25 Profitable Business Opportunities for Musicians (Full List)
Are you interested in starting a music related business idea but unsure what to start?
The good news is, there are so many business ideas for musicians to become entrepreneurs and build innovative products/services in this line of work.
We put together below the most profitable music business ideas you can start today in 2024.
Here they are:
1. Become a music blogger
A music blog covers different topics of interest among music lovers. With the music industry so popular in 2024, it is a great time to start a music blog. A music blog offers you a chance to get as creative as possible and is also a precious tool to help you promote and publicize music genres.
Starting a music blog is as easy as selecting a music niche. Identify topics of interest and create shareable content.
How much you can make: $996 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $50 (?)
How long does it take to build: 48 days (?)
Learn how DJ Tobander created a successful niche info-product business generating $1,000 a month through selling collections of DJ sets for special occasions and working with affiliates, with only modest costs and simple tools like WordPress, AWeber, LeadPages, and Digistore24.
2. Start a music school
If you have a passion for music and love teaching, starting an online music school can be a great way to kickstart your music tutoring business.
This not only helps you connect with local customers but also opens up opportunities to reach a global audience.
Moreover, starting an online music school gives you the freedom to work from anywhere and at your preferred time.
Whether you are brand new to teaching music online or you have been teaching online but are looking for some fresh inspiration, you can incorporate it into your online music school. examples include:
- Teaching church music online
- Teaching children’s choir
- Youth & adults’ choirs
- Teach live video sessions using online meeting platforms
- Choir, band & orchestra
How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,535 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Former IT professional Meenakshi started Art Splash Academy of Fine Arts, offering Keyboard, Guitar, Violin, Rock & Pop vocals, Indian Music, Carnatic vocals, Bharatnatyam, Certified Jazz, Arts, Yoga, and Tabla courses for all ages with an investment of $9,000, and now manages it successfully with 80% of customers enrolling in online classes during COVID-19.
3. Start a guitar company
Guitars are versatile, portable, accessible, and affordable musical instruments. Besides, guitars can be self-taught, or you can learn online.
If you are passionate about guitars, consider starting a guitar company. There are different entry points ranging from guitar production, guitar sales, and distribution company or even guitar repair. To start the guitar business, identify your target market, and create a business plan. You must register a business name and meet all the licensing requirements.
How much you can make: $3,000 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 195 days (?)
KLOS Guitars CEO and co-founder Adam Klosowiak created a unique line of carbon fiber guitars and ukuleles, launching with a successful Kickstarter campaign that has since led to over $1 million in funding, with current monthly sales over $100K mainly through Shopify.
4. Create a voice recording platform
A voice recording platform can be used to edit, record, and repair audio.
Businesses use voice recording platforms to communicate with customers and provide responses 24/7. The voice recording software is connected to a telephone line and prompts the customer to leave a recorded message.
Therefore, creating a voice recording platform that can serve businesses and different organizations can be profitable.
The best voice recording platform supports MIDI recording & editing and offers a ton of effect plugins to enhance the voice recording quality and ensure appealing audio tracks. You do not need programming/coding skills and app development skills to create a voice recording platform. You can hire programmers to develop the platform from scratch.
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
5. Start a karaoke bar business
Karaoke bars provide karaoke equipment so people sing publicly on a set stage.
The karaoke bars are high-traffic and can generate income quickly compared to standard nightclubs.
Karaoke bars feature essential lighting and giveaways to encourage singers and their participation and let the booze flow!
How much you can make: $12,000/month
Kelli Bielema and Vanessa Resler run The AirScream, a mobile karaoke lounge in a vintage Airstream located in Seattle, WA, which began as a successful Kickstarter campaign raising $45k.
6. Start a music streaming app
Music streaming apps allow the consumption of audio content in different formats. The global music streaming market recently recorded a CAGR of 14.7%, and experts project it will reach $29.45 billion in the next few years.
The rising penetration of digital platforms and the growing use of smart devices are some factors boosting the market growth. Therefore, developing a music streaming app in 2024 can be a great chance to make money.
How much you can make: $70,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $6,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 135 days (?)
OnlinePianist is a profitable business generating $70k in monthly revenue, with 6 million global downloads and customers in more than 20 countries, offering the largest catalog of piano tutorials outside of YouTube with 3,000+ tutorials, and has plans to expand its capabilities to listen to what the user plays on their piano or keyboard and build a paid marketing strategy.
7. Create an online course
An online course business involves creating and selling digital classes teaching specialized skills or knowledge to subscribed students.
As an entrepreneurial course creator, you identify educational gaps around topics you have expertise in and develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials.
With flexibility around self-paced or cohort-based structures, building a student base provides passive income potential.
For founders who enjoy information-sharing, launching an online course platform presents a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents with small startup costs by serving eager lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging subjects.
How much you can make: $350 — $3,735,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,850 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
8. Become a local event artist
Event artists make the audience more centered, increase event PR, attract new artists, and build a good brand profile.
Becoming an event artist is easier than you think. All you need to do is choose a niche and work on attracting foot traffic to the events. Be creative and work on your communication skills.
9. Become a music tutor
Are you passionate about music or looking for a profitable coaching business? How about becoming a music tutor?
To start a music coaching business, decide your target audience and location and set your rates. For example, you can meet new students through a community event, online, or a music club, or target the local community. Set rates for your music classes and advertise your business to get as many clients as possible.
How much you can make: $30,000 — $70,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,035 (?)
How long does it take to build: 160 days (?)
Piano In 21 Days built a low pressure and flexible online piano course, bringing in 5 figures every month while allowing the founder to spend time on other interests and family while its profitable business runs itself.
10. Become a band manager
A band manager is a professional representative and advisor for a music band. The manager helps the artists build a successful music career, get them clients, and negotiate contracts on behalf of the band.
To be a successful band manager, you must have a passion for artist management. Fluency in the artistic language of music and relentless drive for music will help you perform well. To kickstart your career, you can practice with the local choirs or music groups. Then, you can diversify to established bands as you gain band management skills.
11. Become a sound engineer
Sound engineers assemble, operate, and maintain the technical equipment for recording, amplifying, enhancing, mixing, and reproducing sound.
To become a sound manager, you must complete an audio production course, music theory training, and sound engineering degree. To acquire these skills, you can attend a vocational school or degree program that trains and hands-on experience for your future audio engineering career.
How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)
12. Become a sound effects producer
Sound effect editors recreate the realistic ambient sounds that films portray. To become a sound effect producer, complete a sound engineering course or a relevant course to earn sound designer skills. Secure an internship to practice and hone your skills.
How much you can make: $20,000 — $50,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 227 days (?)
ProductionCrate, a virtual studio offering royalty-free music, video effects, graphics and sound assets, bootstrapped to $600k/year with over 10 million downloads, and one million users, thanks to loyal customer retention rates of around 80% YoY growth at 120%.
13. Start a music therapy company
Are you passionate about helping people cope with emotional and mental problems through music? Starting a music therapy company can turn your passion into a profitable business.
As a music therapist, you will work with people of all ages and use music to help them through emotional or mental problems, learning or physical disabilities, development disorders, life-limiting conditions, or other physical illnesses.
To start the music therapy company, consider earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and register for clinical training or a supervised internship where you will harness your skills. To practice, you must pass the national board certification exam administered by a certification board for music therapists.
14. Become a music video director
A music video director is the head of music video production from initial conception to final editing. The director conceives of the video's artistic and dramatic aspects while instructing the music act, the technical crew, actors, models, and dancers.
To become a music video director, learn the basics of film-making with photography. Then, purchase filming equipment and produce amateur music videos to prepare you for learning the job.
How much you can make: $100/month
How long does it take to build: 5 days (?)
Snake Oil Music News is a website that promotes new and emerging indie rock bands and artists, with a focus on reviews and live events, and has expanded to include merchandise sales and video content creation, looking for volunteers to help keep up with demand.
15. Start a music podcast
Would you want to share your passion and music skills with other people? Or perhaps you are in a music career and looking for ways to expand your revenue streams? If you match these criteria, becoming a podcast host could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Podcasting is one of the fastest-growing mediums for online audio, and it's not expected to slow down any time soon. But unlike traditional radio, podcasts are driven by content creators passionate about sharing stories with their listeners.
One of the main benefits of starting a podcast is the minimal investment needed. All you need is a computer or phone with a microphone and a way to host it online. You can even create one on your website if you want.
How much you can make: $20,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
A founder shares how she built a podcast network with brand clothing, podcast sales, affiliate sales, and publishing book partnerships, generating around $20k per month, while staying true to her voice and values.
16. Start an instrument repair business
If you have a high level of technical aptitude for instrumentation engineering, you can start an instrument repair and restoration business as a part-time job or a full-time business.
As an instrument repair professional, your normal operations will include buying spare parts and fixing or repairing faulty parts. Typically, repair specialists fix instruments for players from all walks of life, from beginners to amateurs.
How much you can make: $4,000/month
Retro Radio Farm founder, Allen Chiang, earns $50k per year as a side business restoring old radios and offering Bluetooth MP3 upgrades, with the business growing 20% every year.
17. Become a music app developer
The music app developer is a programmer who creates apps for mobiles for both Android and iOS devices. The music app development business targets creating various apps that give musicians and their fans a user-friendly experience.
To become a music app developer, first, touch up on your skills. There are several courses available online. Once you obtain the certification, choose your niche and focus on your skill set.
Then the best way to showcase your work is to build a portfolio website where you will display your skills, projects, and testimonials. Another way to promote yourself is to create your brand and start a blog. This will, in turn, build a network, and you will be able to connect with people and attract more clients.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $100,000/month
How long does it take to build: 272 days (?)
Discotech, an OpenTable for Nightlife, has partnered with over 1,200 venues across 50+ cities, generating over $1M in gross sales and netting between 10-15% as net revenue, while thriving after surviving the COVID pandemic.
18. Become a dance choreographer
Dance choreographers create compositions and plans and arrange dance movements and patterns for dances, especially ballets. Choreographers also develop different interpretations of existing dances for an individual or group of dancers.
To become a dance choreographer, you will need to take training lessons. You may pursue a degree in musical theater and take relevant dance coursework. The training enables you to master different dance types and learn how to create dances.
How much you can make: $8,400/month
Learn how a belly dancing coach turned her passion into a six-figure business using digital marketing strategies, with hundreds of women on TheBellyDanceSolution.com achieving positive body goals, confidence, and self-esteem.
19. Become a music publicist
A music publicist is a professional who deals with media and public relations on behalf of a music group or a musician. An artist will consult the publicist before releasing any communications to the public.
To become a publicist, earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, and develop strong public relations skills. You must have experience in media relations, client communications, crisis management, and press campaign development to serve effectively as a publicist.
How much you can make: $10,000/month
This TikTok star is making over ₹70 lakh per year at just 19 years old with 45.2M followers on TikTok and 27M+ Instagram followers.
20. Become a song writer
A songwriter is a musician who composes musical compositions and writes lyrics for songs. To become a songwriter, you must start writing songs regularly and improve your creativity.
21. Become a conductor
A conductor is a music professional who conducts an orchestra, chorus, opera company, ballet, or musical group.
To become a conductor, one must possess relevant degree training in music. After completing the course, you must work under an attachment position to gain relevant experience. A conductor must hone sound music skills and have the ability to interpret various music styles effectively.
How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)
22. Become a voice coach
A vocal coach is a professional in charge of writing and producing vocal arrangements for four-part harmony and helping to develop counter melodies for a secondary vocalist. Vocal coaches also advise singers or bands on lyric writing.
To become a vocal coach, you must have much musical knowledge and experience. You should be able to teach singers how to sing correctly and how to improve their voices. A vocal coach should have training in teaching singing techniques.
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
23. Become a music producer
A music producer or a record producer assists an artist with their recording project. The professional focuses on bringing the musician's vision to fruition and guiding the sound.
To become a music producer, enroll in music lessons and listen to different styles of music from multiple eras. Then, learn an instrument so you can read sheet music. Familiarize yourself with the music production software and set up a professional music production and recording space.
How much you can make: $5,000 — $175,000/month
This case study is about Kate Brunotts, a full-time audio producer who started her own business as a beatmaker and audio engineer, making over 60K through her freelance lifestyle, attracting and retaining clients through referrals and her social media presence, and consistently growing her income and network.
24. Become a studio owner
A music studio owner owns the establishment where recording artists come to record their music. The music studio owner should have all the equipment necessary for recording. To ensure business success, the music studio owner should hire a trained studio manager to run the studio affairs.
25. Start an instrument rental service
Music reviewer engages in the analysis and interpretation of music work. To become a music reviewer, you need a certificate in a music-related field. Then you need to attend industry conferences and seminars to establish contacts with editors and agents.
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
