Putting music on streaming sites: worth it?

[wagdog]

An Icelandic promoter approached my son’s band for a tour. As cool as that would have been there was just no way to make it work financially. Instead, they just had to take satisfaction that they had fans in faraway lands.

 

[Space Pickle]

Even so, why not do both?

My guess/hope (and this is just an assumption because my record isn't done yet ) is that if it's only available on Bandcamp that people who want to hear it will be more likely to go there and make a purchase. If it's on Spotify, why bother if you're already paying for a subscription?

If your goal is to make money, you might rethink your life choices. Using a distribution service is a convenient way to get your music out to the world, although you could submit directly to the streaming services. I think a distribution service (we use Distrokid) is the way to go because it submits your music to streaming services worldwide. We got a notification that we are now on Deezer, which is primarily in France. You never know which market your music might explode. I guess I took the long way to say, it couldn't hurt to release your music through a streaming service.

Monetization on YouTube seems to be the current big thing. You just need to take the time to create content and build your following. Merchandise is another good way to make money, but you gotta build that following, and it takes time.

I don't expect to make a lot of money from recording, but it's really important to me that there's at least the possibility of breaking even, which just doesn't exist on Spotify. I agree with you about Youtube.

 

[Egg250]

I don't expect to make a lot of money from recording, but it's really important to me that there's at least the possibility of breaking even, which just doesn't exist on Spotify. I agree with you about Youtube.

It's about diversification. I use Pandora for streaming music. Most people use Spotify or Apple music. Why not capitalize on all of the streaming services instead of limiting yourself to just 1. Distrokid releases your music to all streaming services and keeps accounting of royalties.

 

[getbent]

First and foremost, if you're trying to make money, you're going to be disappointed in any of these avenues. It sucks, but that's how things have gone.

You gotta be in the places where people look for music. Some folks may not like Spotify, or have issues with how they pay, but that's where a lot of people listen to their music of choice. It's like having your CD available at Walmart in the 90's, that's just where people shop and you're hurting your chances at being heard if you're not there.

By all means, put it up on Bandcamp as well, because there are hardcore folks who want to support in that way, or want the downloads or whatever.

One avenue to make money is through licensing (for commercials, video games, tv shows, etc.) and being on Spotify, and hopefully a playlist there, is necessary to anyone can hear you in the first place.

 

[SoCal80s]

These days, unless you're on Taylor Swift's level, no one makes their money selling music. Instead, the music is used to create a following and then you herd that following to your shows and to buy your merch. Merch is where you make money, if at all. So, yes - put your music on all the streaming sites with the goal of building a following and then get them to come to your shows.