How to Make Money on YouTube as a Musician | 6 Great Tips (2023)

Introduction

In today’s digital age, YouTube has become a powerful platform for musicians to showcase their talent, connect with their audience, and even earn money. With over 2 billion logged-in monthly active users, YouTube offers a massive potential audience for musicians to share their music and monetize their content. In this article, we will explore a few strategies on how to make money on YouTube as a musician.

How To Make Money On YouTube (in 6 Steps)

1. Create and Optimize Your YouTube Channel

The first step in how to make money on YouTube as a musician is to create a YouTube channel dedicated to your music. When setting up your channel, choose a clear and catchy name that reflects your brand or music style. Make sure to also use an attractive profile picture and banner image that represents your music.

Once your channel is set up, optimize it for search engines by using relevant keywords in your channel description and video titles. This will help your channel rank higher in YouTube’s search results and attract more viewers.

2. Post High-Quality Content Regularly

Consistency is key on YouTube. To build an engaged audience, you need to post high-quality content regularly. As a musician, you can upload various types of videos to your channel, such as music videos, live performances, covers, tutorials, vlogs, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Make sure that your videos are well-produced and visually appealing, with good lighting, clear audio, and engaging visuals. You can also use YouTube’s built-in editing tools or other video editing software to enhance your videos and make them stand out.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a loyal fanbase on YouTube. Respond to comments on your videos, ask for feedback, and encourage your viewers to like, share, and subscribe to your channel. You can also interact with your fans on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, to build a strong community around your music.

You could also collaborate with other YouTubers. Collaborating with other YouTubers can be a great way to expand your reach on YouTube and attract more viewers to your channel. Look for other YouTubers who have a similar audience or music style and collaborate with them on a video or a song. This can help you tap into their audience and expose your music to a wider demographic.

4. Monetize Your Videos with Ads

One of the main ways musicians can make money on YouTube is through ads. YouTube allows content creators to monetize their videos by displaying ads before, during, or after their videos. You can earn money from these ads based on the number of views, clicks, or impressions they receive.

To enable ads on your videos, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program and link your channel to a Google AdSense account, which will handle the monetization process. Once your channel is approved, you can choose which videos you want to monetize and YouTube will automatically display ads on them.

To monetize your content on YouTube, you need to meet YouTube’s Partner Program requirements, which include having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program and start earning money from your videos.

It’s important to note that the amount of money you can make from ads on YouTube varies depending on various factors, such as the number of views, the type of ads, the location of your viewers, and the engagement rate of your videos.

Generally, the more views and engagement your videos receive, the higher your ad revenue will be. However, the average revenue per thousand views can range from $0.25 to $4, so it’s important to keep in mind that earning significant income solely from ads may require a large number of views.

5. Promote Your Music and Merchandise

YouTube can serve as a powerful marketing tool for promoting your music and merchandise. In addition to displaying ads on your videos, you can also promote your original music, albums, merchandise, and other products through your YouTube channel.

Include links to your music and merchandise in the description box of your videos, and use YouTube’s end screens and annotations to direct viewers to your website, online store, or other platforms where they can purchase your products. You can also create dedicated videos to promote your music and merchandise, such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, or tutorials related to your music.

In addition to promoting your merchandise through ads and crowdfunding, you can also sell your merchandise and music directly to your fans on YouTube. You can use YouTube’s merchandise feature to sell your own branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, posters, albums, or other products, directly from your channel.

Selling merchandise and music directly to your fans through YouTube can be a profitable way to monetize your channel. You can create your own branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, posters, albums, or other products, and promote them in your videos, description box, and other channel features. YouTube’s merchandise feature allows you to sell your products directly from your channel, making it easy for your fans to support you and purchase your merchandise.

Similarly, you can use YouTube’s music feature to sell your music on platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. You can upload your original music to YouTube and direct your fans to purchase your music on these platforms. This can be a great way to earn revenue from your music while also increasing your exposure and building your fanbase.

It’s important to market and promote your merchandise and music effectively on YouTube. You can create dedicated videos to showcase your merchandise or music, such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, or tutorials related to your products. You can also use YouTube’s end screens, annotations, community tab, and other features to direct viewers to your online store or music platforms where they can make purchases.

Offering exclusive discounts, limited edition products, or personalized experiences to your fans can also incentivize them to purchase your merchandise and music.

6. Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

As your YouTube channel grows, you may also have the opportunity to collaborate with brands and earn money through brand partnerships and sponsorships. Brands are often interested in collaborating with musicians on YouTube to reach their target audience and promote their products or services. When considering brand partnerships, make sure to choose brands that align with your music style and values. Authenticity is key in building trust with your audience, so only promote products or services that you genuinely believe in.

You can include sponsored content in your videos, such as product reviews, endorsements, or sponsored shoutouts, and disclose the sponsorship according to YouTube’s guidelines. Negotiate fair compensation for your brand partnerships, taking into account factors such as your channel’s reach, engagement rate, and the scope of the sponsorship. Brand partnerships can be a lucrative source of income for musicians on YouTube, but it’s important to strike the right balance between sponsored content and maintaining the integrity of your music and brand.

These are six tips for how to make money on YouTube as a musician. In the next section, we’ll share an additional way to supplement your income. Then we’ll share examples of video topics that you can use when creating your next videos.

Additional Opportunity For Income

Crowdfunding and Patreon

Although this article focuses on how to make money on YouTube, consider using other platforms to build your income. Crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter, GoFundMe, or Patreon, allow you to raise funds from your fans and supporters to support your music career, create new content, or fund specific projects, such as recording an album or going on tour.

You can promote your crowdfunding campaign on your YouTube channel and offer exclusive rewards to your supporters, such as early access to your music, behind-the-scenes footage, merchandise, or personalized experiences. Crowdfunding can not only provide you with the funds you need for your music projects but also help you build a loyal fanbase and strengthen your relationship with your fans.

15 Video Ideas for Musicians on YouTube

Creating great content is key for having great viewership. Here are 15 helpful ideas for videos that’ll help you make money on YouTube.

1. Music Performance Videos

One of the most straightforward and effective video ideas for musicians on YouTube is to create music performance videos. You can film yourself or your band performing your original music, cover songs, or even live performances. Music performance videos can help you showcase your talent, connect with your audience, and give them a taste of your music in a visually engaging way.

2. Music Videos

Music videos are an essential tool for promoting your music and enhancing your brand as a musician. You can create professional music videos for your original songs, complete with a storyline, choreography, and visual effects, or create lyric videos or animated videos that complement your music. Music videos can help you tell a story, create a visual identity for your music, and attract new fans.

3. Behind-the-Scenes Footage

Fans love getting a behind-the-scenes look at the making of their favorite music. You can create videos that take your viewers behind the scenes of your music production process, recording sessions, rehearsals, or music video shoots. This can give your fans an exclusive peek into your creative process and deepen their connection with your music.

4. Q&A Videos

Q&A videos are a great way to engage with your fans and answer their questions about your music, inspirations, and personal life. You can collect questions from your fans through comments, social media, or email, and create videos where you answer their questions in a conversational and authentic manner. This can help you build a deeper relationship with your fans and give them insights into your music and life as a musician.

5. Music Tutorials

Share your knowledge and skills as a musician by creating tutorial videos. You can create videos that teach your fans how to play your songs on different instruments, how to write lyrics, how to produce music, or how to perform specific techniques. Music tutorials can position you as an expert in your field and provide valuable content for aspiring musicians and fans alike.

6. Cover Songs

Cover songs are a popular video idea for musicians on YouTube. You can create cover versions of popular songs, songs from your favorite artists, or even songs from different genres. Cover songs can help you showcase your vocal or instrumental skills, and they can also be a way to attract new viewers who may be searching for covers of their favorite songs.

7. Vlogs

Vlogs, or video blogs, are a popular video format on YouTube that allows you to share your daily life, experiences, and adventures with your fans. As a musician, you can create vlogs that document your music tours, studio sessions, gigs, or even your personal life as a musician. Vlogs can provide a behind-the-scenes look into your life as a musician and create a more personal connection with your fans.

8. Studio Diaries

Studio diaries are videos that document the process of recording an album, EP, or single. You can take your viewers on a journey through the recording process, from pre-production to tracking, mixing, and mastering. Studio diaries can be a fascinating and educational video idea for musicians on YouTube, as they allow you to share your creative process, challenges, and successes with your fans.

9. Music Challenges

Music challenges are a fun and interactive video idea for musicians on YouTube. You can create videos where you challenge yourself or other musicians to cover a song in a different style, create a song using specific elements, or perform a musical task within a time limit. Music challenges can be a creative way to engage with your audience, showcase your skills, and even collaborate with other musicians.

10. Songwriting Process Videos

Songwriting is a crucial aspect of being a musician, and sharing your songwriting process on YouTube can be intriguing for your fans. You can create videos that take your viewers through your songwriting process, from brainstorming ideas to creating lyrics, melodies, and arrangements.

Songwriting process videos can provide insights into your creative process, inspirations, and techniques, and allow your fans to witness the birth of your music.

Not only is this a great way to make money on YouTube, you could turn your videos in courses on your personal website or on websies like Udemy.

11. Instrument Showcases

If you play a unique or rare instrument, creating instrument showcase videos can be a great way to share your expertise and passion with your audience. You can create videos that showcase different instruments, their history, construction, and playing techniques.

Instrument showcase videos can be educational and entertaining, and they can help you establish yourself as an authority in your niche and attract viewers who share your interest in a particular instrument.

12. Music Gear Reviews

Musicians are often interested in learning about different music gear, such as instruments, amplifiers, effects pedals, software, and recording equipment. You can create videos where you review and demonstrate different music gear, share your experiences and opinions, and provide recommendations to your viewers.

Music gear review videos can be helpful for aspiring musicians who are looking for advice on what gear to use, and they can also be a way to monetize your content through affiliate marketing or sponsored reviews.

13. Music Industry Insights

As a musician, you have firsthand experience with the music industry, and sharing your insights and knowledge can be valuable to other musicians and music enthusiasts.

You can create videos where you discuss different aspects of the music industry, such as marketing and promotion, music distribution, copyright, royalties, or touring. Music industry insight videos can position you as an expert in your field, provide educational content, and help you connect with other musicians and industry professionals.

You repurpose the script where you explain your insights into an article. If you are writing solid articles on your website, not only are you continuing to make money on YouTube, but you’ll also be able to get ad revenue on your personal site.

14. Music Documentary

If you have an interesting story or background as a musician, creating a music documentary can be a compelling video idea. You can create a documentary-style video that tells your story, from your musical journey and inspirations to your struggles, achievements, and future aspirations.

Music documentaries can be personal and emotional, and they can help your fans connect with you on a deeper level and gain a better understanding of your music and personality.

15. Music Challenges from Fans

Another engaging video idea for musicians on YouTube is to accept challenges from your fans. You can ask your fans to challenge you to create a song, perform a specific task, or even collaborate with them in creating content. Music challenges from fans can create a sense of community and interactivity, and they can also provide a unique opportunity for you to showcase your creativity and versatility as a musician.

You can create videos where you accept challenges from your fans and document your journey in fulfilling those challenges. This can include challenges to cover a song in a different genre, compose a song with specific elements or restrictions, or even perform a challenging musical task. Music challenges from fans can be a fun and interactive way to engage with your audience, show off your skills, and create unique and entertaining content.

Fan engagement is the key way to make money on YouTube. If you can build your fanbase on the site, you can monetize your audience with an authentic connection.

Conclusion

YouTube offers a plethora of video ideas for musicians to create engaging, informative, and entertaining content. From studio diaries and live performances to music challenges, behind-the-scenes videos, collaborations, fan interactions, music education, and vlogs, there are numerous opportunities for musicians to connect with their audience, showcase their talents, and build a loyal fan base on YouTube. Prioritizing added value to your viewers will help you make money on YouTube.

The key is to be creative, authentic, and consistent in your content creation, and to engage with your audience actively to foster a thriving community around your music.

Additional Reading

Now that you’ve learned a few tips about how to make money on YouTube, take some time to read our other articles. Want to learn about two of the top plugins for Equalization? Read our article comparing iZotope and FabFilter.

You can also learn about perfecting your music metadata.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.