connect with potential collaborators and co-write on their tracks. By collaborating with another artist, producer or songwriter, you are entitled to a portion of the royalties made from that music.
- Sell Your Music: A lot of artistes are out there who are willing to pay you to write them a hit record. Artistes like Adekunle Gold, Peruzzi, Teni, Ceazar Milli amonsgt a host of others are getting good money composing and selling records to other performers. If you can write, just put yourself out there, register on platforms that can help you reach your client and build your network.
Sync Licensing (Synchronisation)
When a film or TV studio, production company or content creator wants to use the music you’ve composed in their show, ad or YouTube channel, they need to pay you for the synchronization license. How your music will be used, for how long it is used and the format by which it’s used are determinants of the license fee you receive. Not only can good sync be profitable, but it can boost your popularity.
However, the world of music licensing and syncing is complex, your manager or lawyer will be able to guide you through the process.
Now, we hope you’re equipped to take steps toward money-making. Go forth into the world and multiply your akkant balance.
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