TOP 20 MOST RICHEST NIGERIAN MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

TOP 20 MOST RICHEST NIGERIAN MUSICIANS OF ALL TIME

20. Kiss Daniel [$1.0 million]

 This guy is making name for himself in the music and entertainment industry in Nigeria. It is not surprising that he made the top 20 richest musicians in Nigeria, despite that it has not been long he break into the limelight.

His hit song (Woju) remix featuring Tiwa Savage and Davido has grossed over 16 million views on YouTube as at the time of the last update. Kiss Daniel net worth is estimated to be $1.0 million

19. Chidinma Ekile [$1.3 million]

 Chidinma has one thing going for her – she is extremely likeable. That alone has skyrocketed her take home performance fees and worth to an enviable position. From a mere contestant in the MTN Project Fame to a household name in Nigeria, Chidinma has created wealth that her peers can only dream about. She has amassed enough wealth to earn her a place on this list of richest musicians in Nigeria.

Her biggest video to date is “Kedike” with 1.2 million YouTube hit, followed by “Oh Baby” featuring Flavour which currently has 600,000 views. And collective views of about 5 million for her songs, Chidinma’s net worth is put at – $1.3 million

18. Duncan Mighty [$1.5 million]

 Duncan Mighty has refused to step an inch away from the Niger Delta oil. With unique beats, superior voice quality, and dance step to match, he is considered one of the most successful artistes ever come out of the Niger Delta region.

His most popular song on YouTube.com is “Obianuju” and “Port Harcourt Boy” which has collective views of 2.8 million. With strong affiliation to the Niger Delta politicians, Duncan mighty is estimated to worth – $1.5 million

 17. Phyno [$1.6 million]

The only hardcore rapper I’ve ever seen in Africa. He does it like no other, providing new dimension to rap music in Nigeria and Africa in general. Phyno is to the Igbos what Olamide is for Yorubas but he does it in a completely different fashion. So good that ‘Rap haters’ like me are being forced to like the music.

Phyno is a genius. Everyone wants to collaborate with him for good reasons. He is hot in the market. Phyno’s net worth is put at – $1.6 million

16. Tekno [$1.7 million]

 He broke into the limelight with Duro which currently has 26 million views on YouTube. Tekno is one of the finest Afro-Hiphop artists in Nigeria. He and Kiss Daniel are the newest entrants into this tops 20 richest musicians in Nigeria, overthrowing Ice Prince and Patoranking.

His biggest song till date is Pana which is currently having over 36 million views on YouTube and countless of downloads on iTune! Tekno net worth is $1.7 million

15. KCee [$2.0 million]

 Currently making serious wave in the Nigerian music scene, KCee, formerly a member of the KCPresh is one of the most fortunate guy in the industry. He picked the right beat at the right time, and the rest has become history.

His hit songs “Limpopo” and “Pull Over” are currently on 14.5 million views collectively on YouTube. KCee net worth is $2.0 million.

14. Tiwa Savage [$3 million]

Welcome the queen of music in Nigeria. The sexy mama and the first lady of Mavins Record! Tiwa Savage is among the very few Nigerian artistes whose average video is grossing over 1 million on YouTube. She currently has about five videos with more than a million views each. Eminado is currently doing 7+ million.

Her net worth is $3 million and may soon crossover to ten in this rating within the next couple of months.

13. Iyanya [$3.5 million]

 From a hungry project fame ex-winner to international famous superstar within the space of three years. Iyanya has shown that if you want to be successful in Nigeria, give them what they want and you will be blessed with wealth.

Iyanya’s hit song (“Kukere” complete with its unique dance step) currently has more than 15 million views on YouTube. His net worth is $3.5 million

12. M.I [$3.9 million]

 Regarded as one of the most successful rap artiste ever in Africa, M.I has built a reputation that will be too difficult for anyone to surmount. He is among the major stakeholders in Chocolate City Records and is credited with the rise to fame of Ice Prince Zamani.

For the sake of the record label and the stars that came through it, we are placing MI at number 12 on this list. His current net worth is $3.9 million

11. Yemi Alade [$4 million]

 How she made it, I don’t know, but she is currently the biggest female musician in Nigeria. The first day I heard “Jonny” played over my car radio by one of the Nigerian F.M Station, I knew something serious was about to hit us.

Yemi currently has the most successful and most popular music video by any African female artiste (dead or alive) on YouTube. The total views for “JONNY” as at this time is 69,800,171. Yemi Alade’s current net worth is $4 million.

List Of Top 10 Richest Musicians In Nigeria

 10. Timaya [$5.5 million]

Timaya’s vocal power is unmatched in the industry. He is one one the best and probably the most successful music star ever come out of the Niger Delta area, far more successful than Daniel Wilson and others. He is truly the “Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa”.

One of his hit track “Sanko” has surpassed 5million views. While his biggest hit “Bum Bum” featuring Sean Paul has already grossed over 16 million on YouTube. Timaya net worth is $5.5 million

9. Tu Face [$5.7 million]

 The musician everyone respects in the industry, Tu Face has become the present day legend in African pop culture. By the time he hangs his trumpet, he will be studied in universities across Africa. African Queen remained his biggest hit ever, meaning that this legend lives largely in the past glory.

He has not been able to do another song more popular than the famous African Queen or even close to its popularity. But what he lack in hit songs, he made up in reproduction, building future generation of Idibias. Tu Face net worth is $5 million.

8. D’Banj [$6 million]

 From life in the streets of The United Kingdom to MoHit and, becoming one of the biggest superstar Nigeria has ever seen, D’Banj has proved that what you need to become successful is in you. You don’t need to look for it elsewhere, it is within you.

Noteworthy, his biggest song ever is (Oliver Twist) the last song produced by Don Jazzy. It dethroned P-Square’s song (Chop my Money) temporally in 2013 as the highest viewed Nigerian song on YouTube before another song from P-Square (Personally) reclaimed the number one spot. D’Banj net worth is $6 million..

7. Banky W [$9.0 million]

 Two of the best music videos ever done in Nigeria (Lagos Party and Wizkid’s Holla at ur Boy) to his credit and a serious record label of his own, Banky W is surely a force to reckon with in the Music business in Nigeria.

From Etisalat to Samsung, he has the knack to land juicy endorsement deals anytime. Started with a copycat of Rihanna’s song, he graduated to international superstar, doing original songs and winning awards. Banky W net worth is $9.0 million.

6. Wizkid [$11.5 million]

 From a backup artiste to Banky W to becoming a superstar, Wizkid has been transformed into international star by just one music video – Holla at ur Boi! That video created the defining moment in his career and today, he is the Wizkid you and I know.

Widely regarded as the Justine Bieber of Nigeria, Wizkid is one of the stars in the industry that many upcoming artistes look up to. What he lack in vocal talent, he complement in personality appeal. Wizkid net worth is $11.5 million.

5. Olamide [$12 million]

 He is probably the craziest rapper in Nigeria and Africa. So crazy he called himself Badoo. Olamide has built name and fortune for himself in the music industry in Nigeria. Right from the day I heard his first song, I knew he was going to be big.

His song with the highest YouTube view is “Shakiti Bobo” with  over 17 million views. Consequently, he was able to overtake Wizkid due to the fact he has multiple singles with over 50million collective views. He is the mastermind behind the rise of Shoki dance style and Lil Kesh. Olamide’s current net worth is put at $12.5 million.

4. Davido [$20 million]

 What he lack in physical appeal, he complement with great vocal ability – the twisted version of Wizkid. Davido is one musician in Nigeria that I so much like his vocal talent. He is a singer and song maker extraordinaire and as a result, has become one of the richest musicians in Nigeria.

His two songs “Aye” and “Gobe” are currently having 15 million and 11 million respectively on YouTube. Son of a politician and businessman, Davido’ net worth is $20 million.

3. Flavour [$28 million]

 Almost every artiste in the industry has featured Flavour in their songs. His vocal ability is unrivaled. One of the very best the industry has ever seen. Flavour Nabalia is one like no other and no one can mimic him successfully, no matter how hard they try. He is the only Flavour, after him there may be no other Flavour.

This Afro High-life Star has everything going for him. Physical appearance, pure vocal talent, and mastery of the music instruments. Flavour is everything other musicians desires to be. His current net worth is $28 million.

2. Don Jazzy [$100 million]

The only musician in this list with no song to call his own. Yet, he command so much respect and money than most of the bests in the industry. Don Jazzy is a builder, a producer and industry pacesetter. Whatever he lays his hands on becomes gold. He produced D’Banj to international superstar and, when D’Banj left, he produced other superstars.

Dorobucci, Adaobi, Eminado, Sulurere, Banana – these are some of the major hits he produced after the MoHit saga. Certainly one of the richest musicians in Nigeria, Don Jazzy net worth is $100 million.

1. P-Square [$150million]

No one does it like P-Square in the music industry in Nigeria and Africa! When you think they’ve done their best, they come up with something completely different. The only competition they have is with themselves. Outside Akon, P-Square is the biggest music stars ever come out of Africa – dead or alive!

How about great African musicians like Fela, Ndiaye, Lucky Dube, Blenda Fassie, Angelique (the double Grammy awards winner), and Awilo Logomba? Well, they are all legends of music in Africa but when it comes to earning and popularity, these legends are no match to P-Square, with all due respect. This is based on facts and figures. Pick up the all times African top 10 music video on YouTube, P-Square alone has 5, leaving the other 5 for the entire artistes in Africa to share. 

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Top 20 Richest Musicians In The World

Top 20 Richest Musicians In The World


20. Muse:  The last 20th place was taken by the British rock band Muse (49 million dollars). Muse is a British rock band formed in 1994. In total, Muse released seven studio albums and four live albums. Their sales exceeded 15 million. Muse also received a lot of awards mostly for live performances.

 19. Luke Brian:  The 19th line is occupied by the American country singer Luke Brian (53 million dollars). At first, he worked as a songwriter. His debut single "All My Friends Say" achieved the fifth line in the Billboard country chart. Some of his singles received gold and platinum certification from the American Association of Record Companies. His third album Tailgates & Tanlines, released in 2011, was certified platinum.

18. Jay Z:  The 18th place was taken Jay Z, the singer from the US (53.5 million dollars). Shawn Corey Carter is a rapper and producer. Jay Z is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He sold more than 100 million records and received 21 Grammy Awards for his music. 

17. Beyoncé:  The 17th position was taken by Beyoncé (54 million dollars). Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American R&B singer, an actress, a dancer, and a music producer. She released six albums and has won 20 Grammy awards in her entire music career.

16 - 15. The Weeknd and rock band U2:  The 16th and 15th places are occupied by the Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer of Ethiopian origin The Weeknd and the Irish rock band U2 (55 million dollars each). U2 was formed in 1976. They are one of the most popular, successful and influential groups in the music history. More than 180 million copies of the group’s albums have been sold.

14-13. Justin Bieber and Kenny Chesney: The 14th and 13th spot goes to Canadian Pop and R&B singer, songwriter, musician, and actor Justin Bieber and the American country singer Kenny Chesney, one of the most popular in his genre (56 million dollars each). 

12. Paul McCartney:  Sir James Paul McCartney takes the 12th place. He is a British musician, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. One of the Beatles’ founders, a 16-time Grammy Award winner, a Bachelor of Arts and Chevalier of the British Empire Order. (56.5 million dollars). 

11. Bruce Springsteen:  The 11th position is occupied by Bruce Springsteen (60.5 million dollars). Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen is an American rock and folk musician and songwriter. He became famous due to his rock songs with poetic texts. The central theme of the latter is his homeland, New Jersey.

10. Puff Daddy:  The 10th place is taken by American rapper Sean Diddy Combs, better known as “Puff Daddy” (62 million dollars). The main portion of this year income was brought to Puff by the lucrative deal with Diageo's Ciroc. His other investments are quite lucrative too. The musician is listed in Forbes every year, steadily occupying the tenth line among the richest musicians of the planet. 

9. DJ Kelvin Harris:  The 9th line was taken by the Scottish DJ Adam Richard Viles, known under the pseudonym Kelvin Harris (63 million dollars). Who said that a DJ cannot earn real money? Calvin Harris spent most of the year wandering around the elite clubs and casinos in Las Vegas, becoming the richest electronics musician of the year. Also, the guy releases hit collaborations with major stars - the last song This Is What You Came For, made with Rihanna, was accepted by critics very favorably. 8. The British Rolling Stones The 8th place is occupied by the British Rolling Stones (66.5 million dollars). It’s a rock group with a huge fan base. The sale of CDs and live performances of Rolling Stones provide team members with a good annual income.

7. AC / DC: The 7th spot is taken by another rock legend, Australian band AC / DC (67.5 million dollars). No front man? No problem, they have found a new one. The guys from the cult team AC / DC regretfully retired their solo Brian Johnson, and on the same day, they lured the front man of the legendary Guns N 'Roses. Axl Rose will take part in the last ten concerts of the US tour. It will undoubtedly make AC / DC almost the richest rockers in the world. 6. Garth Brooks The 6th place is taken by the country star Garth Brooks (70 million dollars). The Comeback Tour started in 2014 and continued till the beginning of 2017. Garth Brooks is not very popular in other countries but highly appreciated at home. He belongs to the richest musicians in the world. 

5. Rihanna:  The 5th line is occupied by Rihanna (75 million dollars). Rihanna has created for herself an image self-willed girl who prefers to follow her heart and not pay attention to public opinion. Her impressive talent gives Rihanna the right to an original vital position, and the innate business skills that allows her easily to be on the Forbes list. 

4. Madonna: The 4th place is for Madonna. The top twenty most highly paid musicians also include American singer Madonna (annual income - 76.5 million dollars). Only the Gross from the Rebel Heart brought Madonna $170 million. After that, the Forbes’ financiers estimated the total net worth of the pop diva in one and a half billion dollars. Also, the legendary singer has additional sources of income, from the perfume line to her brand clothing.

3. Adele: The 3rd spot belongs to Great Britain's Adele, who earned $80.5 million for the year, thanks to the world's best-selling "25" album. For Adele, the year 2016 was the most successful in her career. The album sales provided the main part of her worth. However, much money was also brought in by the live performances. 

2. One Direction:  The 2nd place in the 2016 rating was taken by the British group One Direction with an annual income of 110 million dollars. The era of boys’ bands will never end. Such groups simply adjust to the requirements of the time, but in general, they remain the same. This fact, however, did not prevent One Direction from receiving $ 110 million of net worth during the last year.

1. Taylor Swift: The 1st position is filled by the 26-year-old American singer Taylor Swift. The world richest musician earned $ 170 million the last year. Taylor Swift's tour through North America provided her with an impressive fortune. Swift leadership in the rating is ensured by the concert tour "1989" which started in May 2015. The total revenue from the Swift’s concerts in the world exceeded $ 250 million, while $ 200 million was earned only in the US. Also, more than 3 million Swift’s records were sold. Her royalties for advertising dietary Coke, Apple products and Keds shoes brought a significant contribution to the singer's income. In this case, the young and talented beauty won the first place in the rating of the highest paid musicians in 2016. As you can see, in the rating of the Top 20 richest musician in the world ranking by Forbes there are representatives of different styles and directions: rock, pop, hip-hop and even country. There are many young names on the list. Besides, musical "dinosaurs" and veterans of show business still set the tone in the world music for more than half a century. 

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TOP 10 Best Singer Dancers of All Time

1. Michael Jackson

 Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana and passed away on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 300,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael is also known as The King of Pop (a title given to him by Elizabeth Taylor) or under the initials MJ.

He is the owner of the best selling album of all time, Thriller (1982) which was awarded 30 times platinum at the beginning of 2016. His other albums Bad, Dangerous and History are all among the best charting albums of all time and all reached the number one position in the US charts.

Jackson was the first black artist whose music video (Billie Jean) was aired on MTV, and with that success he broke down a racial barrier in the music industry. With his music and music videos he revolutionized the world of pop music. Jackson is very well known for his signature dance moves (moonwalk, lean, sidewalk, Thriller dance), his famous clothing (black hat, white sequined glove, military jackets), his unique singing voice, and songs like Off the Wall, Don't Stop 'till You Get Enough, Thriller, Billie Jean, Beat It, Bad, Man In the Mirror, Heal the World, Earth Song, and They Don't Care About Us. He also is the best entertainer of all time according to the Guinness Book of Records and one of the best selling solo artists of all time.

2. Chris Brown

 Christopher Maurice "Chris" Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Born in Tappahannock, Virginia, he was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age. He is most well known for his physical assault towards the singer Rihanna in 2009. He is also known for many hit singles, such as "Kiss Kiss", "Run It!", "Forever", "Deuces", "Look At Me Now", "Loyal", "Ayo", and "Back to Sleep".

3. Justin Timberlake

 Justin Randall Timberlake is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer.Born on January 31, 1981, Justin Timberlake began his career on The New Mickey Mouse Club, starring with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. In 1995, he became a teen heartthrob with the pop group *NSYNC. After the pop groups immensely successful run in the '90s, Timberlake went solo in 2002, releasing his own album, Justified. Timberlake proved he could stand alone with the Grammy-winning album, and continued his success as a solo artist with FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006) and The 20/20 Experience (2013). Aside from a prominent singing career, Timberlake also proved himself a talented actor, starring in Alpha Dog (2006), The Social Network (2010) and In Time (2011).

4. Shakira

 Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a Colombian-Spanish singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model.Born in Colombia on February 2, 1977, hugely successfully Colombian pop singer and dancer Shakira has won multiple Grammy, Latin Grammy and American Music Awards. Known for hits like "Whenever, Wherever" and "Hips Don't Lie," Shakira is the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, with estimates of more than 70 million albums sold worldwide. Additionally, she has served as a judge on the popular singing-competition show The Voice.

5. Rihanna

 Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian pop singer . Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, she first entered the music industry by recording demo tapes under the direction of record producer Evan Rogers in 2003. She ultimately signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president, hip-hop producer and rapper Jay Z.

6. Elvis Presley

 Elvis Presley was a American musician and actor. Known as "The King" He was mostly known for his number 1 singles including "Heartbreak Hotel" "Hound Dog" "Jailhouse Rock" "Love me Tender" Elvis debuted in the movie "Love me Tender" and focused less on his music and continued that way.

Elvis Presley died on Augest 16 of 1977 of a heart attack from a overdose of drugs and junk food.

7. Justin Bieber

Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, song writer, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada (despite once claiming he was Part-Indian) and he is Christian . He is the son of an author, Pattie Mallet .

Justin Bieber is best known for his songs "Baby" and "What Do You Mean" . He is currently the only artist to have four videos reach more than 1 billion views on YouTube for "Baby", "What Do You Mean?", "Sorry", and "Love Yourself", as well as one of the few artists to have had three songs in the Top 5 on Billboard . He also has the most disliked video on YouTube, with "Baby" having 7 .3 million dislikes.

His most viewed video is "Sorry", with 2,175,000,000 views as of January 17, 2017 .

8 .  N. T. Rama Rao

 He is best dancer in India. He can do any kind of dance move without any rehearsal. Most of the choreographers dream to work with him. He gave the fame to many choreographers with his performance in films.

HE IS KING OF TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY BOTH ACTING & DANCING

9. Jason Derulo

 Jason Joel Desrouleaux, better known by his stage name Jason Derulo (an alternate spelling of his surname), is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He is best known for his singles such as "Wiggle", "Talk Dirty", "Trumpets", "Want To Want Me", "In My Head", and "Whatcha Say", all of which have gone platinum.

10. Bruno Mars

 Peter Gene Hernandez, professionally known by his stage name Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and choreographer.

Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars was born on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii. By the early 2000s, he had begun to find success by writing songs for popular artists, including K'Naan's "Wavin' Flag." After several years as one of pop music's premier songwriters, Mars broke out as a singer in his own right with the 2010 hit "Nothin' on You." Other popular songs by Mars include "Just the Way You Are" (2010), "Locked Out of Heaven" (2012) and the Grammy-winning "Uptown Funk!" (2015).

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How To Become A MUSIC PRODUCER

How To Become A MUSIC PRODUCER

Career Description

 Music Producers arrange, write, produce, and record songs, whether they’re shaping the sound of another artist’s album or creating beats or songs for their own projects. With the growth of home recording technology and boutique recording studios, many Producers find themselves pulling double or triple duty as Studio Owners and Sound Engineers, as does the Rattle Room’s Jaron Luksa. He says, “I am responsible for every aspect of my business and it’s definitely not all rock ‘n’ roll glory. A typical day for me starts with checking my Producer notes, prepping the studio and checking gear functionality. If something is broken, I’d rather have a fix or workaround figured out before anyone is in the space. Once the client shows up, I want my attention 100% on the artist and the music creation process. Nothing else comes first. I usually work for about 10-12 hours with lots of ear and mental breaks worked in throughout the day. While on a break, I am usually attending to phone calls, emails, texts, social media and even accounting. There is a lot of work that goes into being a Producer outside of the studio such as attending rehearsals, meetings, writing sessions, and going out to shows. Social media has given me the ability to connect with more artists than ever, but in-person interaction will never be replaced. Half of producing is the music, the rest is sales…and I am the product I push.”

Music Producers work with Recording Artists, Recording Engineers, Session Singersand Session Musicians, among others.

Advancement

 Production is a highly competitive field, and advancement comes as a Producer builds and diversifies his or her skill set or works with more prestigious artists. Some begin their careers while working out of a home studio before generating a buzz and being invited to work on big budget projects. Luksa puts it this way. “Lots of little kids dream of being star athletes, but they’re more likely to win the lottery. The music industry has a similar statistical likelihood for artists and all us production folks trying to reach the top. I think Producers need to be realistic about the current and evolving state of the music industry. The game has changed and you have to be more than just a Producer nowadays. So many of my peers not only produce but play on records, write, engineer, DJ, program tracks or function as artists themselves to pay the bills. You have to ask yourself the question, “what kind of records do I want to produce?” because you need to be in love with the work. There is no guaranteed financial success. Competition is crazier than ever and the current demand for free content doesn’t help. You need to pick this line of work because you refuse to do anything else. It’s a hustle, and you are constantly looking for the next gig, even while working on a current project.“

Training & Education 

“Yes, formal music education is a must (know the rules before you break ’em),” Luksa says. “This industry runs at lightning speed as far as technology goes, so learn the basics from trade schools, or music schools with recording arts/music engineering and production programs. As you learn to use new gear or software, you can use that formal education as a platform to grow on. Next, apprentice with someone who is respected in the part of the industry you want to work in. You need to follow production trends and methods. Which, btw pretty much involves eating cereal and watching a stupid amount of YouTube videos on “how to” in pajamas.”

Skills & Experience  

 When it comes to necessary experience and skills, Luksa says, “there is no right path or specific skill set that will make you a great Producer. Some folks will get into producing by way of helping a friend record while playing/writing on said record, others will just be crushing tracks out of their bedroom and word gets around, while others might come to produce because they are engineering and start helping bands get through the tracking process. There is no one single magic solution to launching your career as a Producer. Play off your strengths and fake the rest!”

 The two things that are essential are passion and a diverse skill set. He says, “As a Producer, I contribute with engineering, playing, writing, arranging and creative guru skills. I approach listening to songs, bands, and artists from a fan’s perspective. I aurally digest music CONSTANTLY. If a great track comes on, I get a rush of dopamine from my brain. I truly am a music junkie. That being said, I think it comes down to my tastes and how I am able to listen to music like a multi track machine, focusing in on each element at will. I can objectively give feedback to the artist, regardless of what I would do or my musical influences. I try and produce according to that project’s genre and most importantly who the artist is artistically and how I think fans might react.

Personality

 So what kind of person would be successful as a Producer? Luksa says the ideal candidate is “organized, assertive, artistic and a great communicator. Someone who can lead the pack and rule with love, even when getting evil with some Norwegian death metal band. In the studio or rehearsals, artists look to you for answers, so you need to be thick-skinned and even-keeled. Artists bring enough drama, insecurity, and emotion into the sessions; [there’s] no need to add your baggage, so keep your BS and ego at home.“

Lifestyle

Working as a Producer can be time-consuming, with late hours, long days in the studio, and a constant scramble to get paid work—at least when getting started. Luksa advises, “When you first start, take any gig you can at the drop of a hat. Date with the significant other planned? Guess what, canceled. Going snowboarding with friends…nope taking the call. It will suck at first, but the real people who support your dream will understand and love you regardless. Let other Producers [be the ones] being flakes or screwing up, [this can] be a good opportunity to prove yourself. If you become dependable, clients will start calling you first. Half the battle is just being the individual to get the job done in a timely manner. After a few years, you can start booking yourself some normal hours. I try to work from 10 am to 10 pm and take the weekends off, but it doesn’t always work out that way. The associated stress isn’t for the faint of heart, but it does have great perks. Working in the music industry immerses you in an environment of art and culture, allows traveling or vacationing whenever and however much you want. I always have backstage access and attend lots of fun events by invite. Ultimately this environment will change and shape your future, and if you are any good, you will affect the musical environment around you.”

Employment

 So how does an aspiring Producer land that first gig? Obviously, it isn’t as straightforward as submitting an application or a resume. It’s about taking advantage of networking and learning opportunities. Luksa says, “A few years back while I was still in school, Butch Vig was quietly standing backstage at Avalon in Boston (he had performed with Garbage). I was working production but snuck over and kindly asked this same question you posed here. Butch told me that he and some friends got a place and gear to track some punk bands and make records. The rule was that bands supplied beer as payment. It worked because a lot of bands showed up.”

 Luksa started gaining experience early on. He says, “I attended Berklee’s Music Production and Engineering program, interned with a bunch of Live Sound Engineers and was offered a job mixing monitors for a Live Nation venue in Boston (Axis). I think [for] my 10th show, I ended up mixing monitors for a Bon Jovi acoustic show/live radio broadcast. . . .My interaction with the band and Jon was professional and I didn’t screw up. After the show, I realized ‘I know what I am doing…I can hang!’ For the next 6 years, I was mixing live and interacting with all these bands on a nightly basis. After the shows I mixed, I would approach the best local bands opening for the national headliners and ask them to take me into the studio to make records (I told you… it’s a hustle and I figured out my angle). I became part of a scene and networked my ass off to find clients who would pay me to go into the studio with them. I guess that’s how I broke in…? That was a good 12 years ago….Fast forward, I have toured around the world as a Live Sound Engineer and Tour Manager for some amazing artists and built a studio, The Rattle Room, where I produce and engineer all kinds of music. Oh, and I still cruise on a tour bus and do the Rock Starting once in a while.”

Earnings

 Luksa says, “I’d say starting salary is hard to nail down….In bigger cities and music industry hotspots, the money is a little better for a per track rate…but the more you work and the more “at bats” you get, the more likely you are to have a record “make it” and end up with more business. When looking at ways you can earn money as a Producer, take my advice and get paid up front! Create a simple “Producer’s Agreement” with a Lawyer that you can edit and use over and over. (It’ll be the best $500 you ever spent.) Don’t waste time with points and backend troubles, you won’t see that cash anyway. If you help write songs or hooks, figure out your writers and/or publishing split for that song and confirm it via email with other Writers until a formal split sheet is created and signed. That is the backend you should be concerned with.”

 

Groups, Unions,  Associations and Social Media,

Producers aren’t unionized, but networking and community are vital for success. Luksa advises fledgling Producers to “register with a PRO [Publishing Rights Organization] so you are prepared for writing and publishing royalty collection. Go out to shows and become part of your local scene, make friends and create contacts with Session Musicians, other Engineers, and Producers. Keep that part grassroots.”

Online, he says, “there are so many resources out there, it just depends on the music and scene you want to be a part of. Stick to where your clients might hang their interactive selves or follow other Record Producers or Engineers you respect. Always follow trends within your project’s marketing demographic via Billboard or other reporting. You don’t have to buy those records, but give them a listen. I really dig Sound On Sound, Tape Op, Mix Magazine, and Gear Slutz forums (especially when I have software or hardware questions).”

Getting Started

• “Find an artist and start, even if you have to do it for free. Trial by fire is the best way to get your hands dirty. You will learn more from your mistakes than your successes. This applies to not only creating the music but the business aspect as well.

 Big Ideas

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

“Be yourself and go with your gut. This is art. It should be fun, inspiring and just fly by the seat of your pants crazy. Go make real music!!! If it catches on like Amy Wine house, Black Keys, Jack White, Adele, Liam Bailey, etc., then you actually served a purpose in producing real art and we need more of that. Back in the day, we had music industry gurus that decided what was good music and what people should listen to on the radio. Unfortunately, those folks have all left this earth or stopped making records. Even worse, they have been replaced by marketing and accounting personnel.”

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

“We don’t need more Producers making tracks for pop bands. The sounds have become so uniform, I can’t even hear a voice or any resemblance of artistry on the track. . . to be honest, I can’t even distinguish who it is sometimes. If your plan is to make “hits,” realize that you are making the Coca-Cola of music. It has to appeal to the largest audience possible and ends up pretty bland. That’s not to say that there isn’t good pop music, but the pop market is so oversaturated. No one buys that music anyhow and the record companies have had to shift how they make money. The big record companies serve the purpose of content creation for commercial applications, selling movies, soda, cars, and other products. It’s just not my bag because I care about the music more than the money. I’m not trying to put down the folks who do this work, I just want to inspire more people to produce out of love, not for the bling.”

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

“’What is the biggest personal reward in producing?’ Seeing or hearing your name mentioned in association with a record you believed in and loved makes it all worthwhile. Everyone who works a “normal” job and receives a paycheck every week also craves recognition for a job well done. We are human and full of emotional needs, regardless of the situation.”

What is one thing I should have asked which I didn’t?

“Who is my favorite Producer or who do I look up to? Rick Rubin. The dude is a big weirdo, but he launched a hip-hop scene, produced true gems like Tom Petty’s Wildflowers, created a record label that supported huge acts like Slayer and System Of A Down, revived careers of bands like The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath and Metallica. I feel he is one of the last Producer/label/A&R people that can create with a sense of artistic integrity and still achieve commercial success.”

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

“Determination.”

Source:

Jaron Luksa is a Music Producer and Sound Engineer who owns the Rattle Room, a private professional recording studio in Burbank, CA.

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17 Ways Musicians Can Make Money

17 Ways Musicians Can Make Money

One of the biggest challenges facing musicians is generating income. Gone are the days when a band could rely solely on music sales and touring to earn a living.

Part of the reality of being a working musician today is the need to diversify your revenue streams. Although sales of recorded music have gone down significantly in recent years, there are new sources of income available to musicians.

A mix of traditional and more modern income streams can help today’s musicians earn a living. Here’s a list of 18 ways to generate revenue for your music career:

18 Ways Musicians Can Make Money

1. CD Sales: If you’re going to be playing live shows, having CDs on hand is still a good idea. They make great takeaway souvenirs that can easily be signed by band members.

2. Vinyl Sales: Vinyl sales surged 30% in 2013. Again, if you’ll be playing live shows, printing a small batch to have at your merch table can help generate extra income.

3. Digital Sales: You should be selling digital music through your own website to make the most money, but also through online retailers. Keep in mind that online retailers take a percentage of sales (ex. iTunes takes 30%, Bandcamp takes 15%). Some digital distributors that place your music in stores like iTunes and Amazon will take a cut on top of that. Check out our Complete Guide to Selling Your Music Online for details on all of your options. 

4. Streaming: Although per-stream payouts from streaming services tend to be small, they can add up over time. Keep in mind that these services also help new fans discover your music, and shouldn't be seen solely as an income generator.

5. Live Shows: Money made from live shows can vary greatly, but it’s still one of the best ways to earn income. Not only can you make money from selling tickets, but it’s also one of the best ways to sell merch. 

6. Physical Merch: Income from physical merch can depend heavily on the amount of live shows you play. If you go out on tour, be sure that you have some t-shirts, as well as smaller items like buttons and stickers that you can sell to fans after the show.

7. Digital Merch: You can also sell digital merch items like PDFs, videos, and images to your fans. Things like lyric books, live concerts, sheet music, exclusive photos, artwork and more.

8. Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding can be a great way to generate income for your music career. A well-executed crowdfunding campaign can help you raise enough money to offset the cost of producing and marketing your album. For tips on crowdfunding, check out: Successful Crowdfunding: A Musician’s Experience of Kickstarter vs. PledgeMusic vs. DIY

9. Publishing Royalties: You should be signed up to a performing rights organization so you can collect royalties on your music. This includes public performance royalties (radio, TV, live venues), mechanical royalties (sales through retailers, streaming, etc.), and sync royalties (commercials, film, TV).

10. Digital Royalties: Whenever your music is played on services like SiriusXM radio, Pandora, and webcasters, they must pay royalties. Sign up for a free SoundExchangeaccount to make sure you’re collecting those royalties.

11. Live Performance Royalties: When performing original material, you can earn royalties from live performances. Whether you perform at a bar, restaurant, club, or other music venue, Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) will pay royalties from those live performances.

12. Licensing: If you get your song placed in a film, commercial, or TV show, chances are they’re going to pay you a licensing fee. These fees vary greatly, depending on the budget for the project, and how badly they want your particular song.

13. YouTube: On YouTube, whenever your music is used in videos that are running ads, YouTube pays a portion of that advertising money to the rights holders of the song. Digital distributors like TuneCore and CD Baby can help you collect that money, as well as Audiam.

14. Sponsorships: If you’ve built up a fan base, some companies are willing to sponsor musicians to reach those fans. Sponsorships can range from cash, to free products, services, and gear. Read this excellent post from Dave Huffman about sponsorships.

15. Songwriting/Composing: If you’re a songwriter, you could write songs for other musicians, or compose music specifically for film and television.

16. Cover Gigs: Playing cover gigs at bars, restaurants, weddings, and other private events is frowned upon by some musicians. But those shows can pay really well, and allow you to get paid to play your instrument. There’s no shame in that. And if you're looking to book gigs at parties or private/corporate events, definitely check out GigSalad.

17. Music Lessons: Many musicians teach their instrument to others to help generate revenue towards their own career. This can be a nice way to supplement your income, and allows you to hone your craft at the same time. If you're looking to give music lessons, 

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How To Become A Famous Singer In 6 Easy Steps

 Today we’re going to look at how to become a famous singer in 6 steps. If you’re a beginner singer and want to know what it takes to give yourself the best chance of making it in the music industry, be sure to read to the end for all the details. If you want a guide which will help improve your vocals in general, check this guide on becoming a better singer.

Disclaimer: While these below six points will go a long way to helping you reach your desired level of fame as a singer, there is no guarantee that you will become famous. This will come down to a few different things, such as how talented you are, being in the right place at the right time, and more. That said, doing the below will greatly increase your chances of making it as a successful singer. Be sure to read all 6 points to get a good idea of what needs to be done.

1. Build Your Way Up To Fame

  A common misconception about fame in the music industry is that it will come overnight. It’s easy to see someone in the charts for the first time, and assume they haven’t been working hard for some time leading up to that. In reality, this isn’t normally the case.

If you want to be a famous singer, you will need to work at it. You won’t start out doing world tours or writing number one hits. You need to work your way up the ladder.

Start out by aiming to become known with your family and friends. When they recognize your talents and let you know you’re genuinely good enough, network out and start to build up your name in different areas. Start establishing your name in your local area, on online music forums, on already established YouTube channels, on local radio stations and the like.

Once you have this local market covered and people are talking about you, expand once again. Each time aim to conquer a bigger market, using the buzz you gained in the previous area to get more people to give you a chance.

This is the best way to become a famous musician, one stage at a time.

2. Have A Unique Selling Point If You Want To Become A Famous Singer

 A unique selling point, USP for short, is a way to differentiate yourself from the crowd. You don’t want to be doing the same thing as every other singer out there; if you are, what’s going to make people buy into you over the others?

Your USP doesn’t have to be anything big, but it has to be noticeable. It could be that you structure your songs differently, that you have a voice that’s different from the norm, or simply that you do what you do at a much higher level than everyone else. Yes, that in itself is a unique selling point, as people will see they can only get the best by being a fan of yours.

If you don’t already have a USP, you may want to think about creating one. Once you do, make sure it’s clear to people what it is. Sometimes it will be tangible, but other times you will have to drop it into the conversation via interview or on your website, etc.

Don’t say “My USP is”, instead say “I like to do *this* which I don’t think is something fans get anywhere else”. This will help make you sound like you’re thinking of them, and also put the idea in their mind that you stand out in some way. This is an important step if you want to be a well-known singer.

3. Market Yourself As A Singer

 If you want to become a famous singer, you will need to learn how to market yourself. That, or you will need someone to market for you.

If you haven’t got the budget to pay someone to market you, then it’s all down to you. You may want to check out our marketing for musician guide for tips and advice on how you can do this.

Marketing is the process of raising awareness of yourself as a singer. The first step in getting your fans is letting people know you exist. Second is making them be open to listening to you. This is a much trickier job than it sounds, so don’t underestimate how much work is required to make this happen.

With all the other singers and musicians fighting for people’s attention, music fans have become overwhelmed with the choice available to them. The result? Many people are blocking out most artist that throw themselves their way. Even if you’re giving away a free download, the majority of people will actively ignore it. Giving out a free CD? A lot of the time it’ll end up on a shelf never to be listened to.

It has become increasingly difficult to market yourself as a musician, but with the right knowledge it is possible. Being a famous singer will require you to have a lot of fans, so if this is what you want to achieve, then you need to get your marketing hat on asap. Without it, you simply won’t reach your goals.

OK, so here are three other tips teaching you how to become a famous singer. Point number 8 is especially important, so make sure you read on to the end:

4. Learn How To Sing Properly

 OK, so this may seem like an obvious point, but if you aren’t a good enough singer you’ll never, never become a famous singer. You can market yourself all you want, but if people don’t want to listen to you, you’ll never move forward in your singing career.

It’s never a bad idea to take singing lessons if you haven’t already, so you may want to look into that. Alternatively, you can always take an online singing course which is a lot cheaper than the hourly rates many vocal teachers charge. Either option is good, as strengthening your voice and improving your vocal range can only be good for your music career as a whole.

Ultimately, your goal should be to be the best you can be. Britney Spears is not an impressive singer. Neither is Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips. There are plenty of others that can hold their own, in their own unique way (they’ve developed their USP), but aren’t necessarily at the top of their game.

Nevertheless, they are famous. It’s true that being undeniably good will open doors that being so-so simply won’t. But you don’t need to be Idina Menzel either. You can make up for your weaknesses with image, branding, marketing, and attitude.

But don’t fool yourself about how good you are (or aren’t), because that can come back to bite you in the butt later. Get an honest opinion from someone you trust. If you’re tone-deaf, you’re in trouble. But most of the time, there is a way to progress and to improve as a singer, and that’s the path you should follow.

5. Collaborate With Musicians And Industry Figures That Are Bigger Than You

 He art of using other’s authority is one of the best ways to get yourself known. One of the quickest ways of getting in front of a relevant audience is working with someone who already has an established audience in your niche. If you can get this person to recommend you or be on a song with you, you are going to get in front of their audience, and have the chance for them to become your fans too. You can also study under them as a backing singer, if they are amenable to the idea.

While it may be hard to collaborate with someone big in your genre at first, keep working at it. Start with a lesser-known person with a decent buzz, and start working with more known artists as you are able. The more you work with others and get your name out there, the more people will want to work with you. As time goes on, you’ll find it easier and easier to get the more prominent collaborations, and your audience will grow at a decent rate as a result.

6. Join A Band & Generate A Ton Of Interest In The Music

 What do you do when you’ve been putting your best foot forward for years, and you still can’t find success and fame as a singer? You take charge of the situation.

There are many bands looking for great singers. Working with a talented singer can make a huge difference for them, because signing duties often fall to the bass player or guitarist, who may not be great singers to begin with.

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