Anyone Actually Making Money Right Now?

[smccarthy945]

I posted this question a while ago and wanted to see if anything has changed. I want to know if anyone on this forum either producing, mc'ing, dj'ing, etc is making any real paper.

I started distributing through tunecore and a few other ways to sell mp3s and am doing significantly better than I was doing a year ago, however, it's still not enough to make a living at. Most of it is from online mp3 sales and amazon.com seems to be the best performing site so far.

With the economy, it seems like everything is kind of dead. I was watching the Irv Gotti show on VH1 and he was talking to his wife and I remember him saying that the industry is dead and no one is buying records or music anymore. He looked pretty frustrated.

Is anyone making a significant dollar on this site doing anything? If so, what are you doing and what is bringing in the most? I only ask out of curiosity and don't expect anyone to give specific figures, however, I thought it would be interesting to have a little honesty going here and see what the real state of things are.

[MYAMS]

Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim, Al hamdu lillaahi rabill'alamin (Oooohh)
We gettin Arab Money, you want this beat you gon' pay that money

[RTR]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim, Al hamdu lillaahi rabill'alamin (Oooohh)
We gettin Arab Money, you want this beat you gon' pay that money

........................

[memphisindie]

Kinda says it all, dun it?

[Chris Lago]

I'm making pretty good money right now, mostly mastering, Dj'ing and doing vocal sessions. I also got a song published last month, and I got a new beatport remix soon to be released

Of course not as much as myams, the best beatmaker on the planet LOL.

[CWsounds]

Yeah I hold two DJ residencies at clubs in my town. That pays the bills. People may not be buying music but they are still buying drinks at the club.

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by chrislago

I'm making pretty good money right now, mostly mastering, Dj'ing and doing vocal sessions. I also got a song published last month, and I got a new beatport remix soon to be released

Of course not as much as myams, the best beatmaker on the planet LOL.

LMAO... Timbaland, Dre, Danja, Pharrell?

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by CWsounds

Yeah I hold two DJ residencies at clubs in my town. That pays the bills. People may not be buying music but they are still buying drinks at the club.

That's good, I've been getting more Dj gigs lately. By the way, I'll start working on your instrumental soon.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by MYAMS

LMAO... Timbaland, Dre, Danja, Pharrell?

True, hard to beat.

[Keyflo]

Originally Posted by smccarthy945

I posted this question a while ago and wanted to see if anything has changed. I want to know if anyone on this forum either producing, mc'ing, dj'ing, etc is making any real paper.

I started distributing through tunecore and a few other ways to sell mp3s and am doing significantly better than I was doing a year ago, however, it's still not enough to make a living at. Most of it is from online mp3 sales and amazon.com seems to be the best performing site so far.

With the economy, it seems like everything is kind of dead. I was watching the Irv Gotti show on VH1 and he was talking to his wife and I remember him saying that the industry is dead and no one is buying records or music anymore. He looked pretty frustrated.

Is anyone making a significant dollar on this site doing anything? If so, what are you doing and what is bringing in the most? I only ask out of curiosity and don't expect anyone to give specific figures, however, I thought it would be interesting to have a little honesty going here and see what the real state of things are.

I duno, i havent been making huge money lately, other than my drums, but even still its slowing up, I havent sold a beat since later Febuary, Early May..I work still tho so im not giving up

[smccarthy945]

Much respect on the responses so far! I was thinking about putting out an instrumental CD for rappers/singers with no restrictions on the license with all the parts broken out like a sample kit CD and selling through all the major stores (IE. Itunes, Rhapsody, etc). Has anyone tried this approach rather than the sell the beat at $200 to $300 per person for one use?

[tonymission]

my bills gettin paid and i dont even slang anymore

it aint crazy but it's the life i want.

[lospat123]

Originally Posted by smccarthy945

I posted this question a while ago and wanted to see if anything has changed. I want to know if anyone on this forum either producing, mc'ing, dj'ing, etc is making any real paper.

I started distributing through tunecore and a few other ways to sell mp3s and am doing significantly better than I was doing a year ago, however, it's still not enough to make a living at. Most of it is from online mp3 sales and amazon.com seems to be the best performing site so far.

With the economy, it seems like everything is kind of dead. I was watching the Irv Gotti show on VH1 and he was talking to his wife and I remember him saying that the industry is dead and no one is buying records or music anymore. He looked pretty frustrated.

Is anyone making a significant dollar on this site doing anything? If so, what are you doing and what is bringing in the most? I only ask out of curiosity and don't expect anyone to give specific figures, however, I thought it would be interesting to have a little honesty going here and see what the real state of things are.

tell ur man Irv Gotti hes an idiot. eminem just sold like 600 thousand in first week, so whats that ? not selling records? if thats not selling then id like to see what irv gotti sees as selling...

[Storyville]

The Eminem Show - first week's sales: 1.3 million.

The Marshall Mathers LP - first week's sales: 1.76 million.




...Relapse : 0.6 million.

Oh well....

[Synthy08]

Originally Posted by tonymission

my bills gettin paid and i dont even slang anymore

it aint crazy but it's the life i want.

^^^^Thats wassup

[rafaelcapone]

Soul asylum studios had a amazing first qtr tripled what we made last years 1st quarter and we are on pace to double what we made last years 2nd quarter!!!thumbsup

[smccarthy945]

Originally Posted by lospat123

tell ur man Irv Gotti hes an idiot. eminem just sold like 600 thousand in first week, so whats that ? not selling records? if thats not selling then id like to see what irv gotti sees as selling...

600k is pathetic for an artist at his level compared to what the numbers used to be.

[ryst]

Originally Posted by rafaelcapone

Soul asylum studios had a amazing first qtr tripled what we made last years 1st quarter and we are on pace to double what we made last years 2nd quarter!!!thumbsup

And SA is one of the best studios in Atlanta too. thumbsup

Don't be such a stranger, Rafael.

[A-List]

+1 DJing.

[Zach Crowell]

this isn't the "music" business, it's the "t-shirt and sticker" business

more artist need to learn how to tour/market themselves and then they'll see real money. Selling cd's isn't the only way for artists to make money. If they would work harder in every aspect and not expect radio play/cd sales to make them money then we would all be eating a little better. They would have serious budgets again and we producers/songwriters would be making more.

KISS isn't one of the most successful bands ever because of the amouont of cd's they sold (even though they have sold crap tons of records) Those fools sell anything they can to make money. There's only a few artists nowdays that make serious merch money and there would be WAY more if these crappy artists would HIT THE ROAD!!

but me, I'm paying my bills of of music. which is "living the dream" in my eyes. I'm blessed

[XHipHop]

Originally Posted by Scott Zarific

this isn't the "music" business, it's the "t-shirt and sticker" business

more artist need to learn how to tour/market themselves and then they'll see real money. Selling cd's isn't the only way for artists to make money. If they would work harder in every aspect and not expect radio play/cd sales to make them money then we would all be eating a little better. They would have serious budgets again and we producers/songwriters would be making more.

KISS isn't one of the most successful bands ever because of the amouont of cd's they sold (even though they have sold crap tons of records) Those fools sell anything they can to make money. There's only a few artists nowdays that make serious merch money and there would be WAY more if these crappy artists would HIT THE ROAD!!

but me, I'm paying my bills of of music. which is "living the dream" in my eyes. I'm blessed

True...

I think everyone should subscribe to the rss feeds of the following blogs:

- MTT - Music Think Tank
- Topspin
- Musformation | Daily Musician's News, Tips, Gear, Business & Gossip
- Music Marketing [dot] com

[Storyville]

Originally Posted by rafaelcapone

Soul asylum studios had a amazing first qtr tripled what we made last years 1st quarter and we are on pace to double what we made last years 2nd quarter!!!thumbsup

Time to expand. By hiring a Brand New Assistant Engineer. Named Storyville.

Seriously though, congrats. Good to hear success stories in this crestfallen music biz.

But, really, I do need a gig.

[7161]

seems slightly stupid to have a discussion about making money, then take one of the most successful bands to do that (kiss) and call them 'fools'

lol

mebbe LEARN something from simmons?, lol

[7161]

Originally Posted by smccarthy945

600k is pathetic for an artist at his level compared to what the numbers used to be.

agreed. it would be a few mill back in the day

[Brian!]

Originally Posted by smccarthy945

600k is pathetic for an artist at his level compared to what the numbers used to be.

That's one way to look at it but nothing was really done to keep any sort of hype in between albums and I certainly didn't see a lot of promotion for this album. With the industry and the economy being the way it is right now, there's no way he would have done previous numbers but it ain't like there was a lot of marketing put behind this album.

[tonymission]

Originally Posted by Brian!

That's one way to look at it but nothing was really done to keep any sort of hype in between albums and I certainly didn't see a lot of promotion for this album. With the industry and the economy being the way it is right now, there's no way he would have done previous numbers but it ain't like there was a lot of marketing put behind this album.

Exactly.

How many tracks did Wayne have on rotation in clubs/radio and for how long before his album came out? Em had a video show up on MTV like 3 weeks ago but come on... there was no Lollipop, none of that.

600k sounds like a shitload given I didn't even know the album was coming out so soon. LOL

[Iceberg_Beats]

It's hard out here for a pimp. lol.

From what I hear most of the big name producers have lowered their rates and asking artist to producer their whole album. This then doesn't allow new producers like us to get a foot in the door and eat.

[orangeoctane]

Originally Posted by tonymission

Exactly.

How many tracks did Wayne have on rotation in clubs/radio and for how long before his album came out? Em had a video show up on MTV like 3 weeks ago but come on... there was no Lollipop, none of that.

600k sounds like a shitload given I didn't even know the album was coming out so soon. LOL

The album doesn't really seem "single-oriented" and feels more underground than mainstream to me which may be another part of the equation?

[MYAMS]

Originally Posted by tonymission

Exactly.

How many tracks did Wayne have on rotation in clubs/radio and for how long before his album came out? Em had a video show up on MTV like 3 weeks ago but come on... there was no Lollipop, none of that.

600k sounds like a shitload given I didn't even know the album was coming out so soon. LOL

Yeah 600k is hella good for these days... And eminem is the type of dude to sell more than just the first week

[bobsandifer]

My work is up at least 25% from this time last year and I am paying the bills, buying new equipment and putting some in the bank. Based on what I am doing the music market seems to be picking up.