5 Steps Independent Artists Need To Take To Start Thinking Like A Businesses To Finally Get The Income & Recognition They Deserve: Step 1: Shifting Your Mindset To make a sustainable income as an independent musician, it's essential to shift your mindset and recognize that you are not just an artist but a business owner. The music industry is changing rapidly and it’s getting less and less likely that you will be snapped up by a record label, publisher or management company. The best way to protect your future earnings is to see your music as a business and you are the CEO of that business. This requires a mindset shift because instead of waiting for an opportunity to come your way, you are creating and controlling those opportunities yourself. Step 2: Understand The Fan Funnel Think about your fan funnel in 3 stages: Awareness Interest Conversion Start by creating awareness about your music through social media, live performances, and collaborations. Then, generate interest by showcasing your unique sound, story, and brand. The conversion stage involves converting interested fans into paying customers by offering merchandise, concert tickets, or exclusive experiences. Finally, focus on retaining and nurturing your existing fan base through regular communication, personalized experiences, and offering value beyond your music. Understanding and optimizing each stage of the Fan Funnel will help you build a solid foundation for your music business. Step 3: Know Your Brand To stand out and attract your ideal fans, it's crucial to know and develop your brand. Your brand encompasses your unique identity, values, story, and of course visual aesthetics. Define your brand by identifying your musical style, the emotions your music evokes, and the message you want to convey to your audience. Craft a compelling artist bio, create a cohesive visual presence through your website, social media, and album artwork, and consistently communicate your brand across all touchpoints. Knowing your brand not only helps you differentiate yourself in a crowded market but also attracts fans who resonate with your artistic vision. Step 4: Have Something To Sell To generate income as an independent musician, it's essential to have products or services to sell beyond your music. While music streaming platforms provide exposure, they may not be sufficient to sustain your career financially. Diversify your revenue streams by creating additional offerings such as merchandise, limited edition releases, exclusive content, online courses, or personalized experiences. These products or services not only provide additional income but also deepen the connection with your fans. Ensure that your offerings align with your brand and provide value to your audience. Having something to sell beyond your music enhances your monetization opportunities and supports the growth of your music business. Step 5: Make Offers Making offers is simply about letting people know that you have something to sell and asking them if they want to buy it. Of course there are ways to do this and we want to limit our offers to around 10-20% of our communication. For example if you are posting 5 times per week, only 1 of those posts should be you talking about your offers. Making offers is sales and sales can be uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable because you are exposing yourself to the possibility of rejection and we are predisposed to avoid rejection. However, the only way you will make an income is if you have something to sell and find someone that wants to buy it, so get started getting uncomfortable. The bad news is that the traditional music industry is probably not going to help you. The good news is there are more tools than ever before to build a business around your talent.

At your service youtube.com/watch?v=kPZPNAqK…

How about we remove all the ‘’middle men’’ from the music industry and put their wages into artist development?

If you are an artist interested in making an income without worrying about streaming numbers check out my 'Make Money In Music' workshop: secretsessions.co.uk/makemon…