Show Me The $$$$$...

[voicegenius]

I'm trying to figure out where people make most of their money now since the music industry is in the


Is it video games? Television/movie placements? Ringtones? Hannah Montana-esque pop tunes? Where is a good place to make money in this industry nowadays? I know there will ALWAYS be a need for music in most media, but will the big money ever return like the old days?

If computers have ruined (or helped, depending how you look at it...) millions of artists lives and taken BILLIONS of dollars out our pockets, how are we gonna make money in the next 5-10 years? Is there, still, money to be made in this industry?

Hmm....

[deeper]

One of my students is the manager of two of America's highest-grossing bands. (I'm sure he wouldn't want me to divulge his name or those bands.) But when I asked him this same question, he said most of the money comes from merch. Second most income from touring (not including merch sold on tour). Third, money from TV and movie appearances.

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by deeper

One of my students is the manager of two of America's highest-grossing bands. (I'm sure he wouldn't want me to divulge his name or those bands.) But when I asked him this same question, he said most of the money comes from merch. Second most income from touring (not including merch sold on tour). Third, money from TV and movie appearances.

So basically appearances and merchandising? Show your face, make money... Interesting...

[close/far]

Yeah, a band I play in makes the vast majority of its money (80%?) from touring and selling merchandise (especially while on tour).

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by voicegenius

So basically appearances and merchandising? Show your face, make money... Interesting...

the music is just a vehicle to endorse soda-pop.

[ddageek]

Lets See at this point

Wife 65%
disability insurance 10%
Social Security 20%
recording 5%

Man I make 6 times as much doing nothing as I due recording!

[Shai An]

Originally Posted by deeper

One of my students is the manager of two of America's highest-grossing bands. (I'm sure he wouldn't want me to divulge his name or those bands.) But when I asked him this same question, he said most of the money comes from merch. Second most income from touring (not including merch sold on tour). Third, money from TV and movie appearances.

What do you teach?

[tropicalhotdog]

Originally Posted by voicegenius

I'm trying to figure out where people make most of their money now since the music industry is in the

A day job.
Pays for better gear too.

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by tropicalhotdog

A day job.
Pays for better gear too.

Seems to be the norm...

[usefullidiot]

Yeah, I live in NZ im 27 and make the average wage, around 45,000...I make half my money from gigs and half from teaching..

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by usefullidiot

Yeah, I live in NZ im 27 and make the average wage, around 45,000...I make half my money from gigs and half from teaching..

$45,000 ain't average, dude.... More like $22,000... You're doin pretty good if you're single...

edit: In the US, that's ain't average...

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by deeper

One of my students is the manager of two of America's highest-grossing bands. (I'm sure he wouldn't want me to divulge his name or those bands.) But when I asked him this same question, he said most of the money comes from merch. Second most income from touring (not including merch sold on tour). Third, money from TV and movie appearances.

Yeah, actually most of the profit has been in merch for a very long time - since the '80s, really, although it's more extreme now. The thing is that back in the '80s although the record companies made mucho bucks off record sales the bands really didn't - unless they were EXTREMELY lucky. Merch paid for everything - and still does.

[eligit]

would anyone care to make a list of everything they would consider merch?

[Diegel]

Originally Posted by eligit

would anyone care to make a list of everything they would consider merch?

- Tee shirts
- Hats
- Stickers and patches
- Key chains
- Posters
- cd's
- probably a lot more I can't think of

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by voicegenius

$45,000 ain't average, dude.... More like $22,000... You're doin pretty good if you're single...

edit: In the US, that's ain't average...

45k NZD is about 30k USD at the moment

And I'm pretty sure it's more expensive living in NZ than it is in most parts Stateside

[usefullidiot]

Originally Posted by C Heat

45k NZD is about 30k USD at the moment

And I'm pretty sure it's more expensive living in NZ than it is in most parts Stateside

yep, i live in auckland and its not cheap, other parts of NZ are...but rent/housing is insane here...even after the crash..

[usefullidiot]

Originally Posted by Diegel

- Tee shirts
- Hats
- Stickers and patches
- Key chains
- Posters
- cd's
- probably a lot more I can't think of

Problem with merch is its kinda genre specific...if your pantera or similar it seems reasonable to sell tees and belts and beer mugs and g-strings or whatever but if your someone less "rock" say like Fiona Apple i can image it would seem out of place to attempt to sell that stuff....

I recently went to see a "bigish" local artist just after she had changed management..there were Tees and crap for sale and it seemed really unfitting for her style of music....(gospel/blues/soul)