how instrumentalists and producers make money

If you’re an instrumentalist, music producer or beatmaker, selling beats or doing shows is likely your primary revenue stream. Like most of us, the pandemic has killed most if not all of our gigs and it is affecting a good chunk of our income. It doesn’t have to though. There are many ways you can avoid a 9-to-5 and still do what you do best every day. For starters, the online world has unlimited earning potential. If you haven’t already taken advantage of digital streaming, YouTube, or social media, this is prime time to get acquainted with the likes of these things. There is also a growing demand for sound kits within the beat community. You can make real money selling your own custom sound kits and sample packs.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT SELLING SOUND KITS AND SAMPLES IS GOOD INCOME?

We all have noticed the rise in DIY music makers and beatmakers. Technology and the internet have granted musicians at all levels and experience the ability to make music in a whole new way than preceding generations.  We no longer have to search through dusty crates for records for hours and hours to find that perfect sample, play everything ourselves or find someone to do it for us. Now, one of the biggest marketplaces for music producers and beatmakers to buy samples is online through cloud-based collaboration platforms like Splice. In 2019, the platform raised $57.5 Million. That’s roughly $102 Million since launching in 2013. Splice alone paid out $15 Million to sample creators. That number is on track to double this year and the next. They are not the only online shop for samples, Loopmasters and many others are really giving the game new life.

HOW AND WHERE DO I START SELLING SOUND KITS AND SAMPLES?

First thing you should do is establish where you are and where you want to go. For best results, be honest with yourself. Have you made beats before? Are you an established musician? Do you have an online presence? Knowing your starting point and end goal will help you to pick the best platforms to sell your samples and sound kits.

There is an awesome article I recommend checking out on Millenialmind.co that will walk you through the process of how to make sample packs that sell Definitely a must read if you have not done anything like this before.

TOP PLATFORMS FOR SELLING SAMPLES AND SOUND KITS

Splice is the most common and fastest growing marketplace for samples out of them all. They have a subscription-based model that is super simple for beatmakers and producers to download the exact sound they need every month. They regularly update the sounds and work with some of the biggest producers. Meaning, they will not just take anyone’s sounds and samples. If you think you have what it takes, I recommend perusing their site for their requirements and submit what you got.

Roqstar is great for the new sound designer if this is your first crack at making your own samples and sound kits. They have 3 different tiers that basically are separated by the % the site takes for each sale you make.

Modernproducers is known for its top notch sounds, loops, kits, vocals, VSTs, presets and sharing related musical accessories for today’s music producer. Like Splice, you’ll have to submit sample packs for consideration. They also have the backing of the top artist’s sound engineers.

Sellfy is the probably the most flexible out of the platforms. They have integrated their platform with the likes of other huge platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Soundcloud, etc. You can also create a store for your sound kits and sample packs right within their platform. Seasoned producers also frequent this platform.

AIRBIT is the one platform that does everything, You can sell beats, sound kits and sample packs on this platform while building your brand.


As you can see, there are many different platforms to help you launch the sell of your very own sound kits and samples no matter what your experience may be with this. I wish you all the success, Stay tuned for similar topics. Comment your thoughts and questions below. Follow the author, TANI RENEE on all platforms at @iamtanirenee and @offpopdaily.

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By Tani

TANI RENEE is an American singer and songwriter based out of New Orleans, LA. Whether in front of the mic or conversation, she tells her story with a style so emotive and rich with truth that it’s hard to ignore. Pairing an honesty that resonates from pain and alienation, love and triumph with a juxtaposition of sounds such as r&b, jazz, blues and hip-hop. She made her debut with the single, “Broadcast”, complete with an interactive music video with the H.O.P.E. campaign and H.O.P.E. Outdoor Gallery in 2016 and has not stopped since. Known for her explicitly honest opinions, she is a breath of southern fresh air to R&B. Currently working on her first book and soundtrack entitled, “Sugar Don’t Go In Grits: Pretty Bad Dating Advice”. She promises to deliver nothing less than the realest spill on all things love and dating in 2019. If you want to be entertained, follow her social media @prettybadmouf. Watch her latest music video for “Russell/Stay Here” https://youtu.be/dOMwxvqI8ZI